VELA Medical pushes seated positioning to reduce CBCT scan motion

VELA Medical says patient movement during cone-beam CT can weaken image quality and complicate diagnosis, especially for older adults and people with limited mobility. The company is highlighting seated positioning as one way clinics may improve stability during scans.

Why it matters: - Patient movement during cone-beam computed tomography, or CBCT, can blur images and affect diagnosis and treatment planning. - Stable positioning matters most for older adults and patients with reduced mobility, balance issues or fatigue. - Seated options can give clinics another way to support patients who cannot safely stand through a scan.

What happened: - VELA Medical published an explanation of why patient positioning matters in CBCT scanning. - The company focused on how movement during the 10- to 40-second scan window can affect image quality. - VELA Medical highlighted seated positioning as a practical option when imaging equipment and clinical protocols allow it.

The details: - A prospective study of 412 patients found measurable head movement in 24% of CBCT examinations. - The same study found movement was linked to a significant drop in image quality across all seven anatomical regions assessed. - Another study of 360 CBCT scans compared standing, sitting and supine positioning. - In that study, patients with motion artefacts were older on average. - The age effect was especially clear among patients scanned while standing. - The researchers concluded that sitting or supine positioning might help reduce motion artefacts in older patients. - VELA Medical said the VELA CBCT Chair is designed to provide a stable seated base during radiographic examinations. - The chair includes a foot-operated locking system, electric height adjustment, armrests and a backrest. - Those features are intended to help clinicians align patients with imaging equipment and support patients with reduced mobility or difficulty standing. - Reinhilde Jacobs, professor in dentomaxillofacial radiology at University Leuven, said: “Motion artefacts are the biggest burden in CBCT imaging. A VELA Chair is the ideal solution to diminish such artefact.” - Thea Johansen, a physical therapist and product field manager at VELA, said patient positioning remains a human part of the examination and equipment should help clinicians create a position the patient can safely maintain.

Between the lines: - The research does not point to a single best position for every CBCT exam. - Sitting does not eliminate motion artefacts, but it may improve stability for some patients. - The broader message is that imaging quality depends on both the scanner and the patient setup around it. - For clinics, positioning choices can affect both diagnostic clarity and how safely patients complete the exam.

What's next: - Clinics using CBCT may continue adjusting positioning protocols for older adults and patients with limited stability. - Where seated positioning is permitted, more practices may evaluate whether a dedicated chair improves workflow and image quality. - VELA Medical is framing patient support and positioning as an ongoing part of advances in imaging technology.

The bottom line: - CBCT quality is not only a technology issue. Patient stability, and the chair or setup used to achieve it, can materially affect the scan.