RUIJIN Hospital is to have a novel X-ray imaging system — the first hospital on the mainland to do so — based on a Nobel prize-winning technology in physics.

It will provide a low-dose, 3D imaging system that scans patients’ spines, hips and legs while they stand up, the city hospital announced.

Developed in France, the EOS X-ray system gives doctors a highly accurate view of a patient’s entire skeleton in a natural standing position.

Usually imaging machines can only scan the body by parts when patients lie on a bed, then doctors have to combine data to get the measurements needed. Errors during the procedure can impact surgery results.

“Lying on the bed influences the accuracy of measurement, which is extremely important for an orthopedic surgery,” said Dr Liu Zhihong from Ruijin Hospital.

“The system can develop a 3D image of patient’s bones and skeleton quickly to help doctors design a proper surgery plan. The technology can greatly boost the improvement of orthopedics in the nation.”

Since the system only generates about a tenth of radiation of an ordinary CT scan, it is also a good option for children for diagnosis and assessment, experts said.

Also yesterday, Shanghai Children’s Hospital signed an agreement with Circle Harmony Health Ltd, the only facility of British-based Circle Holdings in China, for cooperation on staff training, academic exchanges, patients’ transfer and technology cooperation. Circle Holding is a doctors’ group and a high-end health-care provider in the United Kingdom.

Circle Harmony Health will open a pediatric hospital in Shanghai, while patients with complications will be transferred to Shanghai Children’s Hospital, whose patients also have a better access for overseas transfer through Circle, officials said.