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Welcome to Asto CT Inc.

THE NEW STANDARD OF CARE IN EQUINE IMAGING IS HERE

Our Story

Asto CT® was founded on the principle of offering safe, high-quality CT imaging to improve quality of life for horses and ensure peace of mind for their owners. Our state-of-the-art equine CT scanner is customized to meet the needs of horses in a safe and comfortable environment for the animal.

We are pioneering the use of cutting-edge robotics in combination with advanced fan-beam CT to provide state-of-the-art screening and diagnosis. Our first mission is to improve diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the distal limb and diseases of the head and neck in horses.   

Our solution

BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP, THE EQUINA HAS THE WORLD’S ONLY TRUE WEIGHT-BEARING FAN-BEAM CT SCANNER WHICH ALLOWS FOR SCANNING IN A NATURAL STANDING POSITION.

Why Choose the Equina?

 
 

Main Features

  • Multi-slice, fan-beam CT with sub-millimeter resolution

  • 92 cm tapered-bore opening to allow for extended cervical spine and proximal limb coverage

  • Non-slip shock-absorbing surfaces and collision sensors.

  • Easy-to-use push-button system pendant controller

  • User-friendly moveable operator console (OC)

  • Open walk-through design for safe and fast standing limbs

  • Enclosures are sealed to IP53 standard for easy cleaning and use in dusty environments

  • 75 cm FOV allowing for easy patient positioning and dual-limb and high body mass imaging

  • Self-shielded gantry results in very low radiation leakage allowing handlers to stay with the patient


Optimizes Operation

  • Appropriate mild sedation protocols are proven

  • Scan times are less than 30 seconds

  • Tested on multiple sizes & breeds

  • Allows for easier and faster imaging

  • Less staff involved and less liability and risk to clinics

  • Proven protocols for imaging under general anesthesia

  • High patient through-put

  • Scans are well tolerated by equine patients


Pathology Detection

  • Detects pathology in limb specimens with break-down injuries

  • Equina® detection matches traditional CT detection for early signs of stress fractures

  • Clear visualization of soft tissue such as enlargement and disruption of the tendon

  • Detects pathology in the head & neck, such as tooth and sinus problems

  • Equina® standing CT detects more pathology than standard radiographs

 

A WORD FROM OUR SUPPORTIVE EQUINE VETERINARIANS

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A Solid Foundation 

 

Asto CT® was founded in 2015 as a result of a research collaboration between the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) School of Veterinary Medicine and the Morgridge Institute for Research.  

Our team has a combined 100+ years of experience with deep expertise in medical product development and hands-on veterinary care.  Our patented approach allows imaging of lower limbs and of the head and neck of a sedated horse in the standing position.  

 
 

David L. Ergun

Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer

David has more than 40 years of leadership experience in developing and launching novel medical imaging devices.  Prior to founding Asto CT, he was Chief Scientist and R&D leader at GE Healthcare where he brought multiple FDA cleared medical imaging products to market.  David holds an Adjunct Professor position with University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical Physics. David's current focus is on improving the diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the distal limb and diseases of the head and neck in horses.

Thomas "Rock" Mackie

Co-Founder, Chair

Rock is Emeritus Professor and an internationally renowned medical physicist at the UW, and founder of several successful ventures, most notably TomoTherapy (now Accuray) and Geometrics (now Philips Healthcare). Co-inventor of the standing equine CT system.

Sabrina Brounts

Asto CT Scientific and Clinical Advisor

Dr. Brounts graduated with a DVM from the University of Utrecht School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating, Sabrina came to the United States to continue her studies. She obtained her master’s degree at the Purdue University and a PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) in Sports Medicine. Currently, Sabrina is a Clinical Professor and Chief of the Morrie Waud Large Animal Hospital at the UW. She is not only a respected surgeon, but an expert in equine sports medicine and rehabilitation. Her research focuses these days on equine tendon issues, regenerative medicine, more efficient surgical techniques, and condylar fractures in Thoroughbred horses.

Lauren Zaddack

Marketing Communications Specialist

Lauren has more 15 years of experience in the equine industry, with an extensive background in marketing and selling high-tier horses. She understands the ins and outs of the equine community, and why the Equina is so important. “I truly believe the concept of this technology is ‘larger than life’ and will forever change how we evaluate and diagnose equine patients.”

Peter Muir

Co-Founder

Peter is Co-Director of the Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory at UW School of Veterinary Medicine, and internationally recognized for his expertise in veterinary orthopedics, with a particular focus on prevention of breakdown injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses. Co-inventor of the standing equine CT system.

Mark D. Markel

Co-Founder

Mark is Dean of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and a boarded large animal surgeon with expertise in equine specialty practice, bone and cartilage regeneration/healing and bone and fracture biomechanics, particularly in equine patients. Co-inventor of the standing equine system.

John Leja

Service Manager

John has more than 30 years engineering, support and management experience in the medical products environment. Communication and cooperation have been a mainstay throughout each of the roles and disciplines. And it is the relationships developed through it all he finds most rewarding.  

 

Michael Bauer

Director of Sales North America

Mike began his professional career in the military as a Medical Specialist (combat medic).   Upon graduation from college he worked as a Radiation Therapist for several years before moving into a 20 year Capital Medical Sales career. “Standing CT in the large animal space makes so much sense, and at the heart of this technology is the patients well being!”

Dean Willems

Director of Sales Europe

With over 35 years of experience in Medical Imaging and Radiation Treatment delivery and sales, I look forward to enabling customers in both the human and equine care arenas with the most advanced technologies to the benefit of their patients and practices.

 We’re Located All Around the World

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