systemToshibaCTfamily: aquilion-legacy

Toshiba Aquilion CX / CXL

Family: Toshiba Aquilion · Modality: CT

128-slice Toshiba CT that pioneered the double-slice reconstruction approach within the Aquilion legacy family. A 64-row physical detector produces 128 unique reconstructed slices per rotation through the coneXact reconstruction algorithm — architecturally distinct from Siemens' z-Sharp flying focal spot (which interleaves two physical focal spots) and from GE's 64-row VCT detector (which is natively 64 slices). Aquilion CX and CXL are the same chassis; CXL carries a broader applications suite including AIDR 3D iterative reconstruction. Shipped c.2010–2016 under Toshiba; current branding is Canon / Toshiba legacy.

Double-slice technology and coneXact

  • 64-row physical Quantum Detector with 0.5 mm element size.
  • coneXact reconstruction algorithm — combines the 64-row acquisition with cone-beam geometry corrections to generate 128 unique slices per rotation, each at 0.31 mm Z-resolution in HD coneXact mode.
  • Double-slice technology is the Toshiba nomenclature for this reconstruction approach — not a physical detector doubling (contrast z-Sharp) but rather a software reconstruction that resolves the cone-beam geometry into sub-detector-row resolution.
  • Clinical consequence: finer Z-axis resolution than a 64-slice native system on routine protocols.

AIDR 3D — iterative reconstruction

  • Adaptive Iterative Dose Reduction (AIDR) 3D — Toshiba's first-generation iterative reconstruction, one of the earlier clinical iterative-reconstruction products to ship across an entire CT product line.
  • Dose reduction — OEM positioning of up to ~75% dose reduction vs standard filtered back-projection at matched image quality, protocol-dependent.
  • Ships on CXL as standard; CX base configurations may or may not include AIDR 3D licensing.

Platform highlights

  • 72 cm gantry aperture — shared across the Aquilion family.
  • 72 kW high-frequency generator.
  • 0.35 sec minimum rotation — cardiac-capable temporal resolution.
  • 0.5 mm detector element — consistent with the rest of the Aquilion legacy line.
  • Low-contrast resolution: OEM specification of 2 mm detectability at 0.3% contrast on standard phantoms.
  • Up to 28 images per second reconstruction — real-time workflow for large volumetric acquisitions.
  • SUREExposure3D + Boost3D + Shaped filters — carried forward from the 64-slice Aquilion era.

Specs

  • 128 reconstructed slices (64-row physical detector + coneXact double-slice technology)
  • 0.31 mm Z-resolution in HD coneXact mode
  • 0.5 mm detector element size
  • 72 cm gantry aperture
  • 0.35 sec minimum rotation
  • 72 kW HF generator
  • AIDR 3D iterative reconstruction (CXL standard; CX license-dependent)
  • SUREExposure3D, Boost3D, coneXact reconstruction
  • Up to 28 images/sec reconstruction

Parts

Clinical positioning

  • Cardiac CTA — 0.35 sec rotation with 128-slice reconstruction enables coronary CTA workflows at the post-VCT era; competitive with Siemens Definition AS 64 and GE Revolution HD.
  • Whole-body oncology staging — 128-slice acquisition reduces exam time on long-coverage protocols.
  • Pulmonary embolism / thoracic — fast chest acquisition with AIDR 3D dose reduction.
  • Peripheral vascular runoff — single-acquisition lower-extremity angio.
  • Neuro / stroke — fast head and C-spine for stroke protocols.
  • Bariatric / interventional adjunct — 72 cm aperture advantage.

Market position (secondary / refurb)

  • Common export configuration — Aquilion CX / CXL was one of the more broadly deployed higher-slice Toshiba platforms internationally.
  • AIDR 3D licensing is the key acceptance-test item — the difference between a CXL-with-AIDR and a CXL-without-AIDR is clinically and commercially meaningful.
  • Service ecosystem — Canon Medical OEM service; established multi-vendor service coverage on the 64-row Quantum Detector architecture.
  • Successor pathway — Aquilion Prime / Aquilion Serve (current mid-tier), Aquilion ONE (320-slice premium).

Relationship to siblings

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