HRH The Princess Royal during her Hallmarq visit while engaging with some members of the global Hallmarq team who can also be seen in action.
HRH The Princess Royal visited Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging last week to recognize their Queen’s Award for Innovation 2021 and to highlight the value of veterinary innovation to the wider community. Hallmarq is a global leader in advanced imaging systems for the veterinary market. This prestigious award recognizes the unique and innovative nature of Hallmarq’s 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner, designed from the ground up for small animal practices. Princess Anne toured the factory and offices, met staff from all departments and Hallmarq’s guest Dr. Kate Richards, President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Hallmarq CEO Mick Crosthwaite said, “It was an honor for our team to welcome HRH The Princess Royal and show her our headquarters in Guildford. Hallmarq has been a leader in developing innovative diagnostic systems for veterinary practices for the past 20 years. Innovation is at the heart of everything we do, and this award is well-deserved recognition of the team’s passion and hard work in pursuing our goal of improving the lives of animals and the people who care for them. “
Hallmarq’s Small Animal MRI is the only 1.5T high field scanner specifically designed for the veterinary field and helps overcome the challenges of imaging small animals of all breeds and sizes. The unique design includes an innovative V-shaped bed and 1 meter long V-shaped spinal coil to ensure correct patient positioning and spinal alignment. This also improves image quality compared to flat spinal coils used in human machines and enables more subtle changes in soft tissue structures to be detected. Another high-tech advance includes the integration of high-frequency shielding, which reduces project costs and complexity. Other important design elements are veterinary-specific imaging software, flexible, open head coils for different patient sizes and a comprehensive customer support package for the entire life cycle called “Q-Care”.
Regarding the impact of this innovation, Chief Technology Officer Dr. Steve Roberts: “Our system does not require external RF shielding, which reduces one of the major obstacles facing veterinary practices. This makes advanced imaging more accessible to an increasing number of first-line veterinarians, emergency practices and referral centers, especially when combined with our innovative approach to customer care. These innovations have significant benefits for animal health and welfare, as improved diagnostic options lead to more targeted treatments and better patient outcomes. “
During their tour, HRH The Princess Royal was able to see a working system via live video link and Hallmarq client Dr. Meet Cody Alcott of DACVIM who is a neurologist and owner of Tucson Veterinary Specialists in Arizona. Dr. Alcott saw many benefits of the system for both his practice and his patients and demonstrated the ease of use of the device.
HRH The Princess Royal became Hallmarq’s founding director Dr. Nick Bolas, who introduced Hallmarq’s new CT system for standing horse legs, celebrated a shared interest in horses and presented some of the advances in imaging technology since their last visit to Hallmarq six years ago.
For more information on Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging, please visit https://hallmarq.net/.
About Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging
Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging is an award-winning global leader in innovative diagnostic imaging solutions. As industry specialists, they are focused on delivering safe, accurate, and affordable advanced imaging to practicing veterinarians around the world. With a shared passion for improving animal health, they have worked with customers since 2000 to support the imaging of over 270,000 animals in 25 countries worldwide. Their exclusive commitment to the industry and exceptional customer support have resulted in improved access to advanced clinical systems for small animal and equine practices worldwide. Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging Ltd. has offices in the UK and North America. Learn more at www.hallmarq.net and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
