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Canon Aquilion Precision CT Financing
Finance the Canon Aquilion Precision photon-counting CT scanner. Financing for ultra-high-resolution CT programs at academic and specialty imaging centers.
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Ultra-high-resolution CT occupies a clinical tier where the image data itself creates the revenue argument. The Canon Aquilion Precision uses 0.25 mm detector elements, roughly half the size of conventional CT detectors, to produce spatial resolution that opens protocol possibilities in coronary artery calcium scoring, inner ear imaging, and musculoskeletal work that conventional detector configurations cannot match. Programs that acquire the Precision do so because the diagnostic capability generates referrals and clinical distinction, not because they need another body CT machine. That clinical specificity makes the financing case more precise than a general-purpose scanner, and it is worth building the revenue model around the specific protocols that drive acquisition.
We finance the Aquilion Precision for academic radiology programs, specialty imaging centers with established high-resolution CT practices, and hospital departments where the clinical case for ultra-high-resolution imaging is documented and supported by referring physician demand. The capital investment is significant, and the financing structures we use reflect that.
What the Aquilion Precision Enables Differently
The 0.25 mm detector element in the Aquilion Precision is the defining hardware difference from conventional CT platforms. That detector size, combined with a 0.5 mm reconstructed voxel capability, produces spatial resolution in the range of 150 micrometers, which opens clinical protocols that simply are not achievable on standard detectors regardless of slice count or reconstruction algorithm. Inner ear CT, fine pulmonary structure analysis, small joint imaging, and ultra-detailed coronary calcification assessment are protocols where the Precision's detector generates genuinely different diagnostic information rather than incrementally better versions of what conventional CT provides.
For research and academic programs, the Precision also serves imaging research applications where the spatial resolution enables novel study designs in cardiovascular, pulmonary, and musculoskeletal domains. The dual function of clinical production and research use strengthens the utilization case and can support grant applications or departmental capital budget requests.
The scanner also delivers conventional CT capabilities across standard protocols, so it is not a single-purpose research unit but a high-capability clinical system that adds ultra-high-resolution as an extended range. Surgical centers and specialty practices using the system for pre-procedural imaging where sub-millimeter anatomical definition affects surgical planning find clear clinical value that translates to referring physician loyalty.
Financing a Premium Research-Grade System
The Aquilion Precision carries a premium price reflecting its unique detector technology. Full financial underwriting is standard at this price level, and the deal documentation package is thorough. Term lengths of 60 to 84 months are common, and lenders at this tier want to understand the clinical revenue model: which protocols the system will run, what reimbursement those protocols generate, and how the program's current CT volume and referral base support the acquisition.
Academic and hospital transactions at this level often involve institutional capital planning processes. We accommodate board resolutions, multi-signature approvals, and cost-center allocation structures that institutional purchases require. The financing close coordinates with the institutional procurement timeline, and we hold rate commitments for reasonable periods while those processes complete.
The equipment finance agreement creates full ownership from day one, with the depreciable basis available in year one for applicable tax purposes. The capital lease achieves the same ultimate ownership outcome with lease accounting treatment during the term. For research programs where the equipment serves both clinical and sponsored research functions, the accounting treatment may interact with research overhead calculations, so coordinating with the institution's research accounting office before finalizing the structure is worth the step.
Programs That Justify an Aquilion Precision Acquisition
The Precision is not a general imaging center upgrade path. The programs that build a clear financing case for it are those where one or more of the following applies: an established inner ear or temporal bone CT program that currently sends specialized cases to a competing facility with higher-resolution capability; a cardiovascular CT program in a cardiology practice where sub-millimeter coronary calcium and plaque characterization is a clinical and research priority; a pulmonary program engaged in high-resolution CT research where standard HRCT is insufficient for the specific study design.
Oncology programs using CT for radiation therapy planning or post-treatment assessment at fine anatomical resolution represent another application where the Precision's capability adds a specific clinical value proposition beyond incremental image quality improvement. The financing argument in each case is the same: what is the per-study revenue differential from the specialized protocols this system enables, and how many studies per week are required for the payment to sit comfortably inside that revenue?
For programs uncertain whether the volume is there to justify the acquisition, we can help model that calculation. The goal is to close a deal that works, not to create a payment that strains the department's operating budget in months two through sixty.
Discuss Aquilion Precision Financing
Share the program details: the protocols you plan to run, the referring physician base, your organization structure, and the purchase price you are working from. We will put together a term sheet with multiple structures and the monthly payment numbers at each. This is a specialized acquisition and the financing conversation should be equally specific. Reach out to begin.
Questions
Does the Aquilion Precision's specialized capability create challenges in the secondary market if we need to exit the financing early?
The Precision has a narrower secondary market than general-purpose CT platforms, which is a factor lenders consider when setting residual values on lease structures. That narrower market can lead to more conservative residual assumptions, which affects operating lease payment calculations. For loan structures, secondary market considerations matter less because the payment amortizes the balance regardless of market price fluctuations.
Can a hospital radiology department finance an Aquilion Precision through a health system's master credit facility?
Health systems with master credit facilities can often route equipment acquisitions through those structures, which typically offer favorable rates given the system's overall credit profile. The specific mechanics depend on the system's treasury policies. We work with system treasury and finance teams on these transactions and adapt to the institutional structure.
We are considering both the Aquilion Precision and a photon-counting CT from another manufacturer. Does the choice affect financing?
Both platforms finance through our financing desk. The specific make and model affects residual value assumptions on lease structures, but the loan and EFA structures are straightforward for any well-documented premium CT system. We do not prefer one manufacturer's asset over another; the clinical decision is yours, and the financing adapts.
Can research grant funds combine with financing to cover the Precision's purchase price?
Grant-funded partial payments and financed balances can coexist. If a research grant covers a portion of the purchase price, we finance the remainder. Proper documentation of the grant allocation and timing is needed, but this is a structure we have handled with academic medical center clients.
What is the expected depreciation treatment for the Aquilion Precision under current tax rules?
We do not provide tax advice, but we structure deals so that your CPA can apply Section 179 or bonus depreciation to the financed amount under current rules. An equipment finance agreement places the asset on your balance sheet at the full depreciable basis, making year-one deduction straightforward for amounts within applicable limits. Consult your tax advisor on the specific figures.
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