The Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting at McCormick Place in Chicago is one of the biggest medical shows in the world. This year, RSNA says 21,688 exhibitors staffed booths in three sprawling halls at the convention center. For those who couldn’t attend – or who did attend but couldn’t see it all – DOTmed News presents, hall by hall, some of the most exciting gadgets, devices and applications. Welcome to South Hall.

Biotronics3D


In a space that resembled more of an art gallery than a typical RSNA booth, London-headquartered Biotronics 3D debuted 3DnetMedical, the world's first and only online medical imaging service based on a subscription model. Since its European launch in the summer of 2010, 42 organizations are using the service, the company said.

The subscription-based 3DnetMedical is designed to improve clinical workflow and doesn't require any hardware or software set-up. The solution can be hosted via a standard public or a private cloud. It eliminates the need for disaster recovery plans, as the service maintains a backup of all studies.

In conjunction with the U.S. product launch, Biotronics3D organized an art competition in which Chicago art students used pictorial by-products of the new imaging technology to create artwork. The winners' works were displayed throughout the the company's booth at the RSNA meeting.

Fujifilm Medical Systems

Fujifilm showcased the FDA-cleared Synapse 3D, a comprehensive suite of clinical applications integrated into both Synapse PACS and Synapse Cardiovascular. Synapse 3D is vendor-neutral and can be used with practically any advanced imaging system. Because it’s integrated into PACS, it’s available at any workstation where providers have access to Synapse PACS, including remote locations. Synapse 3D is already installed in more than 200 facilities worldwide, the company said.


Stamford, Conn.-based Fujifilm also showed its FDR D-Evo Wireless at RSNA, a cord-free version of its cassette detector. The new flat panel detector uses Fujifilm’s patented Irradiation Side Sampling technology, which improves detective quantum efficiency and enables technologists to acquire high quality images at lower doses. The product is pending FDA approval.

GE Healthcare


Keeping with the theme of dose reduction in imaging, GE Healthcare showcased Veo, a model-based iterative reconstruction technology, the company's latest low-dose solution for CT. The new technology promises to "change the rules" of CT imaging, delivering low dose levels while producing high quality images. Veo is currently available in Europe and is pending FDA approval in the United States.


GE also shared additions to its MR product line, emphasizing patient comfort, productivity and performance. The trade show floor display included the Gem Suite, a set of receive-only RF surface coils that are designed to be used with the company's Discovery MR750w 3T and Optima MR4502 1.5T systems. The Gem Suite consists of several coils, which can be used individually or combined -- the range covers 98 percent of all exam types. The Gem Suite has a total 205-centimeter scanning range and 160 coil mode configurations. The Gem Suite and its compatible MR systems are pending FDA approval.


GE also showcased its Optima MR430s extremities scanner, the result of its acquisition of ONI Medical Systems in 2009. The 1.5T system is also designed with patient comfort in mind and is pending 510(k) clearance.







The company's other major announcement was the FDA clearance of Discovery NM750b, a molecular breast imaging system for early breast cancer detection. The device uses a small FOV gamma camera for breast imaging based on the accumulation of a radioactive tracer in hypermetabolic cancer cells.

The newly approved system uses Cadmium Zinc Telluride imaging detectors, which replace the Nal detectors that are traditionally used for gamma cameras. The technology is meant to improve early detection for women who would not benefit from conventional mammography, such as women with dense breasts. GE said the breast imaging system would supplement mammography, not replace it as a primary screening tool.

Hitachi Medical Systems America

The Cleveland-based company highlighted its latest software for its Oasis Bore-Less MR system at this year's RSNA, including Tigre-C, a new abdominal imaging feature with increased SNR and temporal resolution. Hitachi also shared the new capabilities for its Echelon 1.5T, such as Blood Sensitive Imaging (BSI) for the depiction of small veins and hemorrhage. The company also demonstrated a new non-contrast MRA technique called Vasc-Asl.

ICRco

On its website, ICRco wrote that the company plans to unveil a new, "never seen" imaging device that "will change how digital imaging is done today."


The secret was revealed at iCRco's booth as Fusion DCR -- the world's first CR and DR device. Fusion enables providers to scan CR imaging plates in the DR unit and is a fraction of the cost of other DR solutions, according to the Torrance, Calif.-based company. More product details are sure to come in the following weeks.

IMIX Americas Inc.

IMIX generated a buzz on the floor with its DRxpress, an entry-level digital radiography system at RSNA. The system offers the benefits of DR at a price comparable to CR or film. Rick Sbordone, the Sterling, Virginia-based company's CEO, told DOTmed News IMIX is particularly excited to offer the new product in the current uncertainty of the health care environment. IMIX will offer monthly payment plans for its solutions, which include hardware, software, service and obsolescence protection to ensure affordability.

KJAYA Medical, LLC


Stamford, Conn.-based KJAYA Medical debuted the VoXcell imaging suite, a cloud-based solution with complete RIS, PACS, image archiving, communication capabilities and a range of advanced visualization tools. The suite's 3D/4D processing enables users to view high volume 3D/4D reconstructed images faster than when using conventional PACS and 3D processing solutions -- a 4D 320-slice CT scan output of 6,700 images is displayed in seconds. Users pay a one-time per-study fee, and those who'd like to try it out first can register for a free 30-day trial online.

Konica Minolta Medical Imaging

The Wayne, New Jersey-based company introduced Aero DR -- its new wireless DR system. The 6.3 pound-Aero DR's flat panel detector includes Konica Minolta's Cesium Iodide scintillator (CsI) and a battery design that aims to shorten charge cycles. Konica Minolta told DOTmed News that the product will be priced competitively with other wireless DR systems on the market.

Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.


At this year's RSNA, the Tustin, Calif.-based Toshiba introduced 160-detector row helical scanning, a scan mode that's now available on the company's Aquilion One and Aquilion Premium CT systems. The new mode can image the entire chest, abdomen and pelvis in less than five seconds -- 2.5 times faster than 64-detector row imaging, according to Toshiba. Because the technology enables radiologists to acquire a routine body scan in less than five seconds, it enhances workflow and allows for a quick scan of people who have trouble staying still, such as trauma patients.

Merge Healthcare

Merge Healthcare's booth invited visitors to fill up on a variety of candy and even take a photo in an orange convertible car but the side of the booth featuring the iConnect Kiosks was also full of interested attendees. The company featured the iConnect Kiosk, a self check-in kiosk that enables patients to check-in and pay bills using the kiosk, freeing the office staff to focus on other tasks.

As a part of Merge iConnect, an integrated software suite, the kiosk is paperless and includes a live assist functionality. This feature allows patients to pick up a phone at any time during the check-in process and speak with a live operator that can answer a question, serve as a guide or even complete the check-in process for the patient. Merge told DOTmed News the product sells for $15,000.

Nuance Communications, Inc.

The Burlington, Mass.-based company announced an advanced radiology reporting and communications platform called PowerScribe 360, which combines features from PowerScribe and RadWhere in one solution. The platform's design is based on extensive customer feedback and offers enhanced speech recognition accuracy. PowerScribe 360 also integrates with Nuance's entire radiology portfolio, including Veriphy, RadPort and RadCube. The company demonstrated PowerScribe 360 at their booth at RSNA and customers were able to purchase the product on the spot.

Stay tuned for highlights from the North Hall and Lakeside Center.