CHICAGO — Konica Minolta showcased a number of new technologies slated for release in 2018 last week at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual conference.

The products include its image processing solution, REALISM; two new AeroDR HD Wireless Flat Panel Detectors; and its web-based tool for imaging departments, AeroRemote Insights. It also showcased new enhancements to its existing Exa Platform.

Below is brief overview of their capabilities:

REALISM:

The REALISM advanced image processing system enables physicians to process soft tissue and bone data separately to provide more clarity to different areas of the image, enhancing sharpness and contrast to reveal subtle aspects for assessing even the most difficult anatomies.

“It allows the physician to make a more complete diagnosis and hopefully, avoid having to take another image,” Guillermo Sander, senior marketing manager – Americas at Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, told HCB News. “If we can avoid another x-ray, the patient’s happier due to fewer exposures and shorter exams. It just makes for more efficient processing and you get a quicker diagnosis.”

The system also works with Konica Minolta's CR technology, adding great new value to more legacy systems. REALISM reduces the need for window-level adjustments by creating visualizations of the bone and soft tissue simultaneously.

REALISM, launched in November, adds clinical value across a wide range of Konica Minolta products and is now available on the latest version of the CS-7 software.

Aero DR HD flat panel detectors:

REALISM is further strengthened by the addition of Konica Minolta’s AeroDR HD Wireless Flat Panel Detectors, with two new sizes set for release on the market this January.

With the 10”x12”, clinicians will be better able to image fine structures of smaller anatomies, such as extremities, and can also evaluate infant health in neonatal intensive care units by fitting inside incubators to perform x-rays. The 17”x17” is wider and square, making it better suited for imaging large anatomical areas, such as the thorax, chest and abdomen. Because it is larger, it also can be used for stitching legs and spines, and it does not need to be rotated, enabling quicker exams.

All AeroDR HD panels allow clinicians to switch between high definition (HD) and high dynamic range imaging (HDR). AeroDR HD produces images of 100 micron pixel size for a high level of detail while HDR imaging aggregates data from four pixels for a wide range of grays, allowing for images that reveal subtle details in soft tissue.

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