Health Imaging & IT - January 2008 - (Page 30)

In Review RSNA 2007 IN-Depth @ RSNA360.HealthImaging.com [ Siemens SOMATOM Deﬁnition screenshot ] choose different sizes of film, print in color and see high resolution grayscale. Examples of two approaches to printing included Agfa HealthCare’s new Drystar imager, based on thermal contact technology and Carestream Health’s new DryView 6800 laser imager. Ü Reading Services: Round-the-clock reading More and more images equal more need for reads, and that’s good news for reading services. RSNA 2007 saw vendors such as Emory Night and Day Teleradiology, Franklin & Seidelmann Subspecialty Radiology, International Teleradiology, NightHawk Radiology Services, Templeton Readings and Virtual Radiologic highlight expanded and extended services. Teleradiology services, now offered for every imaging subspecialty, can perform preliminary as well as final reads 24/7/365 and can even place radiologists on site. In response to the array of advanced imaging modalities, most remote reading service providers have added subspecialty reading expertise to their repertoires. On the off-shore front, teleradiology service newcomer Merge introduced imaging consultations by radiologists not certified by the American Board of Radiology to provide U.S. radiologists with double-read exam consults for their final interpretation. Ü Speech turns the corner Speech recognition has made the transition from an unproven, bleeding edge system to a demonstrated operational asset. “Speech recognition has crossed the chasm of acceptance. This year, we’re seeing more sites seriously evaluating speech,” said Mark Ivie, MedQuist senior vice president and chief technology officer. Other providers, Nuance Communications and Philips Speech Recognition Systems, also pointed to increased market penetration. New speech features on the show floor enabled greater customization and deeper integration with RIS and PACS, but the major show news centered on partnerships and acquisitions that serve as a foundation for integration with other solutions. Nuance, for example, acquired Commissure and Vocada. Ü Furniture offers more mobility Vendors displayed a variety of upgraded workstations, mainly driven by radiologists requesting more efficient and ergonomic reading room solutions. Some tables have been outfitted with the ability to move up and down electronically, while others have the ability to tilt the entire workstation toward the viewer. With the touch of a button, AFC Industries’ Ergo Tier DX can be moved in a variety of ways. RedRick Technologies displayed the options of moving individual monitors. Anthro showed its work-in-progress, next-generation Carl’s Table with a suede surface to prevent papers from sliding off when tilted. Ü Molecular imaging provides possibilities Spend five minutes with any developer of molecular imaging technology and one thing becomes clear—they are passionate about the potential and possibilities of this field of healthcare. There was plenty of proof of the fusion imaging capabilities of modalities such as PET/CT and SPECT/CT. A multispectral system from Carestream may be the next milestone for molecular imaging fusion modalities. Currently available for in-vivo, small-animal imaging, the system incorporates multispectral fluorescence, luminescence, digital x-ray and radioisotopic imaging. Philips showed its Mosiac HP PET system with new software and the NanoSPECT/CT for in-vivo animal imaging. Developers such as Gamma Medica-Ideas and MEDX introduced dual-head gamma cameras as well as portable gamma cameras. Technology developments include new devices for breast, thyroid, oncology and cardiac applications. PET and PET/CT spotlighted new applications for interpretation and improved workflow from companies such as GE, Siemens, Merge and Thinking Systems that will continue to refine and expand in cardiac, [ Philips NanoSPECT ] oncology and breast imaging. Ü Advanced visualization gets fine tuned Advanced visualization applications surged in all areas of diagnostic imaging. Distribution of ad viz technology across the enterprise was the news. And, while dedicated workstations could be located throughout the halls, thin-client applications appear to be gaining traction. A recurring theme in this market sector was enhanced workflow and throughput with vendors such as Vital Images, Visage Imaging, TeraRecon, Barco, ScImage, Emageon, Carestream, Philips, Cedara, Siemens, GE and Fujifilm Medical Systems. Temporal and functional enhancements, fly-through capabilities, advanced segmentation, and image co-registration functionalities were among the tools showcased that offer clinicians a new paradigm for diagnostic image interpretation. 30 Health Imaging & IT | January 2008 HealthImaging.com http://RSNA360.HealthImaging.com http://HealthImaging.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Health Imaging & IT - January 2008

Health Imaging & IT Table of Contents On the Web The Enterprise: Is More Better? News Update A Look Inside Next-Generation Multidetector CT Convention Spotlight: RSNA in Review RIS/PACS in the Imaging Center Sweden: A Study in Mammography Excellence The Votes are in: Yea for Speech in U.S. Capital & Beyond Subspecialty Reading Services: Quality Reads, Peace of Mind, 24/7 Enterprise Lung CAD Eases Workflow Advertisers Index Company Index Coming Soon Stat Sheet

Health Imaging & IT - January 2008

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