top from left: Deus Technology’s RS-2000 unit, Fujifilm’s FCR Velocity, and Kodak’s CR 850 bottom from left: Konica’s Xpress CR system, and the Ultimax from Toshiba

DR and CR continued to increase their presence and importance on the RSNA show floor this year. New products debuted as well as enhancements, yet more conventional x-ray products continue to advance as well.

The big attraction from GE Medical Systems (GEMS of Waukesha, Wis.) was its new vascular flat panel system, the Innova 4100. Innova 4100 provides detailed, real-time fluoroscopic images for interventional procedures. The large-format system provides 10 times the dynamic range and a 37 percent larger field of view than other systems. Studies completed on Innova 4100 require fewer X-ray images, lower doses and fewer injections of contrast dye than current systems. Image quality is enhanced via GE’s Revolution digital flat panel detector. GEMS set a goal of installing 100 Innova 4100 systems by the end of 2003.

GE also debuted a new conventional radiography and fluoroscopy system — the all-digital Precision 500D. The new system features a 12-bit CCD-based camera; improved user interface; spectral filtration to minimize absorbed dose during fluoroscopy; and AutoEx dynamic exposure optimization. AutoEx is designed to maintain consistent image quality throughout the exam. The option of pulsed fluoro is intended to enhance productivity by reducing setup time. Precision 500D also is configured for DICOM connectivity.

GEMS further showed its Revolution XR/d general DR system and Revolution XQ/i vertical DR system optimized for chest films. Both systems are based on the Revolution flat-panel digital detector. The FDA has approved both tissue equalization segmented optimization and dual energy subtraction.

Please refer to the January 2003 issue for the complete story. For information on article reprints, contact Martin St. Denis