The new initia CR 1000 system from Agfa features a digitizer, plates/cassettes, ADC QS software on a PC, and an imager.

Agfa (Mortsel, Belgium) features initia, its modular computed radiography system designed to be adaptable to the changing needs of small hospitals, image centers, and private radiologists. According to Agfa, initia systems are complete, comprised of four building blocks, including a digitizer, plates/cassettes, ADC QS software on a PC, and an imager.

In the digital radiography (DR) realm, Agfa offers the DR-Thorax, which it developed to meet the high-throughput needs of a dedicated chest room. The system offers touch screen to speed workflow, and permits the rapid identification of each patient study. Once the patient is in position, a technician simply has to enter patient study information and identification is completed automatically. The technician need only select the study required; then the DR-Thorax system automatically adjusts to suit, based on predefined settings.

Canon Medical Systems (Irvine, Calif) is offering a full range of DR solutions for every general radiographic application. The core component of each system is Canon’s Amorphous Silicon (a-Si) flat-panel sensor, which produces high-quality images without the time or costs associated with film or cassette handling.

Offered with multiple wall stand and table configurations, the Canon CXDI-40G can capture X-ray images from almost any position or angle. Canon’s CXDI-40C is designed for most general radiographic applications and is offered with Canon’s 17 x 17-inch sensor that, according to the company, produces high-quality diagnostic images at lower patient exposure times. Designed for demanding general radiography, trauma, and bedside care applications, Canon’s portable CXDI-50G offers a 14 x 17-inch imaging area. Canon also offers a more compact and lightweight portable system, the CXDI-31, featuring a 9 x 11-inch sensor.

Featuring one-hand operation and modular components, Del Medical’s new DRV is a versatile system appropriate for virtually any radiographic procedure.

Del Medical Imaging Corp (Franklin Park, IL) plans to exhibit its new flat panel digital radiography technology. The new system, called DRV, is built on Del Medical’s RadView platform. According to the company, DRV is simple to use and versatile enough for virtually any general radiographic procedure. With such features as one-hand operation, modular components, service laptop diagnostics, and the latest X-ray field laser light positioning, Del Medical says DRV delivers high productivity and a significant improvement in image quality.

All of Del Medical’s DRV systems are either digital flat panel ready or field upgradable. System configurations include an elevating table, a choice of high-frequency generators, floor-mounted or ceiling-mounted tube stands, wall receptors, and other accessories like linkage-free electronic tomography.

Edge Medical Devices introduces Scanned Matrix Array Readout Technology (SMART), its new, ultra-thin proprietary scanner.

Edge Medical Devices Inc (Hackensack, NJ) is showcasing its Scanned Matrix Array Readout Technology (SMART) a new technology that replaces the active matrix array used in other flat-panel detectors with an ultra-thin proprietary scanner. According to the company, active matrix arrays contribute significantly to the high cost of traditional flat-panel detectors. Capabilities of the new scanner include advanced image processing software with a streamlined user-interface; exam-specific processing that, according to the company, optimizes image quality for different clinical studies; and an integrated, programmable, automatic exposure control that eliminates the need for rotation when the bucky is adjusted for upright or recumbent exams.

FUJIFILM Medical Systems (Stamford, Conn) is exhibiting its Velocity system, which features the company’s advanced Fast LineScan Technology that provides 9-second image views and 240 image-per-hour throughput. According to Fuji, Velocity provides the same productivity level as digital radiography flat panel systems at a fraction of the price. Using a linear light source and CCDs with a large aperture photodiode, Fast LineScan technology reads and erases the imaging plate at unprecedented speed. A new imaging plate, consisting of a thicker layer of powder phosphor, Fuji says, enables a more efficient use of incident X-ray energy.

GE Medical Systems (GEMS of Waukesha, Wis) is exhibiting a full family of radiography systems, ranging from stationary and dedicated chest units to mobile and digital radiography systems. Leading its digital lineup is GEMS’ Revolution XQ/i digital radiographic system, followed by the Revolution XR/d, which, according to GEMS, delivers consistently outstanding image quality over the full range of traditional radiographic procedures. Revolution XR/d systems are available in one- or two-detector configurations (vertical receptor stand with or without elevating table).

The foundation of GEMS’ DR imaging technology is the Revolution digital detector, which the company claims delivers the industry’s highest detective quantum efficiency (DQE) and translates directly into image quality that is at least the equivalent to that of film. According to GEMS, a number of system attributes contribute to image quality, including Automatic Exposure Control, collimation and image adjustment, image processing that gathers more information from every exposure, and a 2Kx2K matrix that helps ensure a healthy balance between spatial resolution and image-dataset size.

Huestis Medical remanufactures select diagnostic imaging equipment, including this GE AMX 4 portable X-ray unit.

Huestis Medical (Bristol, RI) is exhibiting select, remanufactured X-ray diagnostic imaging equipment, including a GE RFX table with digital imaging capabilities and a GE AMX 4 portable X-ray unit.

Huestis also is showcasing new options for its X-ray collimator products: a cross-hair laser target system for faster, more accurate patient positioning; spectral filters that allow adjustment of beam quality across a broader range of techniques; and input port shuttering to reduce penumbra and scatter for improved image sharpness and contrast. Huestis collimators are available in both automatic and manual models.

The PlatinumOne system from InfiMed provides digital X-ray imaging in the RF, urology, and angiography departments.

InfiMed Inc (Liverpool, NY) plans to show an array of products, including the StingRay DR, a flat panel digital retrofit imaging system for radiographic rooms, and the new PlatinumOne system, which InfiMed claims offers its best image quality to date. Advanced software developments from InfiMed offer one-click exam setup, customizable settings, and automatic image review to decrease exam setup time. The StingRay DR system enables digital capture, storage, and transfer of general radiographic images. And with its universal bucky replacement system, the StingRay DR serves as an upgrade solution for all industry-standard equipment. The system uses the Trixell Pixium 4600 flat-panel detector with a custom-designed, high-speed imaging system. The result, according to InfiMed, is full-resolution image acquisition in less than 8 seconds, with significantly reduced dose.

In addition, InfiMed is showing the PlatinumOne RF and DSA, which offer digital X-ray imaging for RF, rrology, and angiography applications. The systems feature the Innovision digital CCD camera, which combines CCD sensor technologies with InfiMed software. The camera has low-light sensitivity, which allows for a reduction in dose without compromising image quality.

Users can process more than 60 plates per hour with Kodak’s DirectView CR 500 system.

Kodak’s Health Imaging Group (Rochester, NY) debuts its new DirectView CR 500 system. Based on Kodak’s DirectView CR platform in a tabletop design, the CR 500 processes more than 60 plates per hour and provides an image for review in less than 60 seconds (based on 35 x 43-centimeter cassettes). The CR 500 supports the same image processing software and easy-to-use operator interface as other Kodak DirectView CR systems. According to the company, The CR 500 provides an affordable option for smaller facilities that might be implementing CR technology for the first time, and it allows hospitals to place tabletop CR units in clinics, ICUs, and other specialty areas.

Konica Minolta Medical Imaging says its Xpress CR system offers the fastest DQE in the industry.

Konica Minolta Medical Imaging (Wayne, NJ) is featuring its high-throughput dual-bay Xpress CR system and a recently introduced software upgrade, which, according to the company, will enhance the ease-of-use and reliability of its flagship diagnostic imaging solution. Touting the fastest cycle time in the industry (40 seconds), the dual-bay design allows two cassettes to be inserted in as little as 6 seconds as well as the continuous insertion of four cassettes before one must be removed. In other words, as many as 90 plates can be processed in an hour. The company says its system delivers exceptionally sharp images and has the highest DQE in the industry by nearly 40 percent. Konica Minolta is introducing a software upgrade, v1.00 Release 4, which features auto masking, new HIPPA compliance enabling tools (multi-level user log-in, auto log out, and audit trail log), and other improvements like a user-activated backup job manager.

Orex’s enhanced CR system is lighter and presents a 50% less footprint than the system that preceded it.

Orex Computed Radiography (Auburndale, Mass) is introducing a range of new features and enhancements to its CR system, including increased speed and throughput of up to 75 cassettes an hour on a single scanner; quicker time to second cassette, independent of cassette; and up to 150 cassettes per hour on the dual scanner. Now weighing in at 44 pounds, Orex’s system offers a lighter weight and a compact footprint, the latter of which is 50% less than the current model says the company.

Orex systems are offered as a complete system that includes a filmless laser scanner, erasable phosphor plates, advanced image management software, and a PC-based review station. Scanners include the new PcCR 1417 ACLxy, capable of scanning 75 plates per hour, and the dual-reader RAIS (Redundant Array Integrated System) 2 ACLxy, which scans 150 plates per hour. Included with the scanner is Orex’s advanced image enhancement and management software, custom developed by Viztek, a specialized software developer. It supports image manipulation, annotation, measurement, and more.

Philips X-Ray’s MultiDiagnost Eleva offers extended vascular and interventional procedure capabilities.

Philips X-Ray (Andover, Mass) is showcasing the Eleva family of X-ray systems, including the MultiDiagnost Eleva, EasyDiagnost Eleva, and the OmniDiagnost Eleva. The MultiDiagnost Eleva, launched at RSNA 2002, is a multipurpose X-ray system with extended vascular and interventional procedure capabilities. The EasyDiagnost Eleva is Philips’ conventional R/F system with a range of applications, including electronic tomography. The OmniDiagnost Eleva is a multifunctional remote control X-ray system for diverse RF applications, including tomography.

Eleva is Philips’universal X-ray system that offers a broad functionality for demanding clinical environments. According to Philips, at the heart of the Eleva family is the Eleva concept, which permits the customization of a variety of operator-, exam-, and patient-related parameters. Philips’ Eleva X-ray systems also are offered with an intuitive user interface that simplifies all functional control and image processing procedures. Philips simplifies system integration to existing RIS by automatically activating appropriate pre-sets to increase procedural efficiency and minimize the risk of mistakes.

The QV-800 UNIVERSAL Digital Imaging System from Quantum Medical Imaging features an economical universal C-Arm design.

Quantum Medical Imaging (Long Island, NY) is featuring its QV-800 UNIVERSAL Digital Imaging System, introduced at RSNA 2002. According to Quantum, the system is an ideal solution for facilities that want to explore digital technology, but are concerned about the cost of entry associated with traditional DR systems that rely on two separate image receptors. Because the QV-800 features a universal C-Arm design, it requires only a single imaging receptor, which holds down cost, yet allows for all patient examinations.

Among its new product introductions, Quantum is debuting an elevating version of its QT-711 float-top mobile able, the QT-711-EV. Offering 600-pound patient load capacity, the motorized elevating feature lowers the table to 22 inches and elevates it to 34 inches to facilitate patient transfers.

Quantum also is introducing a new floor-mounted version of its Q-RAD radiographic system with direct DR interface ability; a new servo-driven floor-mounted tube stand; and Q-Vision, a new touch-screen X-ray generator line.

Siemens Medical Solutions (Malvern, Pa) is featuring the AXIOM Artis dTA, the first digital ceiling-mounted universal angiography C-arm system. Equipped with flat-panel detector (FD) technology, this new system, Siemens says, enables comprehensive routine diagnoses with advanced 3D image quality. It also provides maximum radiation protection and optimal network connectivity. According to the company, the FD technology delivers optimal image quality and superior contrast resolution, allowing clinicians to view even the finest structures in detail, and provides the potential for new future applications. This system also comes equipped with an integrated optional ultrasound solution

Swissray International (Elizabeth, NJ) plans to stage an interactive demonstration of its high-capacity direct digital Radiography (ddR) system family, including the ddRModulaire that features the protocol-driven eXpert 4000 control desk; the ddRModulaire Plus with tube rotation for off-detector exams; and the ddR Combi, designed for the trauma environment and featuring flexible, automated ceiling suspension of the X-ray tube.

Toshiba America Medical Systems (TAMS of Tustin, Calif) is exhibiting a full range of imaging solutions. Leading its offerings is the Infinix VC “i” series platform, featuring completely new architecture based on dual PC processors and 1 Megapixel CCD. Designed for interventional and diagnostic cardiovascular exams, the Infinix VC “i” offers a simple component upgrade to dynamic flat-panel detector technology. Ultimax is TAMS’ all-digital multipurpose system that accommodates a range of vascular and nonvascular exams. Offering a small footprint, Ultimax systems come standard with 1 Megapixel CCD imaging, a multitasking processor, and a DVD archive. Efficiency Plus is TAMS all digital R/F system with an 80-kW generator; 1 Megapixel CCD imaging; and a choice of 12-,14-, and 16-inch image intensifier sizes.

TAMS also introduces a high-volume hospital-grade system called the T.Rad Plus. Available in floor or ceiling mount configurations, T.Rad Plus features an 80-kW generator and provides for optional tomography and static flat-panel detector upgrades.