Compression Paddle from American Mammographics

Far left: The S.O.F.T. Paddle.
Left: Diffuse dense glandular tissue taken with a conventional paddle (left) and the S.O.F.T. Paddle (right).

American Mammographics Inc (Chattanooga, Tenn) has released the S.O.F.T. Paddle (special optimized full-compression tilt paddle) as an alternative to the standard flat-compression paddle in screening mammography. The tilted design of the 18x24-cm S.O.F.T. Paddle allows better compression of the midbreast and nipple—where compression is needed most—while still permitting chest wall imaging without over compression. The degree of tilt also makes the procedure more comfortable for patients. FDA-cleared, the product is available for most major brands of mammography equipment, including GE Medical Systems, Lorad, and Siemens.

www.mammospot.com  • 800-626-4301

CMOS Sensor-Based Digital Camera from ELDIM
ELDIM (Herouville Saint Clair, France) has developed LABCam, a scientific-grade digital camera that is CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) based. Acting as an alternative to CCD systems, the camera provides 1 megapixel resolution, a 10-bit per pixel sensor for rapid data acquisition, wide measurement range, and data-transfer rates of 480 Mbps through a standard interface. LABCam comes complete with camera control and data processing software. Optional features include a photopic filter for photometric measurements and a cooled sensor version.

www.eldim.fr  • 312-327-5260 (French Technology Press Office, Chicago)

Additional Blob Analysis, OCR Functions from Coreco
Coreco Imaging (Montreal) has added new software tools to extend the functionality of its Sapera Processing, the company’s API for image processing and analysis. New functions include blob analysis routines that provide high-speed measurement of up to 60 different blob features as well as an optical character recognition (OCR) reader that supports solid, dot matrix, and user-trainable font sets. In the works is a gauging tool.

www.imaging.com  • 514-333-1301

Radiology Information System from medQ
medQ (Dallas) has released Q/ris 3.0, a feature-rich radiology information system. The system uses a three-tier architecture and promotes component-based implementations in which reporting and advanced features can be purchased as needed. Q/ris 3.0 is both HIPAA and IHE compliant; the system communicates in HL7 and DICOM formats. Available now, Q/ris 3.0 has several pricing options that are based on implementation.

www.medQ.com  • 214-221-6330

Uninterruptible Power Supplies from MGE
MGE UPS Systems Inc (Costa Mesa, Calif) has enhanced its Pulsar ellipse line of uninterruptible power supplies with new universal communication interfaces and beefed-up surge protection. Also, the company reduced the line’s prices by 5% to 10%, depending on the model. Available in power ratings from 300 VA to 1,200 VA, the ellipse models now include all-in-one USB and serial connectivity on all communication-ready models. Cables for both connectors are included. The models also feature filtering of voltage surges and line noise as well as protection from “back door” damage from disturbances through phone or Ethernet lines.

www.mgeups.com/us  • 800-523-0142

Surgical Documentation System from Smith & Nephew
The Endoscopy Division of Smith & Nephew Inc (Andover, Mass) has launched the 640 Image Management System (IMS), a surgical documentation solution used to store, access, and distribute intraoperative patient reports, digital surgical video clips, and digital images. Built off of the 635 IMS, the system adds Windows 2000 compatibility, an enhanced GUI, and support of a touch panel input display. Another addition includes the ability to export the information via the facility’s network or to save multiprocedural information to a hard disc drive and CD. With support for standard paper printers, hard-copy documentation is available on the 640 IMS as well.

www.smith-nephew.com  • 978-749-1000

Digital Asset Management Solution from Objective Data Storage
Objective Data Storage (ODS of Columbia, Md) now offers the MediDisc System, a solution for receiving, storing, recalling, and recording digital images on CD and DVD. Developed in alliance with Verbatim Corp (Charlotte, NC), the system was designed specifically to handle the large quantity of vital data generated in medical imaging. Equipped with one or more CD/DVD recorders and a built-in server, users can receive DICOM images over the healthcare facility’s network, from the central archive, or directly from the medical-imaging systems themselves. The patient image studies then can be stored locally, “pushed” to another workstation, or written to a serialized MediDisc CD or DVD.

www.objectivedatastorage.com   • 800-622-8732

Power Strip from Tripp Lite
Tripp Lite (Chicago) has introduced the PS-606-HG, a power strip with hospital-grade plug and receptacles. Featuring an all-metal housing and six outlets, the strip has a 6-foot power cord, a 15-A resettable circuit breaker, and keyholes/flanges for optional mounting. The company offers additional power strips that feature hospital-grade plugs and receptacles as well as 15-foot power cords: PS-615-HG (six receptacles), PS-415-HG (four receptacles), and RS-1215-HG (12 receptacles and a 1U rack-mount housing).

www.tripplite.com  • 773-869-1111

PET Functionality, Endoscopic Visualization from Voxar

Above: A long axis oblique PET image of the heart.
Left: A 3-D endoscopic view showing the bifurcation of the trachea.

Voxar Ltd (Framingham, Mass) has released v.4.2 of Voxar 3D, which now can visualize and analyze image data from PET scanners in addition to MDCT and MRI studies. The new functionality allows PET data to be viewed using the company’s 2-D, 3-D, MPR, and MIP reconstruction tools. The new version also incorporates 3-D endoscopic visualization, a noninvasive method that provides a fly-through view of hollow anatomic regions to improve localization and characterization of pathology, such as endoluminal lesions, stenoses, and aneurysms. Finally, v.4.2 features an anonymizer, which allows radiologists to remove protected health information from DICOM images stored in or transferred to/from Voxar 3D.

www.voxar.com  • 877-869-2733