Newswatch: May 2006

Look What's Coming!

Although the FCR Profect CS from Fuji has been approved for use in Canadian facilities by Health Canada, it is still awaiting FDA regulatory approval for use in the United States.

Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd (Tokyo) has obtained approval from Health Canada for its CR for mammography (FCRm) system to be distributed throughout the Canada. The Canadian approval marks the first time that CR mammography has passed the rigorous Class III approval in North America. Licensed in Canada as the Fuji Image Reader Profect CS, it is the same system for which FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA (Stamford, Conn) currently has a pending premarket approval application before the FDA in the United States. Called the ClearView-CS, it is capable of reading general X-ray and pediatric imaging exams and will be upgraded for mammography application upon FDA approval.

According to Marcelo Di Carli, MD, director of nuclear medicine/PET and co-director of cardiovascular imaging at Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston), "GE's Discovery VCT [above] will enable physicians to access essential functional and anatomical patient data, including perfusion map at rest and peak cardiac stress, CT angiography, and cardiac calcium score, all in one setting."

The Discovery VCT from GE Healthcare (Waukesha, Wis) is, according to the company, the world's first true 64-slice volume CT system fused with PET. The system marries the high-speed, high-resolution capabilities of volumetric CT with the metabolic and physiologic capabilities of the company's PET system. The Discovery VCT is poised to enable physicians to more accurately diagnose and identify heart disease and other conditions, including cancer and neurological disorders.

The Gemini TF is a time-of-flight PET/CT system in which gamma rays are more accurately tracked using minute time measurements.

Philips Medical Systems (Andover, Mass) has developed a new PET/CT system, the Gemini TF. According to the company, the system is the first PET system to use atomic particle time measurements to deliver increased image quality and consistency, helping earlier disease detection in patients. Philips Medical claims to be the first company to take the advantages of the technology, previously demonstrated in a research environment, and translate them into a solution for consistent and reliable clinical use. Philips Medical plans to begin commercial shipments of the Gemini TF this summer.

ScImage (Los Altos, Calif) has released a new cardiology suite for its flagship Web-based enterprise PACS solution, PicomEnterprise. The software is now enhanced in several key areas, including automatic multi-modality image and waveform presentation, measurement tools for echocardiography, single-click stress echo viewing protocols, and the adoption of IHE profiles for cardiac cath and echocardiography workflow.

Sonora Medical Systems Inc (Longmont, Colo) has been awarded US Patent No 7,007,539 from the US Patent and Trademark Office, the third patent awarded for Sonora's FirstCall probe-testing device. These patents relate to the device's ability to test ultrasound probes one element at a time without the necessity of using the ultrasound system. The performance of the elements in a probe dictates the diagnostic quality of the ultrasound examination.

The Infinix DP-i/FD2 vascular X-ray system from Toshiba allows clinicians to perform coronary and vascular studies on the same table without moving the patient, saving time and increasing patient comfort.

New from Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc (Tustin, Calif) is the Infinix DP-i/FD2 vascular X-ray system. Designed as a system that operates like two, the Infinix DP-i/FD2 is equipped with two flat-panel detectors. The company claims it is the only single lab that meets American College of Cardiology guidelines for both cardiac and peripheral work. Designed with one 8- x 8-inch floor-mounted cardiac C-arm and one 12- x 16-inch ceiling-mounted C-arm, the system enables physicians to obtain the high-quality images necessary for performing both detailed peripheral vascular work and coronary studies without compromise for efficient, comprehensive patient care.