All Good Things ...
And just like that, our time at this year's annual meeting has come to an end. Yesterday, meeting registration climbed to an estimate 61,726 attendees. Today, Thursday, many RSNAers boarded planes and headed home, just in time before this weekend's forecasted Chicago snowstorm.
It was a pleasure covering the action live from McCormick Place. With the rapidly changing face of the industry, one can only begin to imagine what new and enhanced innovations will be in store for us in a year's time. See you next November!
More News ... After the Show
The exhibits are closed for the night, but radiology is still in the air…or better said, “on the air.” On the 6PM ABC World News, Charles Gibson just reported the “bad news” about CT scans. According to the latest study in the New England Journal of Medicine, CT scans expose patients to 200 to 300 times more radiation than an x-ray – raising the risk for cancer. Moreover, study author, Dr. David Brenner says over 20 million adults and 1 million children undergo unnecessary CT scans each year. …Fortunately, so many at RSNA are working toward reducing dosage.
Listen Up!
M*Modal is changing the way speech recognition is done. A demo convinced us that the company’s “speech understanding” product is truly revolutionary. As one representative put it, “It produces the text, but with context and meaning,” transforming the quality and accuracy of exam interpretation. Head on over to M*Modal’s booth and hear all about it.
Booth Traffic Up
Vendors in both the North and South halls say business is booming. Many claim the traffic this year is better than last year’s. …. No sign of the DRA at RSNA.
Merge Debuts Teleradiology Service
Here’s a real “first.” Consult PreReads is a premium image pre-reading service provided by skilled remotely-based radiologists. That’s right, “pre-reading” not final readings. Merge calls it an “industry changing” service that promises to make imaging centers more productive and profitable.
What's New From NEC?
Several monitors and displays. Stop by NEC's booth, S 2976, and see the MultiSync LCD 6520. It's a 65-inch, high-res monitor that's available in portrait or landscape versions. Large and colorful, it's ideal for training, rounds and use in the OR. ... Look for NEC's "green" monitor, too. It's a brand-new LED display.
Swanky Digs
Way back in the North Hall, digital radiography manufacturer Swissray is serving up smoothies and assorted coffee in its DReam Lounge, which looks to be a hit this year with attendees. It's set up like a trendy lounge, complete with a bar, dim lights and modern decor. Best thing about it? In the space, the company is offering free massages. Now that's a way to draw a crowd.
Windy City, Windy Morning
Gray clouds fill the sky. Mini tornadoes of leaves form on sidewalks. Talk of a snow flurry later in the day. There was no mistaking it this morning: Wednesday is a cold one! But while the wind chill may have scared away the sun, dedicated RSNA attendees continued to file into McCormick Place. In less than 3 minutes, the floor will be open to all.
The Most Eye-Appealing Modality
Don't miss the digital x-ray equipment for orthopedic applications offered by European newcomer to the market, BiospaceMed. The equipment looks like a contemporary phone booth or an amusement park ride -- perfect for pediatric patients and long-bone applications. Stop by S 5534 and take a look.
Have a Ball with Codonics
This year's simple-but-makes-you-smile giveaway? Codonics' "blinking, bouncing musical ball.
Race Over to Covidien's Booth
Take part in their "contrast agent delivery system challenge." It's a fun way to learn about risks when it comes to administering contrast agents."
Confirma Conference
In Room E252 of the Lakeside Learning Center, Dr. Constance D. Lehman and Dr. A. Joseph Borelli Jr. gave presentations on how applications of Confirma CADstream worked wonders in their fields of breast and prostate imaging. Lehman, director of radiology at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, said CADstream was a "powerful tool" that improved diagnostic accuracy and reduced false positives in breast imaging. Later, Borelli, medical director of MRI at Belfair in Bluffton, S.C., said the solution represents "the future of the diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer — accurately in three dimensions with minimally invasive means."
One Last Tidbit about Stand-Up MRI
Fonar's booth attracted a decent crowd of curious spectators, who listened to a company rep talk about how the technology can diagnose and monitor sciolosis in a way that is safer than traditional methods. A National Cancer Institute Report showed a 70 percent higher risk of breast cancer for women with scoliosis, the speaker said, adding that radiation exposure was a factor. During a more in-depth tour of the booth, people are able to see an assortment of images that showed the benefits of flexion and extension positioning of patients.
Most Unique Innovation...
... here at the show has got to be Fonar's Stand-Up MRI. The company announced yesterday that its radiation-free technique now utilizes new software and a new receiver coil to achieve a single picture of the entire spine in the upright position. Oops, just took a look at the time and must get to the Confirma press conference, which started a minute ago! More on Fonar, and news from Confirma, in a bit...
Power Hour
Packed in two meetings in the past hour, and both vendors were happy to share some great developments.
First up was Candelis, set up in the North Hall. The company's ImageGrid RIS/PACS Appliance was recently picked up by A. L. Lee Memorial Hospital, a facility with 67 in-patient beds that needed to implement PACS with limited time and financial resources. Candelis' fully integrated multi-modality product, in the form of a single piece of hardware, is available at a fraction of the price that other vendors are offering, said Hossein Pourmand, vice president of Business Development. He also added that the company has made a deal with Sony to be the designated reseller of its FILMSTATION product.
At the other end of the hall was InSite One, a digital archiving, storage and disaster recovery service provider who reported strong growth for its fiscal year 2007 close in September. Its InDex Archive reached more then 20 million studies, an accomplishment that company representatives attribute to their limitless, pay-as-you-go cost model. Its solution has been contracted by Los Angeles-based Good Samaritan Hospital, Georgia-based Bert Fish and Arizona-based Sierra Regional Health Center, among others. It also has been fully integrated with Fuji Synapse PACS.
Another Day at RSNA
Today, Tuesday, the sun shines brightly, a guise for the chilly wind that bit RSNA goers as they stepped out of their cabs and shuttle buses. Still, attendees have arrived in full force, and with 20 minutes to go until the start of today's meeting, the line at Starbucks Coffee seems to have tripled itself in the last 30 seconds. They're gonna need the caffeine to traverse the crowds at the various booths! In fact, a warm hot choco doesn't sound like a bad idea right now ...
Eliminating Dashboard Radiology
The last press conference of the day was courtesy of software development company Compressus Inc., who teamed up with Advanced Radiology Consultants of Illinois to improve the practice's physician efficiency and patient safety. Through the implementation of Compressus' MEDxConnect Enterprise Systems Integration solution, ARC was able to achieve quicker diagnostic turnaround, from 18 hours to three. It's about bringing the "right information to the right radiologist at the right place at the right time," according to ARC President John Anastos, who is also chair of radiology at Advocate Lutheran Hospital.
Just Announced
The Toshiba press conference just wrapped, and all are abuzz about the company's dynamic volume CT, called the Aquilion One. After 10 years in the production process, the product aims to serve as a single, comprehensive, low-dose exam requiring just one contrast injection. With an estimated value of $2.5 to 2.8 million, the whole body scanner has received FDA clearance and is slated for commercial release by next summer. Multislice ends at 64, declared Toshiba representatives.
Speaking of displays ...
Just met with Patrick Oelkers of Planar Systems Inc., based in Oregon, who showed his company's 16 megapixel, 30-inch grayscale medical display. It's the first of its kind in the entire world to be introduced, he said, adding that the product features an open architecture design and side-by-side image comparison capability. Expect to see this on the market next summer.
Downtime Thoughts
The last 24 hours have been quite a whirlwind, so it was a relief to find a (relatively) quiet table, equipped with hard-to-find power outlets. The downstairs area, a world away from the fast pace of the North and South halls, is conducive to reflection — must make use of this hideway before the hungry RSNA attendees come down here for lunch!
Without further adieu, here are some of the most memorable encounters:
DataScout, an automated solution from the folks at CodeRyte, allows physicians to extract clinical information from free-text and structured medical records in a fast and easy way. By broadening and narrowing the search field, a user can discover practice patterns, in addition to viewing patient history and research studies. Available to CodeRyte's customers for the past year, the program seems entirely user-friendly.
Most thorough presentation thus far was executed by CoActiv President and CEO Edward C. Heere, who described and demonstrated his Exam-PACS enterprise solution with much affection and with great detail.
Sure, RSNA serves as a venue for the latest scanners and monitors to be unveiled, but it was very random to see a glistening, red Ford GT in Viztek's booth. Founder and President Josip Cermin explained with a smile that the car's turbo power is akin to the speed and delivery of digital images that his company's Opal-RAD solution allows for. Hey, it might be a stretch, but we'll take it!
And They're Off: Day Two
Shoes are being shined and coffee is being poured, as a swarm of radiologists, medical physicists and others file into McCormick Place. A number of vendors mentioned that yesterday was merely a warm-up day, and only now can one truly understand that statement. It looks like a fresh batch of attendees have arrived, energized and ready to go!
Big Idea for Small Patients
Don't miss Philips' "Ambient Experience" which features a mini-CT Scanner for pediatric patients to play with in order to get more comfortable with the procedure. An alligator swallows a key -- and the scanner lets the child see it inside the gator! Great fun for kids and smart way to relax them and parents, too.
Scope and Scale
Note to self: "Meet me in front of the GE Booth" is not a practical way to meet up with a colleague. The company's booth, like some of those for the other major vendors here, takes up nearly a full city block.
Write Here, Right Here
The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance has set up a computer station near the entrance to the North Hall where RSNA attendees can write Congress and tell them to put an end to budget cuts. The Deficit Reduction Act is definitely being felt.
CT In The City
Toshiba and Philips both announced new entries in the CT arena today. "Slice" is so last year. This year is all about total image in less time with less contrast agent. GE, too, is focused on "HD CT" -- hi-def, dual energy technology that's all about improved image quality and reducing dosage.
Meeting Time
Power-walking was key to making the trek from the Lakeside Learning Center in time for the morning's first appointment, with Arnauld Dumont, of France-and Los Angeles-based Fogale. He explained that his company quantifies theoretical information in the form of high accuracy dimensional metrology sensors and systems, currently used by GE. Look for Fogale's recent development of anti-3D contouring technology, in addition to a planned future venture into medical device detection.
More Opening Remarks
Although Jay L. Korach, president of the Chicago Radiological Society, feared he lacked the creativity exhibited by past speakers, the crowd swelled with laughter while watching his highly amusing man-on-the-streets interviews captured on video. During his excursion through the Windy City, he asked city natives if they had any idea of what exactly RSNA was, and further, if they knew what exactly radiologists did (they didn't). Congrats to award recipients, including Robert A. Novelline, Bruce J. Hillman, and Anthony Proto, in addition to posthumous honoree Edward C. Nagy, a research advocate.
Sunday Festivities Begin
People began trickling into the Arie Crown Theater here at McCormick Place around 8 this morning, and a half hour later the place was nearly filled with attendees awaiting the opening remarks of RSNA President R. Gilbert Jost. Techno music boomed, and the stage was adorned with a futuristic backdrop — fitting conditions for Jost's presentation on "The Evolution of the Digital Age and its Impact on Radiology's Future."
Let Us Give Thanks...
Despite dire predictions, travel into Chicago wasn't horrible: Flights generally seemed to be on time, the weather was clear - not until the highway out of O'Hare was there traffic.
Today, the doors open at RSNA! We're here and ready to give you all the latest.
From Chicago and the biggest show in radiology, here is the RSNA Buzz. Whether you’re missing this year’s gathering of the Radiological Society of North America or catching up in your hotel room after a full day of RSNA, you will find interviews, product launches, and other news here. We’re covering it all live through Nov. 29. Then, look here for archived postings.
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