At RSNA 2017 in Chicago, FUJIFILM Medical Systems U.S.A., Inc., is unveiling its brand new suite of solutions for pediatric patients. Each solution was designed specifically to combat the challenges associated with treating children while focusing on efficiency, low radiation dose and convenience.

With RSNA right around the corner, Johann Fernando, PhD, chief operating officer of FUJIFILM Medical Systems U.S.A., Inc. and Diku Mandavia, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer of FUJIFILM SonoSite Inc. and FUJIFILM Medical U.S.A. Inc., sat down with Imaging Innovation to discuss these new solutions.

Fujifilm has been providing imaging solutions for decades. Why is the company launching a pediatrics portfolio now?

Johann Fernando, PhD: With a patient population as unique as pediatrics, it is natural for Fujifilm, a company rooted in over 80 years of technology and innovation, to develop technology special to pediatrics. Pediatric patients deserve unique care. That’s why our focus is on sharper images and gentler dose. Fujifilm’s unique pediatric benefits include proven safety, comfort, access to a holistic imaging record and trusted protection to capture, segregate and manage data.

Fujifilm has a wide range of solutions that leverage our company’s core fundamental technologies to improve patient outcomes. From our exclusive patent-pending Hydro AG coating that assists in infection controls to help prevent HAIs, to the offering the world’s first single exposure long length DR detector solution, Fujifilm is committed to innovation that provides patient safety and enables our customers to change lives.

What makes Fujifilm the right solutions provider for pediatric patients?

Diku Mandavia, MD: Fujifilm has continually invested in research and development, recognizing that our imaging roots gave us the expertise to innovate, design and manufacture. The result is world-class, highly versatile core technologies—all with a tie to photographic film, with the versatility to allow us to invent and innovate new products and services for diverse businesses that will shape not only our future, but will change lives.

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Innovation in our products showcases our commitment to changing lives. With Fujifilm’s DR solutions, our customers don’t have to sacrifice image quality when opting for low dose. For example, the FDR D-EVO ™ detector’s high sensitivity through patented circuitry designs, coupled with our latest advanced image processing and our customized pediatric exam menus, allows pediatric imaging providers to push the envelope in lowering dose. On the ultrasound side, we’ve developed the Vevo® MD, the world’s first ultra-high frequency ultrasound system. It delivers the highest resolution possible in medical ultrasound when imaging the first 3 cm of the body. With its transducers designed for the smallest of patients, the Vevo MD helps visualize tiny anatomy not visible with conventional ultrasound.

From an enterprise imaging perspective, what’s new about these pediatric solutions?

Johann Fernando, PhD: Fujifilm’s enterprise imaging solutions enable secure and holistic access to pediatric imaging data and records. Synapse® suite, including PACS, VNA, CV and 3D, facilitates real-time image collaboration and offers security with a single enterprise viewer, anonymized data and secure images centrally in the data center.

One new feature of the Synapse 5 PACS is that it offers server-side rendering technology that enables instant access to massive datasets using the most popular browsers. These features offer flexibility to doctors with speed, while still maintaining secure patient images and data.

Can you take me through some of the challenges radiologists and technologists face when imaging pediatric patients and reading their exams? In what ways do these new solutions help users combat those issues?

Diku Mandavia, MD: There are many challenges associated with pediatric imaging, especially when the top priority is patient safety. First, many technologists and radiologists are concerned with dose exposure for pediatric imaging. Another concern that can impact dose is patient movement, as it can result in poor image quality. In this case, techs may need to conduct another exam, which exposes the patient once again. The good news here is that the latest DR technology allows for much lower dose than CR and it shortens the exam time, minimizing time the patient has to remain still.

The new pediatric suite of solutions from Fujifilm provides solutions to address challenges by ensuring safety, precision, comfort and trusted protection of data.

A lot of today’s conversations about pediatric imaging revolve around radiation dose and keeping that dose as low as possible. How was dose taken into account when these solutions were being designed?

Diku Mandavia, MD: Our DR technology is built with dose in mind, which is why Fujifilm is the ideal pediatrics partner. Technologists can reduce patient dose up to 50 percent with the help of Fujifilm’s Virtual Grid elimination software compared with grid exams. That difference is crucial when dealing with our smallest patients.

One of our newest products that is popular among children’s facilities is the FDR D-EVO GL panel, which remedies challenges such as dose, retakes and patient movement. Many pediatrics patients have trouble keeping still, especially in a foreign setting such as the exam room, and movement can result in the need for a retake. The panel offers a single exposure, which results in a speedier exam and reduces the potential for retakes.

Will these new solutions be on display at RSNA 2017 in Chicago? What else can attendees expect to see from Fujifilm at the big show?

Johann Fernando, PhD: At RSNA 2017, we will unveil the full pediatrics portfolio, featuring a comprehensive range of products. In addition, we will display our newest solutions from our full portfolio, including women’s health, digital radiography, healthcare IT and ultrasound.

We will also offer two educational events for attendees. Our Innovations in Mammography for Improved Patient Care is a complimentary symposium, and Fujifilm will convene industry experts for an evening of networking and discussion along with a distinguished panel of global opinion leaders in women’s health to explore the latest strategies and technologies in the use of digital breast tomosynthesis in the fight against breast cancer.

In addition, we’ll be sponsoring Potential Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning on Imaging, a “Lunch & Learn” event about how artificial intelligence and machine learning are assisting in the development of new predictive tools within neuro imaging, changing the way researchers study aging and Alzheimer’s disease.