New Products: BeCrypt, CIVCO, Cordis, Merge, SonoSite, Xemarc
BeCrypt plans to soon release a configurable operating system that fits on a USB thumb drive, for secure use in unmanaged environments, at InfoSec Europe, April 24-26, in London. The system, known as Trusted Client, enables a secure environment on an unsecure host and can be used for thin-client applications, web or email access or for stand-alone applications. All information on the USB thumb drive, including the operating system, is encrypted and protected with boot time authentication to ensure confidentiality and integrity of data.
Trusted Client removes the need for laptops, providing remote access to systems and removing the need for two computing systems where users work at different levels of security classification.
The bootable operating system, held on the USB thumb drive, is customised to contain applications and security functionality. The strength of the solution comes from the encryption of the media on which the operating system is stored, and user authentication in order to boot the operating system into its preconfigured environment.
CIVCO Medical Solutions introduced a new, disposable endocavity needle guide for use with Ultrasonix EC9-5 transducer. The EC9-5 biopsy guide is engineered to direct minimally invasive instruments by following on-screen guidelines, providing the imaging professional with a fixed path of guidance and a standard of precision in biopsy procedures. The use of a needle guide aids in procedural efficiencies and patient comfort, leading to better patient care.
Packaged in procedure kits, CIVCO’s needle guide snaps securely to the transducer locating features, guiding instruments according to on-screen guidelines. The over-molded design of the needle guide features zero needle resistance for smooth movement and navigation and increased patient safety during puncture procedures. The single piece design of this endocavity guide features a large funnel for instrument insertion and will not compromise cover integrity during set-up. The disposable design of the guide reduces the risks associated with cross-contamination and for easier clean-up between procedures.
Also, CIVCO released a new guidance system for use with Siemens’ 9L4 transducer. The 9L4 multi-angle needle guidance system is designed to work in conjunction with biopsy software on Siemens’ ACUSON Sequoia ultrasound platform, and offers physicians reduced technique variability, providing a shorter learning curve and reduced procedure time. Siemens’ 9L4 needle guidance system utilizes a two-part system consisting of a custom reusable biopsy bracket and the Ultra-Pro II disposable snap-on needle guide. The Ultra-Pro II needle guide now incorporates more flexibility and advanced features to increase productivity during ultrasound-guided procedures. The needle guide directs instruments according to on-screen software guidelines and features a larger tab for improved quick-release function, allowing easy detachment of the needle from the transducer.
Cordis Corporation launched its Dura Star Rx Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) dilatation catheter. The dilatation balloon is now available in Europe and will be introduced in other regions, including North America, later in the year.
The catheter facilitates the post-delivery expansion of stents in coronary arteries and is suitable for tackling tortuous anatomy and calcified lesions (blockages). It has been designed to provide interventional cardiologists with controlled and even expansion of the balloon to the correct diameter, minimizing the potential for artery damage to the patient.
The Dura Star Rx PTCA Catheter is suited for use in both drug-eluting and bare-metal balloon-expandable stents. Its short and soft tip facilitates crossing stent struts and calcified lesions. Designed to reduce the risk of "kinking" (twisting back on itself) and equipped with a lubricating coating, the DURA STAR Rx PTCA Catheter provides easier delivery to the site of a lesion, especially in challenging cases. The balloon is available in various lengths from 10 to 30 mm and from 2.25 to 4.0 mm in diameter.
Merge Healthcare will showcase its new Merge Mammo version 7.0 at the 8th Postgraduate Course of the Society of Breast Imaging, April 14-17, 2007 in Hollywood, Fla. The system is a multi-modality, vendor-neutral digital mammography workstation application that enables organizations to display and read images from different systems simultaneously (digital mammography, ultrasound, MR, CR, etc.), and to read all breast studies on a single workstation, regardless of which vendor's acquisition device is used to secure the images. The helps the process of changing or adding digital mammography acquisition devices across an enterprise, and with pulling in prior studies for comparison from various modalities. Automation and customization features enable radiologists to read with the same throughput as hardcopy. In addition, Merge Mammo can be interfaced with any existing DICOM-compliant PACS solution.
Merge Healthcare also said it recently participated in the IHE North America 2007 Connectathon in the Mammography Image Profile, and passed for both Image Display and Image Manager/Image Archive.
SonoSite Inc. introduced an image resolution upgrade for the MicroMaxx system together with a series of enhancements to improve clinical workflow. The new capabilities include SonoMB technology, a proprietary multi-beam imaging algorithm that dramatically improves image resolution. Also included are advances in fundamental and harmonic imaging for abdominal applications, automated image optimization, and credentialing worksheets for recording exams in emergency medicine. Existing customers can easily and securely upgrade their MicroMaxx systems to the new capabilities via compact flash card at no charge. MicroMaxx systems incorporating these new advances have begun shipping globally.
Xemarc has developed a fully positional Measurement Calibration Marker (MCM) Stand to facilitate patient positioning of their MCMs, positioning in difficult places (e.g. between a patient's thighs), and to diminish the chance of lost calibration objects. Xemarc's MCM is used as a calibration standard to correct for the enlarging of body parts inherit on radiographs produced by the penumbra effect, thus producing true sizing of the parts. This is extremely important in precise pre-surgical planning.
The MCM Stand is made of radiolucent materials and is manufactured with either a Xemarc 25mm or one-inch MCM permanently attached. The position of the MCM is only limited by the length of the flexible 18-inch radiolucent gooseneck. Custom requests for the length of the gooseneck can be accommodated at no additional charge (up to 30 inches).
Trusted Client removes the need for laptops, providing remote access to systems and removing the need for two computing systems where users work at different levels of security classification.
The bootable operating system, held on the USB thumb drive, is customised to contain applications and security functionality. The strength of the solution comes from the encryption of the media on which the operating system is stored, and user authentication in order to boot the operating system into its preconfigured environment.
CIVCO Medical Solutions introduced a new, disposable endocavity needle guide for use with Ultrasonix EC9-5 transducer. The EC9-5 biopsy guide is engineered to direct minimally invasive instruments by following on-screen guidelines, providing the imaging professional with a fixed path of guidance and a standard of precision in biopsy procedures. The use of a needle guide aids in procedural efficiencies and patient comfort, leading to better patient care.
Packaged in procedure kits, CIVCO’s needle guide snaps securely to the transducer locating features, guiding instruments according to on-screen guidelines. The over-molded design of the needle guide features zero needle resistance for smooth movement and navigation and increased patient safety during puncture procedures. The single piece design of this endocavity guide features a large funnel for instrument insertion and will not compromise cover integrity during set-up. The disposable design of the guide reduces the risks associated with cross-contamination and for easier clean-up between procedures.
Also, CIVCO released a new guidance system for use with Siemens’ 9L4 transducer. The 9L4 multi-angle needle guidance system is designed to work in conjunction with biopsy software on Siemens’ ACUSON Sequoia ultrasound platform, and offers physicians reduced technique variability, providing a shorter learning curve and reduced procedure time. Siemens’ 9L4 needle guidance system utilizes a two-part system consisting of a custom reusable biopsy bracket and the Ultra-Pro II disposable snap-on needle guide. The Ultra-Pro II needle guide now incorporates more flexibility and advanced features to increase productivity during ultrasound-guided procedures. The needle guide directs instruments according to on-screen software guidelines and features a larger tab for improved quick-release function, allowing easy detachment of the needle from the transducer.
Cordis Corporation launched its Dura Star Rx Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) dilatation catheter. The dilatation balloon is now available in Europe and will be introduced in other regions, including North America, later in the year.
The catheter facilitates the post-delivery expansion of stents in coronary arteries and is suitable for tackling tortuous anatomy and calcified lesions (blockages). It has been designed to provide interventional cardiologists with controlled and even expansion of the balloon to the correct diameter, minimizing the potential for artery damage to the patient.
The Dura Star Rx PTCA Catheter is suited for use in both drug-eluting and bare-metal balloon-expandable stents. Its short and soft tip facilitates crossing stent struts and calcified lesions. Designed to reduce the risk of "kinking" (twisting back on itself) and equipped with a lubricating coating, the DURA STAR Rx PTCA Catheter provides easier delivery to the site of a lesion, especially in challenging cases. The balloon is available in various lengths from 10 to 30 mm and from 2.25 to 4.0 mm in diameter.
Merge Healthcare will showcase its new Merge Mammo version 7.0 at the 8th Postgraduate Course of the Society of Breast Imaging, April 14-17, 2007 in Hollywood, Fla. The system is a multi-modality, vendor-neutral digital mammography workstation application that enables organizations to display and read images from different systems simultaneously (digital mammography, ultrasound, MR, CR, etc.), and to read all breast studies on a single workstation, regardless of which vendor's acquisition device is used to secure the images. The helps the process of changing or adding digital mammography acquisition devices across an enterprise, and with pulling in prior studies for comparison from various modalities. Automation and customization features enable radiologists to read with the same throughput as hardcopy. In addition, Merge Mammo can be interfaced with any existing DICOM-compliant PACS solution.
Merge Healthcare also said it recently participated in the IHE North America 2007 Connectathon in the Mammography Image Profile, and passed for both Image Display and Image Manager/Image Archive.
SonoSite Inc. introduced an image resolution upgrade for the MicroMaxx system together with a series of enhancements to improve clinical workflow. The new capabilities include SonoMB technology, a proprietary multi-beam imaging algorithm that dramatically improves image resolution. Also included are advances in fundamental and harmonic imaging for abdominal applications, automated image optimization, and credentialing worksheets for recording exams in emergency medicine. Existing customers can easily and securely upgrade their MicroMaxx systems to the new capabilities via compact flash card at no charge. MicroMaxx systems incorporating these new advances have begun shipping globally.
Xemarc has developed a fully positional Measurement Calibration Marker (MCM) Stand to facilitate patient positioning of their MCMs, positioning in difficult places (e.g. between a patient's thighs), and to diminish the chance of lost calibration objects. Xemarc's MCM is used as a calibration standard to correct for the enlarging of body parts inherit on radiographs produced by the penumbra effect, thus producing true sizing of the parts. This is extremely important in precise pre-surgical planning.
The MCM Stand is made of radiolucent materials and is manufactured with either a Xemarc 25mm or one-inch MCM permanently attached. The position of the MCM is only limited by the length of the flexible 18-inch radiolucent gooseneck. Custom requests for the length of the gooseneck can be accommodated at no additional charge (up to 30 inches).