Advanced visualization applications are breaking new ground in answering the challenge of interpreting ever-increasing image data sets. Most notable in this year’s class of applications is a focus by developers on thin-client applications, allowing the utilization of the technology on multiple computing platforms across the enterprise. This strategy allows access to the rich feature set of advanced visualization to the entire clinical community; which, in turn, should drive greater demand for further development of these tools for medical specialties.

3DR Laboratories (Booth 1206) is demonstrating its two main product lines at RSNA that include its outsourced 3D post-processing service and 3DR thin-server capacity on a 24/7 basis. In addition, the company is spotlighting its online technologist training product, 3DR Academy.

Agfa HealthCare (Booth 4800) is displaying its suite of Impax-based advanced visualization capabilities including the introduction of a new enterprise image and result viewer and a works-in-progress data center viewer.

Impax Registration and Fusion provides radiologists with a set of automated tools for comparing high-resolution images. The application supports the comparison of images from both the same image types and in multimodality cases.

Impax OrthoGon is an automated measurement tool for orthopedic and pediatric specialties that guides physicians through complex measurement schemes using a series of prompts.

Impax X-ray Angio Analysis is an application that offers a comprehensive package for reviewing vendor-independent DICOM x-ray angio CR and RF diagnostic images.

Impax Virtual Colonoscopy enables a physician to start reading a complete CT colonoscopy data set in about 20 seconds. The application is not yet available in the United States.

Agfa also is introducing its new Impax Mobility solution, an ultra-thin, web deployable image viewer that provides a rich set of 2D and 3D image review and manipulation tools.

BioSpace Med (Booth 2038) is featuring its new sterEOS 3D reconstruction and measurement workstation. The application creates, from two simultaneously captured planar images, a 3D image of the adult spine. The sterEOS 3D software is currently available in Europe and Canada. It has FDA 510(k) clearance in the United States for spine studies of patients older than 16.

Carestream Health (Booth 8342) is demonstrating the native advanced visualization capabilities of its PACS for diagnostic imaging interpretation and clinical viewing. Native applications for the Carestream PACS platform include 3D, vessel and cardiac analysis along with specialized tools for evaluating mammography images.

ContextVision (Booth 1545) is launching GOPView iRVPlus, an adaptive image enhancement and dose-reduction software solution for interventional radiology. GOPView iRVPlus relies on an adaptive algorithm that enables the software to distinguish between noise and artifacts. GOP technology can be used with MRI, x-ray and ultrasound systems.

Definiens (Booth 3672) is introducing a new image analysis application that allows radiologists to analyze lymph nodes volumetrically and compare them over time. The technology enables radiologists to rapidly and accurately identify, analyze and track lymph nodes of interest. It will be commercially available in Europe in early 2009.

EDDA Technology (Booth 203) is premiering the new release of its IQQA-Liver Enterprise solution which provides a toolset for real-time assessment of volumetry of liver, liver lobes and segments, hepatic lesions and vascular structures from CT.

FiatLux Imaging (Booth 2645) is introducing enhancements to its Visualize 3D application, which is engineered to run on PCs. The firm’s Visualize 3D software uses DirectX game programming technologies and off-the-shelf video graphic cards to deliver image reformations from CT and MRI scans.

Fovia Medical (Booth 9546) is demonstrating native support for integration of embedded polygon objects within volumetric datasets. The technology allows developers to accurately render polygon objects interfacing with a volume containing transparency. The firm also is demonstrating capabilities of its CPU-based High Definition Volume Rendering (HDVR) client/server solution.

GE Healthcare IT (Booth 5529) is introducing Oncology Workflow for Centricity PACS-IW and the Xeleris for Nuclear Medicine Advanced Imaging for Centricity PACS.

The Centricity PACS-IW Oncology Workflow integrates PET/CT fusion and SUV measurement capabilities into the web-based PACS-IW. This option automatically fuses and displays rotating MIPs from source axial series acquired from multi-vendor PET/CT scanners.

The Xeleris provides advanced imaging toolsets for the viewing and analysis of perfusion and metabolic pathways in SPECT/CT and PET/CT studies.

Infinitt North America (Booth 4054) is rolling out Xelis, a new line of dedicated 3D software products for advanced viewing and diagnosis. The company is showcasing its Xelis-Colon application, designed to improve detection of colorectal polyps through correlation of 2D and 3D images.

Intuitive Imaging Informatics (Booth 4655) is featuring 3D on ImageQube web-based PACS. On ImageQube—a product developed in partnership with Calgary Scientific—server-based 3D functionality delivers a simple interface for on-the-fly 3D rendering in a thin-client approach, bringing 3D visualization to remote physicians.

Kjaya Medical (Booth 3472) is showcasing its VoXcell, a FDA 510(k) advanced visualization solution. VoXcell enables physicians to stream 2D axial slices and 3D reconstructions to any basic desktop or mobile PC that can access a cable, DSL, or cellular broadband internet connection.

Medis Medical Imaging Systems (Booth 3338) is presenting a measurement software portfolio for neuroradiology and showcasing its QMass MR quantification application.

The portfolio’s flagship product is QBrain for calculation of volumes and volume changes in brain MRI, offering objective insight into disease development and the success of patient treatment.

The company also is presenting its cardiac MR software solution QMass MR 7.1, with functionality for the automatic contour detection of the right ventricle in cardiac MR images.

Merge Healthcare (Booth 4058) is displaying the capabilities of the firm’s Cedara I-Response. A PET/CT Analysis package enables users to compare SUV values over multiple time points. A Functional Diffusion Mapping (fDM) Analysis package can track changes in tumors at the metabolic or cellular level over multiple time points.  

MIMvista (Booth 2015) is highlighting its Serial Exam Review, MIM for Radiation Oncology and MIMneuro package.

MIMvista’s Serial Exam Review allows for the tracking of abnormalities between time points from any number of exams from multiple modalities, which can be automatically linked or fused for comparison.
MIM for Radiation Oncology features automatic deformable contouring and the MIMneuro package now includes automated workflow for epilepsy analysis performing ictal-interictal SPECT subtractions and MR co-registration.

Philips Healthcare (Booth 7173) is demonstrating three advanced visualization tools in its iSite PACS. The newest iSite PACS release features advanced visualization capabilities (MPR, MIP and 3D surface volume rendering) to speed the reading and consultation of volumetric datasets such as multidetector CT and MR cases.

Philips also is highlighting the 3D capabilities of its BV Pulsera C-arm system and its multi-purpose interventional x-ray system, MultiDiagnost Eleva.

ScImage (Booth 4013) is demonstrating the functions and features of its Gated SPECT as part of its overarching advanced visualization toolset for radiology and cardiology. The firm says its web-based Gated SPECT now has automatic display normalization and the ability to adjust the window/level of the stress series, the rest series, or both independently.

Siemens Healthcare (Booth 922) is showcasing its advanced imaging solutions and 3D applications featuring syngo Colonography PEV and syngo TrueD. syngo Colonography PEV (Polyp Enhanced Viewing) is an automated second reader tool for the visualization of lesions in the colon. The latest version of syngo TrueD includes numerous workflow-enhancing features, such as user-configurable layouts and new volume of interest trending analysis tools.

TeraMedica (Booth 3006) is introducing its new Evercore - Univision Advanced Visualization (AV) Enterprise Image Viewer to RSNA attendees. The Univision module can be configured to allow users access to non-DICOM clinical content that has been attached to the patient record or the patient’s study.

TeraRecon (Booth 209) is spotlighting the features of its Aquarius family of advanced visualization services including enhanced clinical capabilities for its Aquarius iNtuition.

The Aquarius iNtuition client includes a set of tools for cardiovascular anatomy and morphology; endovascular aortic aneurysm repair planning; time density analysis clinical tools; and segmentation, analysis and tracking tools for facilitating tracking and assessment of structures.

In addition, it has MR analysis for breast imaging; MR cardiac clinical tools; and a new 360-degree filet view provides a complete retrograde and antegrade view of haustral folds.
 
Visage Imaging (Booth 7139) is showcasing new applications on its Visage CS thin client visualization system. The company is demonstrating several improvements and new tools for clinical applications, such as CT/MR angiography, stent graft planning, cardiac analysis, neuroradiology, oncology and virtual colonography.

Vital Images (Booth 9103) is featuring its Vital Enterprise offering, a comprehensive package of clinical solutions, education, consulting and maintenance. The firm says that Vital Enterprise enables unlimited enterprise access to its complete solution offering.

Ziosoft (Booth 7957) is debuting its Ziostation 3D thin-client system for the U.S. market. The Ziostation provides a full suite of advanced 3D analysis tools and is based on a unified thin-client architecture that requires no proprietary or specialized hardware components.