DR & CR Offerings Aim to Transform X-ray Imaging
 
Years ago, digital x-ray imagers had a stark choice between computed radiography (CR) and digital radiography (DR). But that distinction between the capture technologies has waned and the offerings from vendors in either category can satisfy even the most finicky buyer. A variety of vendors are debuting game-changing technologies, such as wireless digital detectors designed to increase the flexibility of digital studies. Enhancements for full-field digital mammography and hardware modifications that make the units more bariatric-friendly also will be on display. You’ll find the menu of digital radiography enhancements and offerings far more plentiful than in recent years. Radiology’s bread and butter is back in the limelight.

Agfa HealthCare (Booth 4800) is highlighting the NX—Agfa’s standard CR workstation for image identification and quality control—that comprises a standalone CR/DR workstation and software designed for use at the point-of-care. Agfa also is featuring its SE software Suite—SE Server, SE Client and SE Standalone. These provide the tools to store, manipulate, manage and digitally output acquired images, for both CR and other modalities. Another highlight is the DX-S CR system, a low-dose system designed for pediatric and neonatal applications.

Biospace med (Booth 2038) is introducing its recently FDA-cleared EOS ultra-low radiation dose x-ray imager along with its new image workstation, sterEOS, which enables 3D skeletal reconstruction.
sterEOS 3D is currently commercially available in Europe and Canada for spine, and is cleared in the U.S. for adult spine patients over 16 years of age.

Canon Medical Systems
(Booth 8313) is showcasing the latest addition to its family of DR systems. The Canon CXDI-60G is a portable, cassette-type, flat-panel detector that is less than an inch thick and weighs 5.9 pounds. In addition, the company is displaying the Canon CXDI-50G portable DR system which has a thin, light-weight design and an imaging area of 14 x 17 inches. The Canon CXDI-40EC DR System, which features the LANMIT 8, is equipped with a 17 x 17-inch imaging area.

Carestream Health (Booth 8342) is debuting a wireless, cassette-size DR detector that can be used with existing wall stand or table-based Buckys. The Carestream DRX-1 System, currently a works in progress, is expected to be available during the first quarter of 2009. It incorporates a console and a wireless 14 x 17 inch (35 x 43 cm) cassette-size detector.

CMT Medical Technologies (Booth 3259) is introducing several new lines of products, based on the PrestoDR that include a baseline unit, the DR Elite, OmniX and GeminiX.

The PrestoDR is a family of DR solutions, available in a variety of dual/single configurations, including PrestoDR Elite—a single-detector upright system, optimized for chest applications; the PrestoDR OmniX—a single detector, multi-purpose universal arm system covering all radiographic examinations; and the PrestoDR GeminiX—a dual-detector solution.

Del Medical Systems Group
(Booth 4234) is featuring its family of full-field, portable DR flat panels. The Gemini 1000, Gemini 1400 and Gemini 1700 models can be integrated into Del’s tables, allowing upgrades or field retrofits to digital imaging systems.

Exxim Computing Corporation (Booth 4741), through its Animage business unit, is spotlighting its Fidex prototype, a multi-modality diagnostic imaging system designed for use in companion animal veterinary practice and research environments. This system combines CT for 3D imaging/visualization, DR, CR and fluoroscopy. Fidex is projected to be available during the third quarter of 2009. 

Fujifilm Medical Systems (Booth 4039) is unveiling its works in progress Unity SpeedSuite-fp. This DR system can perform a variety of exams with a single detector, providing the same clinical flexibility and productivity as its predecessor, but now with Fujifilm’s patented Focused Phosphor Detector Technology. The Unity SpeedSuite-fp is not yet FDA 510(k) cleared for sale in the U.S.

GE Healthcare (Booth 4839) is showcasing a range of radiography systems to match clinical applications and solutions from stationary and dedicated chest units to mobile DR using GE’s Revolution digital detector. The Definium 5000, introduced at RSNA last year, which is a floor-mounted DR system that incorporates the Revolution digital flat-panel detector technology measuring 41 x 41 cm, along with a U-arm that can fit into smaller rooms without the need of ceiling support structures for x-ray tube suspensions. 

The Definium AMX 700, the company’s top-of-the-line DR system, offers a large active image area for a variety of patients, as well as a user interface designed for the mobile workflow.

iCRco (Booth 5616) is debuting its Longbone DR machine, which has a solid-state sealed sensor. The machine has Scan Head Technology that provides one continuous image and thus eliminates stitching.

J2 Medical (Booth 9516) is introducing a host of medical data services to accompany the unveiling of the Gymie-R Cassette Holder along with a complete scaling line for the Akucal x-ray calibration tool. The Akucal includes a sphere reference marker with radiopaque indicators to help remove possible sphere size misinterpretation by embedding the sphere size within the x-ray image.

Konica Minolta Medical Imaging (Booth 3409) is showcasing the availability of its Xpress CR Contact Mammography Upgrade in Canada, currently a works in progress in the U.S. The Xpress CR system delivers both DR and digital mammography solutions.

The company also is featuring its REGIUS Digital Imaging Suite, which offers a DR solution with the flexibility of a combined DR and CR, as well as the Image Pilot CR System, which simplifies image acquisition with AutoPilot Imaging Processing.

Kub Technologies (Kubtec; Booth 1345) is introducing the Xpert 20, a digital specimen radiography system exclusively for the biopsy suite. The Xpert 20 is available with either a 50mm x 50mm detector or a 100mm x 50mm detector in a self-contained, shielded cabinet x-ray system that takes up less space than a PC monitor.

Mobile X-Ray Solutions (Booth 3371) is introducing its new digital retrofit, which integrates enhanced digital capability with the GE AMX-4 Plus portable x-ray machine.

Powered by Cedara Software, the DR unit for portable imaging includes a 17-inch rotating touch-screen monitor, stitching capability and flexibility of choice in detector panels, tethered or wireless, in 14x17 and 8x10 sizes.

Philips Healthcare (Booth 7713) is demonstrating solutions in three customer segments in general x-ray. For high-end DR and fluoroscopy, Philips offers fully integrated solutions based on the Eleva which combines static and dynamic applications from CR, DR and RF.

Philips also is highlighting its FDA-pending wireless flat-panel detector to provide instant image display on Eleva workspots.  The company also is showcasing its Unique image processing, which enhances visualization of subtle image details.

The company is displaying a comprehensive DRF (digital radiography and fluoroscopy) room solution with two digital detectors, one in the vertical stand and one in the table of the EasyDiagnost Eleva.

Planmed (Booth 7307) is demonstrating the Nuance Excel full-field digital mammography (FFDM) unit, which is pending FDA approval. The Nuance Excel exposes women to significantly lower levels of radiation due to proprietary TriFilter technology with a new tungsten x-ray tube, the company says. The Nuance Excel also incorporates the MaxView Breast Positioning System and Side Access patient positioning system for improved mammography imaging workflow and results.

Quantum Medical Imaging (Booth 3668) is unveiling its next-generation of radiographic systems, Q-Rad Digital. The system is expanding options and compatibility for CR and DR digital imaging solutions and technology, including fixed detectors and portable wired and/or wireless detectors.
Quantum also is releasing the QR-LCH - Rolling Lateral Cassette Holder, designed to accommodate Canon, Trixell and Varian portable DR Panels, as well as CR and film cassettes.

Quantum also is highlighting, through its partnership with Agfa HealthCare, the new DiRex-SP Radiographic System; also on display is the QV-9000 Digital Universal Radiographic System.

Siemens Healthcare (Booth 922) is introducing two new digital radiography families of products, the Artis zee and Ysio.

The Artis zee family of angiography, fluoroscopy and x-ray imaging equipment is designed for interventional imaging in radiology and cardiology. Siemens also is debuting a new digital radiography solution—Ysio. It is available in a variety of combinations: as a wall stand with an integrated detector; a wall and table system with a wireless detector; and as a mixed detector solution.

Swissray International (Booth 1809) is presenting a comprehensive package for pediatric radiography. The company also is introducing its lightweight portable DR detector—the ddRPortable detector. Also being unveiled is the Swissray DRive Kit conventional-to-digital conversion package.

Toshiba America Medical Systems (Booth 3429) is showcasing its digital radiography line at RSNA this year, including the multi-functional Kalare x-ray system.

Also on display is the Radrex-I, whose features include: Auto-tracking, Auto-collimation, Auto-program, Auto-center stop; and Auto-stitching. Toshiba also is highlighting its vascular x-ray offerings—the Infinix-i product line.

Varian Medical Systems (Booth 6221) is showcasing the company’s full line of PaxScan flat-panel digital x-ray image detectors for digital radiography (DR), fluoroscopy and cone-beam CT imaging. Among the systems being featured are the PaxScan 4336R, which replaces standard film cassettes in radiographic applications, and the PaxScan 4343R, Varian’s largest panel.

Viztek (Booth 9131) is introducing a portable DR system at RSNA. The 14-by-17-inch portable DR unit integrates with most existing wall stands and table buckys without modification, the company says. The DR panel is enclosed in a durable, lightweight shock- and water-resistant casing that weighs only 8.6 lbs. It has the highest lp/mm at 3.6 with a 100 percent fill factor and features a 14-bit a/d conversion. The new detector will begin shipping in the first quarter of 2009.
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