FDA Approves new CAD Sytem, from Fischer Imaging and CADx Systems, Kodak expands its RIS System, New Scholarship offered for radiology technicians, NY Physician still petitioning for dual Nobel Prize
Kodak Plans Expansion of RIS System
Eastman Kodak Co (Rochester, NY) will soon take its successful RIS 2010, already available in Europe and Australia, to US medical facilities.
The company said it will expand the radiology information system in the United States during 2004. “Since almost 80% of US hospitals have radiology information systems that are more than 10 years old, a large opportunity exists to install new systems,” said L. Jeffrey Markin, general manager of Health Care Information Systems and vice president of Kodak’s Health Imaging Group. “We also see the potential for integrating these systems with other Kodak medical imaging technology.”
He added, “The rapid adoption of fully integrated PACS/RIS platforms is explained by the tangible benefits these systems offer hospitals in improving operations in the radiology department. At our current RIS 2010 installations, we commonly hear that the platform has greatly improved both workflow management and workflow speed.”
In May, Kodak completed a RIS 2010 installation at John Hunter Hospital in New South Wales, Australia, which performs approximately 87,000 radiological examinations per year. The company is now completing installation of RIS 2010s in seven other regional hospitals, which comprise Hunter Area Health Service.
“We’ve certainly seen changes in terms of productivity and efficiency since the installation of RIS 2010,” said Michael Symonds, general manager of Hunter Health Imaging Service. “Processes within our unit have become much more transparent—this has improved workflow, particularly in the pre- and post-exam phases of our operation.”
In addition to PACS/RIS, Kodak’s Health Imaging Group offers digital medical image capture technologies, such as Kodak DirectView computed radiography and digital radiography systems, which capture X-ray images digitally and support the healthcare community’s move to digital technologies.
Markin added, “As the convergence of information and images happens over time, we expect that health care providers will transition to digital imaging at their own pace. As hospitals look to purchase PACS/ RIS-integrated technology, Kodak is committed to providing the customized solutions and individualized service and support that health care facilities need.”
 New Scholarship for Technicians IntroducedRadiology technicians will soon be allowed to pursue management degrees, thanks to a newly launched scholarship program. Amersham Health has teamed up with the ASRT Education and Research Foundation to provide six ASRT members with $5,000 scholarships to pursue master’s degrees in business administration, health care administration, or another master’s program in health care management. Under a 3-year pilot program, the first two Amersham management scholarships will be awarded for the 2004–2005 academic year. Two additional scholarships will be awarded during the 2005–2006 academic year, and two more will be awarded during the 2006–2007 academic year. The ASRT Education and Research Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists. “Amersham Health recognizes the need for scholarship support for practicing RTs who already may be in management roles within their hospital or clinic settings but who need financial assistance to attain a graduate degree in health management,” said Craig Small, product manager of diagnostic X-ray for Amersham. “As such, Amersham Health is pleased to support this exciting new scholarship program. The Foundation is accomplishing a great deal in its efforts to increase scholarships, and Amersham Health is enthused about this new collaborative effort.” Robert Walker, RT(CT)(MR)(QM), FASRT, chairman of the foundation’s Board of Trustees, added, “Amersham recognizes the value in the Foundation’s initiatives. On behalf of all the trustees, I thank them for supporting this scholarship program and for their commitment to the Foundation.” Amersham Health is a provider of products and services for diagnostic imaging. The company develops innovative diagnostic and therapeutic solutions, with a focus on cardiology, neurology, and cancer. Applications for the Amersham Management Scholarship are available on the foundation section of the ASRT Web site at www.asrt.org. Applications for the 2004–2005 academic year must be postmarked by February 1, 2004. |
Novamed becomes part of EMI dealer network
Eclipse Medical Imaging (Vacaville, Calif), has expanded its dealer network to include third-party asset management service organization NovaMed Corp (Trumbull, Conn), a medical imaging community for the sales, maintenance, and repair of medical imaging and biomedical equipment for their customers. This addition to EMI’s dealer network extends EMI’s sales and service capabilities in the Northeast with NovaMed’s focus on selling refurbished CT scanners and CT simulation solutions, as well as providing the service for those sales.
Through the expansion of its dealer network, EMI expects to significantly extend its national presence in both the oncology and radiology markets. According to the company, partnering with organizations like NovaMed provides EMI with the valuable resources of organizations that have well-respected reputations and established service presence in both the biomedical and medical imaging markets.
“This partnership creates expanded opportunities for our clients,” said EMI CEO Robert Costa. “By working with NovaMed Corp, we can now offer our health care clients not only cost-effective CT solutions for radiology and oncology, but also local sales and service support throughout the East Coast. This includes capitalizing on NovaMed’s vast experience in technical support. It is an excellent demonstration of EMI’s commitment to providing the highest-quality personnel and technologically sophisticated services.”
EMI’s extensive refurbishment process is a 72-point factory reconditioning process that includes mechanical and electrical overhaul, cosmetic touchups, and upgrades to bring the system to an “as-new” condition. EMI’s two founding members—Mark Bringolf, former vice president of operations with ADAC Laboratories Radiology Solutions, and Robert Costa, former vice president of Operations of ADAC’s Radiation Therapy Product line—have a combined 30 years of experience in radiology and oncology services.
Agfa announces new contracts
Agfa Corp (Ridgefield Park, NJ) has been awarded two new, 3-year, multi-source contracts by the group purchasing division of Premier Inc, Premier Purchasing Partners LP, to provide film and medical imagers at competitive terms and conditions to the alliance’s 1,500-member hospitals. The contracts, with a combined value of approximately $200 million a year, name Agfa Corp as a provider of a comprehensive assortment of medical film and imagers, including conventional wet film, mammography film, cine film, dry film, and both wet and dry imagers.
Agfa’s entire line of diagnostic film, media, and imagers is included in the contracts. This includes its newest imager, the DRYSTAR 5500, as well as the DRYSTAR 4500M, the only FDA-cleared dry digital imager able to print on both 8 x 10- and 10 x 12-inch media.
Effective November 1, these new contracts are the latest in a progression of Agfa’s ongoing relationship with Premier and its member facilities that dates back to 1995.
R2 installs CAD system in Greek hospital
R2 Technology Inc (Sunnyvale, Calif) has announced that its ImageChecker CT CAD system has been installed at IASO General Hospital in Athens, Greece, a move that will allow the hospital to detect lung nodules in MDCT images of the chest.
Introduced commercially in Europe in March 2003, the ImageChecker system with OmniCAD technology is a comprehensive lung nodule detection and analysis system. Its CAD algorithms automatically detect potential areas of interest to increase physician accuracy by decreasing observational oversights, as well as provide workflow-enhancing tools, including automatic measurement and characterization information of the detected lung nodules. Combined, the integrated system is designed to improve radiologist efficiency and aid in making clinical decisions.
“We are very excited to be the first clinical installation of CAD for lung CT images. We strongly believe in the value of CAD as we were also the first hospital in Greece to have CAD for the detection of breast cancer,” said Abraham Ghiatas, MD, chief of radiology at IASO General Hospital. “I expect CAD will significantly enhance the quality of chest imaging by increasing the diagnostic accuracy for lung nodules and decreasing the rate of lung nodules missed in our initial review.”
Previously, Ghiatas was on the faculty of the University of Texas Medical School and served as chief of radiology at the Audie L. Murphy Veterans Administration Hospital (San Antonio, Texas). IASO General Hospital was officially placed in the service of health care needs of Greek citizens in April 2003 and is reportedly the most modern medical facility in Greece as well as one of the top in Europe. Fully renovated with state-of-the-art technology, IASO General Hospital has a capacity of 222 beds and employs 250 general practitioners plus 700 fully trained medical, nursing and support staff.
R2 Technology’s proprietary CAD technology provides detection of nodules in chest CT exams taken for any clinical indication, not just for lung cancer screening studies. R2 Technology has conducted extensive clinical trials to demonstrate that the use of the ImageChecker CT CAD system improves radiologists’ performance in the detection of lung nodules on MDCT exams. The three-phase trial involved five academic institutions and imaging centers with more than 30 participating radiologists. Assisting in the development of this novel technology were Christian Herold, MD, University of Vienna; Roberto Passiarello, MD, University of Rome; and Philip Grennier, MD, University of Paris.
“The installation of the ImageChecker CT for lung nodule detection, the first customer placement of a CT CAD system, is a major milestone for R2, for CAD, and for the growing number of radiologists who use CAD to increase early detection,” said Michael S. Klein, president and CEO of R2 Technology. “This innovative technology helps identify areas that warrant a second review by radiologists, and has the potential to increase lung cancer detection, just as our ImageChecker system for mammography has been shown to improve the early detection of breast cancer. Like all of our products, the ImageChecker CT is based on our open-architected and scaleable OmniCAD technology.”
The company’s OmniCAD development plan calls for other CT applications, such as pulmonary embolism detection, temporal comparison and follow up of abnormalities, and other modalities, like projection chest CR/DR, to follow in subsequent releases.
| Physician seeking share of nobel prize ups the ante New York physician and inventor Raymond Damadian, already leading a media campaign to protest his exclusion from this year’s Nobel Prize for medicine, appears to be upping the ante in his efforts to be included. Damadian recently took out another full-page ad in The New York Times, this time appealing to the two winners to let him share the prestigious award. “It’s time for the two winners to help right this wrong and insist that Dr. Damadian be included in this year’s Nobel Prize for medicine,” said the advertisement, which cost about $122,000. In earlier ads in The Washington Post and The New York Times, Damadian said Nobel winners Paul C. Lauterbur of the University of Illinois and Sir Peter Mansfield of the University of Nottingham, England, made technological improvements based on his work. Damadian, 67, owns a patent on magnetic resonance imaging machines and is president and founder of Fonar Corp (Melville, NY). In interviews days after the $1.3-million award was announced, Damadian accused the Nobel committee of “rewriting history.” He said there was place for three awardees, and the panel had pointedly excluded him. The Nobel committee in Stockholm said it was convinced the award was correct. A Nobel Prize cannot be appealed. Damadian discovered in 1970 that differences between cancerous tissue and normal tissue could be seen using nuclear magnetic resonance, a precursor to MRI technology. His company makes and designs MRI scanners. In a separate column in The New York Times, the director for the Center for History of Recent Science at George Washington University in Washington, DC, said those who made precursor discoveries in medical science had been included and excluded from Nobel prizes over the years. |
Sonosite introduces mobile ultrasound system
SonoSite is set to formally introduce the SonoSite TITAN, a mobile ultrasound system designed to capture high-resolution, diagnostic-quality images across health care environments and to enable easy storage and retrieval of those images wherever and whenever they are needed.
TITAN is based on SonoSite’s proprietary ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) chip technology, which integrates millions of transistors onto one circuit. SonoSite’s engineers customized ASIC chip technology for use in ultrasound, creating the TITAN engine, which has three ASIC chips housed on a single circuit board. As a result, TITAN is compact in design, easily upgradable, boots up quickly, and is highly resistant to failure, according to the company.
TITAN includes color power Doppler (CPD) and pulsed wave (PW) Doppler; tissue harmonic imaging (THI); M-mode; SiteLink DICOM; on-board DICOM; a triple transducer connect; an LCD screen that is large enough to accommodate easy viewing of images; and a user interface is intuitive to enable radiologists to focus on the patient, not operating the machine.
Intelerad Announces Web-Based Viewer
Intelerad Medical Systems Inc (Montreal) has introduced the diagnostic InteleViewer, a full-featured JPEG 2000 Web-based viewer for diagnostic users. The InteleViewer features include a radiologist worklist for reading management, advanced connectivity with digital dictation and other enterprise productivity tools, customization for user preferences through hanging protocols, and lossless and lossy compression levels adjustable by modality to speed communications over all bandwidths. The user-friendly application is launched using the InteleBrowser Web interface and employs an advanced streaming protocol to speed image distribution from server to user by progressively refining image detail as it is displayed.
According to the company, the new diagnostic viewer complements the existing InteleViewer for non-diagnostic users to create a consistent intuitive interface for image access for all users, whether radiologists, referring doctors, or consulting clinicians.
“These products provide cost-effective solutions to common workflow problems that persist in radiology, most notably in the private practice and teleradiology markets,” said Chris Henri, executive vice president of Business Development for Intelerad Medical Systems. “The declining cost of PACS is allowing smaller hospitals and private practices to go digital, and they are demanding a full range of such flexible tools. Often that means customizing for unusual architectures and business practices. As a smaller technology-driven vendor, Intelerad is uniquely capable to meet these needs.”
GE finalizes acquisition of british company
After several years of interest, General Electric Co has finally acquired Amersham PLC, a London-based diagnostic imaging agent and life sciences company.
The two companies have reached agreement on the terms of an all-stock transaction whereby GE will acquire all the outstanding shares of Amersham. The terms of the deal are reportedly $9.5 billion.
Jeffrey R. Immelt, chairman of the board and CEO of General Electric, said, “GE and Amersham will be an exciting combination of talents, businesses, and technologies. Amersham’s diagnostic pharmaceutical and life sciences business will add new, high-growth platforms to GE Medical’s diagnostic imaging, services, and health care information technology businesses. The combination of this technological and market knowledge will allow GE to accelerate the development of molecular imaging and personalized medicine where it will be possible to predict and treat disease with therapies tailored to the individual. We’re delighted to bring [Amersham CEO Sir William Castell and his team to GE to help make this vision a reality.”
Upon completion of the acquisition, Castell will become a vice chairman and member of the board of directors of General Electric and, as CEO of GE Healthcare Technologies, will have financial and leadership responsibility for GE Healthcare Technologies, the combined Amersham and GE Medical businesses. Castell also will lead the integration process to deliver the expected operating synergies. Joseph Hogan, senior vice president of General Electric, will continue to lead the GE Medical business. The GE Healthcare Technologies business will be based with Castell in the United Kingdom.
“Combined with the complementary capabilities of General Electric, this transaction enables us to accelerate the realization of our vision of personalized medicine,” Castell said. “We will have the competencies, the marketing reach, and the financial resources to bring disease prediction, diagnosis, and personalized treatment into the mainstream of medical practice. Our customers should now raise their expectations as to what is deliverable from this new chapter in medicine.”
According to General Electric’s management, the acquisition will: position GE for a new chapter in medicine by creating a health care company with broad expertise in imaging, diagnostic pharmaceutical, and drug discovery; create a group of technology and
service-driven health care businesses which will have combined 2003 pro forma revenues in excess of $13 billion; accelerate the development of molecular imaging and personalized medicine by more rapidly developing and bringing to market new targeted imaging agents and diagnostics that will enable customers to diagnose, treat, and monitor diseases at an earlier stage than ever before; and expand the addressable customer base, providing significant new channels for each company’s products and services around the world. For example, GE expects to access new sales channels in the pharmaceutical industry for GE Medical’s imaging technology and services.
GE also says that the combination of Amersham and GE Medical is expected to be non-dilutive to 2004 earnings per share (before in-process research and development charges) and $0.01 accretive in 2005. GE expects to generate revenue synergies by the end of the third full year in the order of $350 million to $400 million per annum, which are expected to translate into operating profit synergy benefits of $100 million to $200 million per annum. General Electric expects the revenue synergies to be achieved through a variety of means, including access to new channels for each company’s products and services, channel efficiencies, accelerated global expansion, and new product introductions. Similarly, GE expects to achieve cost synergies from the combined business in the range of $300 million to $400 million per annum by the end of the third full year, an amount that represents approximately 3% of the combined businesses’ total cost base.
The company also reported that the acquisition will strengthen GE’s capital base and AAA credit rating through the issuance of GE stock, while maximizing flexibility to fund future growth.
FDA approves fischer/cadx integrated product
Fischer Imaging Corp (Denver) and CADx Systems Inc (Beavercreek, Ohio) have announced that the FDA has approved CADx’s Second Look digital CAD system for integration with the Fischer SenoScan TrueView digital mammography scanning system.
The approval makes CADx the first mammography CAD manufacturer to gain FDA approval for mammography screening with the Fischer digital mammography system. The FDA-approved SenoScan system is reportedly the first mammography system to offer 25-micron native resolution—the highest resolution available in the industry. SenoScan’s larger field of view accommodates almost all patients while its curved breast support is more comfortable and helps reduce motion during exposure. Its patented slot-scanning technology is also reportedly the only FDA-cleared digital mammography scanning system that can produce digital mammograms at half the dose of film screen systems.
“The integration of Second Look CAD with the Fischer SenoScan system advances the CADx Continuum CAD platform, allowing customers to perform CAD on the latest Fischer Imaging mammography products,” said CADx CEO Steve Rogers. “Today’s announcement further confirms the value of our CAD technology and gives Fischer Imaging customers access to CADx’s Second Look CAD platform.”
Harris Ravine, president and CEO of Fischer Imaging, said, “We are pleased to be partnering with CADx Systems, a CAD company with shared goals of bringing innovative, leading edge technologies to the medical imaging community. The enhanced ability of radiologists to review CAD marks in real time, calling attention to subtle changes in tissue that [could] indicate the presence of breast cancer, should improve productivity while reviewing mammograms. Digital CAD will positively impact the detection of breast cancer at an earlier and more treatable stage.”
Corrections
In the July issue of Medical Imaging, the LSO PET/CT 16-slice system recently installed at The University of Tennessee Medical Center was inadvertently attributed to Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc. This PET/CT system was provided by the original equipment manufacturer, CPS Innovations, a joint venture of Siemens Medical Solutions Inc and CTI Molecular Imaging Inc.
The September issue (page 16) contains the statement that “CPS is a division of CTI Molecular Imaging Inc (Knoxville).” The statement should read that “CPS Innovations is a joint venture of Siemens Medical Solutions Inc and CTI Molecular Imaging Inc.”
 Medrad Enhances MR Infusion SystemMedrad Inc (Indianola, Pa) has enhanced its Continuum MR Compatible Infusion System to enable two new infusion modes for patients undergoing MR scanning procedures. The new software enhancement enables physicians and nurses to program weight-based dose parameters into the Continuum infusion pump, which automatically calculates and displays the real-time required flow rate of intravenous medication. This feature eliminates the need to manually calculate infusion flow rates. In addition, the software enables the administration of an automatic bolus of medication and offers users the ability to program flow rate limits in any infusion mode as an extra safety precaution. Continuum, introduced in 2002, is reportedly the first infusion system compatible with the MR environment. According to the company, it solves the longstanding problem of managing MRI patients on infusion therapy, who historically would either be removed from the medication and experience discomfort, or remain connected to a non-MR compatible infusion pump outside the scanner room by up to 30 feet of connection tubing. Medrad’s other MR accessory products include the Spectris Solaris MR Injection System; a full line of MR surface coils; endorectal coils for imaging the prostate, colon, and cervix; the 9500 Vital Signs Patient Monitor; and the MusicBox Sound System. |
Siemens partners with endoscopy company on software platform
Siemens Medical Solutions (Malvern, Pa) is about to unveil the end result of its collaboration with endoscopy company Karl Storz: the syngoOR, a new software platform for the operating room. According to both companies, this solution delivers an OR-specific platform that contributes the smooth and continuous flow of information from medical imaging systems, workstations, and the facility’s information technology system to OR equipment and systems.
The Siemens syngoOR is designed to be integrated seamlessly with the OR1 solution from Karl Storz Endoscopy-America Inc, a leader in diagnostic and operative endoscope technology. “Siemens is committed to offering the products, services, and solutions to ensure seamless workflows throughout the health care enterprise, to ultimately improve the quality of treatment and increase efficiency,” said Holger Schmidt, president of the Siemens Special Products Division. “This OR solution being offered by Siemens and Karl Storz will provide a comprehensive and uniform solution for the entire clinical process.”
OR1 from Karl Storz offers equipment management and control throughout the OR’s sterile environment, including networking of endoscopic and surgical components; integration of peripherals, from the OR table and generator, to telephones and room lighting; and interfacing of image and video communication, all with an ergonomic design to reduce stress for the surgical team.
syngoOR from Siemens reportedly brings essential IT capabilities to the OR, providing direct access on one workstation to patient data and diagnostic imaging information—including integration of ultrasound imaging—while also offering an intuitive user interface, as well as standardized documentation and archiving. The system also can be upgraded to a LAN system for the OR and provide an interface to the facility’s IT systems. syngoOR virtually eliminates unnecessary movement in the OR to collect important data, while providing improved workflow through the immediate availability of information.
With the syngoOR/OR1 solution, real-time, intra-operative image data from endoscopy, X-ray, or ultrasound systems is displayed on a ceiling- or trolley-mounted, 18-inch flat screen, which can be ergonomically adjusted and positioned within the surgeon’s field of view. A second screen functions as a “digital image viewer” and is used for the concurrent display of preoperative image data (such as CT, MR, or PET images), giving the surgeon access to all relevant diagnostic image information. An intuitive touch screen command allows the surgeon to control OR functions while maintaining a sterile field.
The video and IT capabilities of OR1 and syngoOR also enable surgeons to quickly confer with colleagues during a procedure, whether they’re connecting across the building or the country. And the integrated OR concept behind both solutions are based on a modular design, so they can be individually adapted and upgraded to meet the requirements of the current and future OR.
“We’re pleased to join forces with Siemens to bring this innovative integrated OR solution to our health care customers,” said Harry Getz, marketing manager of OR for Karl Storz. “Together, we offer a cost-effective solution for the OR and interventional rooms that not only meets the requirements of today’s physicians, but can be seamlessly upgraded through interface expansion to keep pace as their needs evolve.”
| NovaPACS System acquired by Iowa hospitals NovaPACS, a PACS system designed for small to mid-size facilities, has been jointly purchased by Palo Alto County Health System, Pocahontas Community Hospital, and Loring Hospital, all based in Iowa. The joint purchase was a result of requiring a single system that could be accessed by radiologists who are contracted to read images for the three hospitals. Loring Hospital also purchased NovaRIS for scheduling and tracking patients and billing. NovaPACS, a product of Novarad Corp (American Fork, Utah), is HIPAA compliant, open, and scalable. In addition, all products are brokerless, meaning the information can be seamlessly transferred from a hospital’s information systems to the PACS, eliminating the need to purchase additional hardware or software. NovaPACS provides hospitals with a complete system, including servers, viewers, prep, and workstations. It enables radiologists to access images via a secure password from any Web-enabled computer. To assist in installation, the product also includes consulting, training, and technical support services with each purchase, designed to support the hospital through the entire film-to-PACS transfer process from project planning to installation and traning for the radiology staff. |
Astro Partners with American Cancer Society
The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) has launched an initiative that includes a partnership with the Greater Salt Lake City chapter of the American Cancer Society (ACS).
The initiative is being designed to give back to the cancer communities in the cities visited during ASTRO’s annual scientific meetings.
As the first step in the partnership, ASTRO invited ACS to participate in the Survivor Circle exhibit at its 45th Annual Meeting, which took place October 19–23 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. The Survivor Circle was created to recognize those who are battling cancer. It focuses on the programs offered by local organizations to help the patients and their families with treatments. Within the Survivor Circle was a place where visitors could learn more about the ACS and could leave donations. One hundred percent of all donations collected was given to local cancer programs.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to work with such a well-established, nationally recognized organization,” said Joel Tepper, MD, president of ASTRO. “The American Cancer Society works every day to help patients and their families cope with cancer. My hope is that by working together, we can ensure that cancer patients are informed about all their treatment options so they can make the best treatment choice for themselves and their families.”
The ACS is one of the oldest and largest voluntary health agencies in the United States, with more than 2 million Americans united to conquer cancer through balanced programs of research, education, patient service, advocacy, and rehabilitation.
Varian announces acquisition
Varian Medical Systems Inc (Palo Alto, Calif) has announced an agreement to acquire Zmed Inc (Boston), a privately held and rapidly growing supplier of radiation oncology software and accessories for ultrasound-based, image-guided radiotherapy, stereotactic radiation treatments, and image management. Varian will pay approximately $35.5 million in cash for the business, subject to certain adjustments, according to the company.
“This acquisition will add elegant 3D ultrasound imaging capabilities to Varian Medical Systems’ image-guided radiotherapy products,” said Richard Levy, CEO and chairman of Varian Medical Systems. “It also makes it possible for Varian to offer radiation oncology departments a new line of stereotactic positioning accessories and planning software for treating patients with ultra-precise, hypofractionated radiotherapy or radiosurgery. We are continuing to enhance the versatility and capability of Varian’s integrated radiation oncology system.”
The acquisition also includes Zmed’s line of servers and software for storing, accessing, transferring, and reviewing patients’ diagnostic images among medical professionals and support staff via local networks and the Internet. “We expect this to be a significant enhancement to the image management function, particularly within our VARiS Vision software product,” Levy said.
Varian expects the acquisition will add annualized revenues of $16 million to $18 million in the first year and be neutral to slightly accretive to earnings for the company.
“We are hopeful that our worldwide sales and service network will lead to faster adoption of Zmed’s already successful products and technology,” Levy said. Zmed revenues have grown at about 60% per year for each of the last 3 years. It has systems at more than 110 customer sites.
“Becoming part of Varian Medical Systems enables us to integrate Zmed technology into the world’s most comprehensive radiation oncology systems,” said Marc Buntaine, president and CEO of Zmed. “We are extending our reach through a global sales and service network so that we can make better technology available to more patients sooner. I can’t see a faster or better way to commercialize our technology.”
Zmed and its approximately 30 employees will continue to operate from its base near Boston under the direction of Buntaine. It will be a part of Varian’s Oncology Systems’ business segment. The transaction is expected to be closed by the middle of November and is not subject to any pre-closing regulatory filings.
BrainLAB and RAD Technology join forces
BrainLAB AG (Munich, Germany) and RAD Technology LLC (Pembroke Pines, Fla) have entered into a cooperation agreement in which RAD Technology will offer its proprietary and relocatable Portable Radiation Oncology System (PRO System) to BrainLAB’s Novalis Shaped Beam Surgery customers worldwide, as well as a permanent version of its instant shielding solution (STAT System).
RAD Tech’s PRO and STAT systems are, respectively, temporary and permanent self-contained radiation therapy structures with a shielded vault room. The resulting fast-track radiosurgery suite is called the Instant Novalis Center.
Medical providers worldwide can now have new radiosurgery facilities installed in one week, using new radiation shielding technology, modular construction, and installation methods. The speed and flexibility is made possible by RAD Technology’s new designs for shielding and modular construction. A new center is delivered in multiple, pre-finished sections that are quickly assembled on-site.
Novalis Shaped Beam Surgery is the non-invasive delivery of a precise dose of high-energy radiation to shrink or control the growth of a tumor by killing tumor cells or interfering with their ability to grow. By continuously shaping the treatment beam to match the size and shape of a patient’s tumor from all angles, Novalis ensures that the tumor receives the full prescription dose of radiation while protecting healthy tissue. The procedure is virtually painless, avoids lengthy hospital stays or rehabilitation, and the patient remains awake throughout the procedure.
“With the Instant Novalis concept, we can now bring our leading-edge stereotactic radiosurgical Novalis platform into clinical practice faster,” said Stefan Vilsmeier, BrainLAB founder and CEO. “Apart from the obvious economic advantages of getting our product into the hands of the surgeon much earlier than is possible with conventional vault construction, the fact that we can calibrate our hardware and software before delivery means that BrainLAB technology will benefit patients sooner.”
Eric Landau, co-founder and CEO of RAD Technology, said, “Our agreement with BrainLAB is an important step for our company as we roll-out the PRO and STAT Systems in the United States, Asia, and Europe. RAD Tech’s ability, via our proprietary PRO and STAT technology, to install a fully equipped pre-calibrated Novalis radiosurgery suite in less than a week, as compared to a more typical 9 months, means that BrainLAB can cost-effectively provide its outstanding technology to the surgeon 9 months faster than would be the case if conventional vault construction was employed.”
Viatronix announces results of 3d colonoscopy clinical trial
Viatronix Inc (Stony Brook, NY) has announced the results of a massive clinical trial utilizing 3D virtual colonoscopy, in which the company had been an exclusive participant.
The results of the multi-center trial, presented at the recent 4th International Symposium on Virtual Colonoscopy in Boston, confirmed that the 3D-read sensitivity and specificity results show a significant improvement over other techniques.
The independent study, which used an average risk screening population of 1,233 asymptomatic adults, was conducted by several Department of Defense facilities over the course of the last 2 years. The results established the following findings:
- adenomatous polyps •10mm—93.8% sensitivity;
- adenomatous polyps • 8mm—93.9% sensitivity;
- adenomatous polyps • 10mm—96.0% specificity;
- adenomatous polyps • 8mm—92.2% specificity.
“This prospective trial, comparing virtual and optical colonoscopy, is the largest conducted to date and the first to evaluate an average-risk screening population,” said Perry J. Pickhardt, MD, the lead physician presenting the above results at the conference. “In contrast to previously published studies, which relied on the 2D views for initial polyp detection, we used the 3D virtual fly through for primary detection. We found the Viatronix V3D-Colon system to be an excellent, minimally invasive tool for colorectal screening. In fact, our results showed a higher sensitivity for virtual colonoscopy than for optical colonoscopy for adenomas 8mm and larger,” Pickhardt added.
Viatronix Inc CEO Zaffar Hayat said, “We are gratified that Viatronix V3D-Colon System played a significant role in helping Dr. Pickhardt and his team establish these findings. The system’s ease of use, automatic pre-processing, real-time volume rendering with superior visualization quality, and workflow-optimized tools all assisted the radiologists in conducting the exam easily and efficiently. This, in itself, exhibits the superior quality of the Viatronix V3D technology,” he concluded.
Radiotherapy system launched by Vision RT
Vision RT Ltd (London) has launched AlighRT, a new system for radiotherapy patient alignment that is designed to allow rapid positioning with vastly reduced error margins, according to data presented at the ASTRO meeting in Salt Lake City.
The data, collected at research and clinical test sites, showed that the system could help overcome the two key limiting factors in radiotherapy efficiency: set-up time and inaccuracies that lead to damage to healthy tissues arising from the lack of effective patient-positioning technologies, according to Norman Smith, CEO of Vision RT.
The AlignRT consists of two sets of 3D cameras in each of the simulation and treatment rooms, which feed high-resolution, real-time 3D contour detail through to a monitor. An accurate 3D record of patient shape and position is recorded during simulation and calibrated to the treatment iso-center. In the treatment room, the system matches the reference image with the actual real-time image and calculates optimal couch coordinates to ensure that the patient is aligned to the optimal treatment position.
The system is noninvasive, does not require markers, and does not produce any ionising irradiation, meaning that the radiation therapist can be in the room while it is in operation.
The system is currently being evaluated at the Royal Marsden and St Thomas Hospitals in the United Kingdom.
CancerSource and AMI Co-launch Web Site
Together, CancerSource and the Academy of Molecular Imaging (AMI) have announced the co-launch of PETscan.org, a Web site designed to be a complete consumer resource center for information on PET as it relates to cancer, heart disease, and neurological disorders.
“The partnership that we have formed with CancerSource to launch this incredible site will enable millions of consumers around the world to obtain information on a progressive technology,” said Kim Pierce, executive director of AMI, and a breast cancer survivor. “PETscan.org also will provide individuals and their families with relevant information, in order to make informed decisions about methods of treatment available to them.”
CancerSource developed and will maintain the PETscan.org Web site in collaboration with the AMI and the Crump Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging (CIMI) is an Organizational Research Unit (ORU) of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; it was founded in 1989 as a multidisciplinary research Institute dedicated to the development and use of imaging technology to study molecular systems. CancerSource also will leverage its existing comprehensive network in the online and cancer community to highlight the resources on the site. The AMI will provide research information from scientific leaders in PET and molecular research. Both organizations, as well as the Crump Institute, have provided content for the site.
“PET technology has proven to be an important diagnostic tool in cancer and other diseases,” said Vincent T. DeVita, chairman of the CancerSource medical advisory board. “Our partnership with AMI and the Crump Institute creates a valuable resource where information about PET is made widely available to the public, affording us yet another avenue to further our mission of improving the quality of cancer care.”
The PETscan.org Web site will contain a comprehensive listing of PET centers throughout the nation. Also, the peer-reviewed site will contain a variety of resources specifically for consumers, as well as information on various diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and neurological disorders.
Barco Hires Business Development Manager
Barco (Duluth, Ga) has announced that Alan Orth has joined the company as business development manager for its medical modality business. In this position, Orth will lead a dedicated team that will focus on the development of Barco’s dedicated modality solutions business in North America. With the installation of this new organization, Barco has substantially reinforced its commitment to further growth in the field dedicated to medical device manufacturers.
Prior to joining Barco, Orth was vice president of sales and marketing at DeJarnette research and product manager at Siemens Medical Systems. “Barco has a reputation for quality engineering and responsiveness to market needs. Now Barco wants to expand the focus to provide custom engineering for medical equipment manufacturers. I’m delighted to join an organization with such dedication,” Orth said.
“Alan brings years of clinical and image intensive experience to our modality business effort. I am very pleased to have him on our team. By designing customized subcomponents for the image acquisition products of our customers, we are able to help bring new imaging technologies to market in a fast and cost-effective manner. This means that manufacturers can optimize and accelerate their return on investment, and state-of-the-art technology becomes available to patients sooner,” said Division Manager Mike Feinstein.
Inceptio Develops Ultrasonic Vascular Access Imaging System
Inceptio Medical Technologies (Kaysville, Utah) has introduced PunctSURE, an ultrasonic vascular access imaging system. “PunctSURE is a breakthrough medical device that helps improve procedural accuracy, efficiency, and safety for anesthesiologists and other clinicians,” said Bob Evensen, executive director of sales and marketing, Inceptio Medical Technologies. “With impressive state-of-the-art technology, unique features, and a sleek compact design, we are confident PunctSURE will become a stand-out in this category.”
PunctSURE is a patented, portable ultrasound device designed to help clinicians visually locate and identify veins and arteries for precise needle placement before attempting vessel cannulation. The PunctSURE system features real-time procedure monitoring and is the only vascular access imaging system to offer hands-free operation and dual-view imaging. PunctSURE provides user-friendly software interface, a large dual-image display screen, and is battery- and AC-operated. Additionally, the system offers sterile, disposable procedure kits that contain all of the necessary components to successfully complete each procedure, according to the company.
DMS Imaging Appoints New President/COO
DMS Imaging (Minneapolis), a member of the DMS Health Group, has named Mark Casner its new president and COO. In this role, Casner will be responsible for the overall executive management of DMS Imaging. His duties will include development and implementation of systems, strategies, budgets, priorities, and operational activities designed to meet the organization’s business goals and to reflect the mission, vision, and values of the DMS Health Group.
Prior to joining the DMS Health Group, Casner was employed by Radiologix Inc, a company that owns and operates outpatient diagnostic imaging centers in 18 states. He held several executive-level positions within that firm, including vice president of operations/Mid-Atlantic states and his recent role as senior vice president of operations. His responsibilities entailed much of the East Coast, covering more than 50 imaging centers, 17 hospitals, 130 radiologists, and 1,200 support staff. Casner also brings executive management experience in the field of professional medical group management.
NEC-Mitsubishi Announces New Division
NEC-Mitsubishi Electronics Display of America Inc (Itasca, IL) has established a new division within the company to expand its offerings in the global medical display market. Building on its current line of professional “80” series monitors for medical office information systems, the company will introduce the NEC MultiSync MD series. This new line of medically certified high-
resolution LCD color and grayscale monitors will deliver superior clinical viewing capabilities to the rapidly growing diagnostic imaging market, according to company representatives.
“The current global market for diagnostic and PACS displays is expected to more than double by 2006,” said TJ Trojan, president and COO of NEC-Mitsubishi Electronics Display of America Inc. “Because of the benefits of LCD technology—including improved image contrast and resolution, as well as smaller footprint, energy consumption, and longer life span—health care providers are rapidly replacing outdated CRT monitors with LCD display systems. These systems deliver patients with leading-edge imaging diagnostics and increased service efficiencies.”
Since introducing the industry’s first commercially available 20.1-inch LCD monitor in 1997, NEC-Mitsubishi Electronics Display of America has advanced medical display solutions with its XtraView wide angle viewing technology and Ambix technology, which bridges the gap between analog and digital systems by allowing the same monitor to work seamlessly in either environment using a single DVI-I connector. In addition, NEC-Mitsubishi has partnered with many well-known medical equipment vendors and system bundlers, including Richardson Electronics. The company will continue this work along with its new medically certified product offerings.
“NEC-Mitsubishi has been active with custom work in the medical market for a number of years, and we decided that now is the right time to expand our expertise to benefit the broader diagnostic imaging market,” said Todd Fender, senior product manager at NEC-Mitsubishi. “Our medical customers have been telling us that health facilities increasingly require the advanced image quality and cost savings that our LCD technologies deliver, and we are eager to fulfill this need with the outstanding features of our MultiSync MD Series.”
Available beginning spring 2004, the new NEC MultiSync MD monitor line will offer a 21.3-inch color 2-MegaPixel display and a 21.3-inch grayscale 3-MegaPixel display (summer 2004), followed soon after by a 21.3-inch color 3-MegaPixel display.
Varian to Offer Oncology Management Product
Varian Medical Systems Inc is set to introduce Inspiration, the company’s next-generation integrated radiation oncology management environment designed to simplify and facilitate delivery of advanced radiation therapy for treating cancer.
“With Inspiration, we are making it easier for medical staffs to treat their patients with the most sophisticated forms of radiation therapy,” said Timothy E. Guertin, president of Varian’s Oncology Systems business. “Radiation therapy has become much more advanced with the development of new devices and software that harness the power of imaging to target tumors very accurately while sparing normal healthy tissues. We want to make delivering a dose of cancer-fighting radiation as straightforward and intuitive as giving someone an X-ray—and with Inspiration, we’re on our way to doing it.”
Inspiration reportedly takes the concept of integration to a new level by seamlessly linking all clinical activities, from imaging to planning, simulating, verifying, and delivering treatments. It is based on a unified database and information management system through which all devices and processes are tied together.
“Inspiration grows out of our commitment to continuous improvement in every facet of the radiation therapy network, including our Clinac linear accelerators, Acuity simulators, and the powerful software tools used to plan and deliver radiation therapy,” said Kolleen Kennedy, vice president of Varian’s Oncology Systems business.
