The Top 4 Innovations of RSNA 2011

Another year passes, and with it goes another successful RNSA conference.  While the list of groundbreaking products and innovations introduced at the show did not quite measure up to some of the advances made in years prior, attendees were still left with plenty to discuss once the show concluded.  Here is a list of what we feel were the biggest technological innovations to come out of RSNA 2011 from some of the major players in the medical imaging space.

Philips

Following in the footsteps of Siemens, Philips will be the second company to market with a dedicated PET/MR imaging system known commercially as the Ingenuity TF.  What makes Philips’ system an innovation compared to Siemens’ system is that it essentially gives the purchaser 3 systems instead of just one.  Although the Ingenuity TF lacks the single system hybridization of Siemens’ Biograph mMR, Philips has found a way to integrate these two modalities in a way that effectively allows clinicians to perform standalone PET scans, standalone MRI scans or a PET/MR scan. This is accomplished by connecting both scanners approximately 10 feet apart from one another via a rotating table.  After the patient has received one scan, they can be subsequently transitioned to the opposite scanner without changing their position.  Afterward, the images taken from both devices will be merged together via specialized software.

Now that the company has received FDA approval for the device, expect the Ingenuity to become a prime alternative to the Biograph mMR for those looking to secure hybrid imaging devices but still want to perform PET and MRI scans on their own.

Siemens

While most attendees will probably dwell on Siemens’ attention to PET/MR, PET/CT, standalone CT and ultrasound technology, we found the company’s healthcare informatics system updates to be the most discussion worthy pieces on the floor this year.

To our surprise, this particular application – which seriously has the potential to change the way procedures are conducted in operating rooms without compromising sterility – may not even be released commercially.  Of course, we are talking about Siemens’ use of Microsoft’s Kinect motion sensor device to allow for hands-free PACS image viewing.  A demonstration of the software in action can be found here.  Looking at the video, it is hard not to be impressed.  We can only hope that this technology eventually sees the light of day in operating rooms in the near future.

GE

Although GE presented a wide range of new products for its RSNA lineup, their major standout product focused on improving imaging procedures in the interventional radiology department.  Although the device has yet to receive full approval from the FDA, the new angiography system, better known as the Discovery IGS 730, represents a significant leap forward in IR.

Easily, the most intriguing feature of this new device is its mobility.  The conventional method of performing interventional imaging requires that systems either be mounted to the floor or the ceiling.  As a result of these restrictions, physicians, radiologists, and researchers often encounter a difficult decision which forces them to compromise on issues concerning patient comfort, mobility or image quality.  GE aims to eliminate that difficult decision-making process with the Discovery IGS 730, a first-of-its-kind wheel mounted device designed to capture the best features of both floor-mounted and ceiling-mounted imagers. The integrated cable management, GPS and laser-guided system allow the device to scan rooms for obstacles and position itself accordingly.  Moreover, the device does not sacrifice image quality for the sake of mobility.  Thanks to the WideBore 3D, the attached C-arm of the device, Discovery is more accessible to heavier patients and capable of achieving steeper angles for imaging procedures.  With all of these advantages in mind, GE has certainly presented one of the biggest leaps for interventional radiology at this year’s show.

Toshiba

For Toshiba, the big piece of news from their booth concerned updates to their already quite robust ultrasound product line.  These new introductions to the Toshiba family – specifically the Aplio 500 – are said to carry “revolutionary” features found only on Toshiba’s platforms.  These advancements are called Smart Fusion and Fly Thru technology.  Smart Fusion is an application that displays both ultrasound and CT images side-by-side on the same screen. The program then syncs the two images, which aids the physician in locating hard-to-find lesions and reduces the need for additional CT scans.  Fly Thru offers them the ability to view the interiors of ducts and vessels in 3D and 4D using 3D volume rendering techniques.  These advanced features are only available on the Aplio 500 model.

If each of these advances sparks even the slightest adoption rush in in each of their respective markets, look for 2012 to be a bright year in the medical imaging industry.  Remember, RSNA 2012 will be here before you know it.