rt image's MVP

In the sports world, teammates heavily rely on their MVP to bring them closer to success. At rt image, we asked radiology professionals which products and services they considered to be MVPs. We’re proud to present, for the first time, our list of the “best of the best” in radiology products.


CR & DR

Two-Step Platform
Clear Image Devices

The design of the 2-Step Platform permits efficient and accurate X-rays of feet, ankles, and the lower leg – lateral-medial, medial-lateral, or anterior-posterior. The platform places the patient in the optimal position for easy capture of the highest quality weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing X-ray images.

This positioning platform is also designed with safety grab bars to provide stability for patients both young and old. The 2-Step Platform is also a portable device, able to provide easy positioning for weight-bearing poses, then can be moved out of the imaging suite with its built-in rollers and grab bars.

Designed for use with a Bucky or fixed cassette, the digital 2-Step Platform now supports the Canon CXDI 50G system.

“I recently purchased a 2-Step Platform for our new office. I searched for many days to determine what product would best serve the needs of our foot and ankle specialist. Ultimately, I chose the 2-Step Platform by Clear Image Devices. There were several factors that led to this decision, including:

Upon receiving the product, I was very impressed. The platform was packaged with sufficient packing material to prevent damage during the shipping process. We used this product for approximately one month before ordering another unit for our other office.

We are a high-volume orthopedic practice who demands performance from all of our products. We provide orthopedic care for the Tennessee Titans (NFL) as well as the Nashville Predators (NHL) and depend on our products to function at a high level. I can recommend this product without reservation.”

— Rick Lafayette, BA, RT (R)(MR), is the radiology manager of Nashville, Tenn.-based Elite Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center.

For more information, visit www.clearimagedevices.com.


CT

Aquilion ONE dynamic volume CT
Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc.

As the world’s first dynamic volume CT, the Toshiba Aquilion ONE captures dynamic processes, such as bloodflow and organ function, in real-time 3-D clarity. Using the Aquilion ONE, a medical exam can be completed in mere minutes, and with less radiation and contrast dose to the patient.

With an anatomical coverage of 16-cm in one rotation, due to its array of 320 ultra-high-resolution 0.5mm detector elements, the Aquilion ONE is able to image an entire human organ such as the heart, brain or pancreas in a single rotation.

Currently, it can take an average of seven to 10 rotations to image a human heart, and at least seven rotations for a complete image of the brain. This ability to carry out a complete examination in just 350 milliseconds eliminates the need to reconstruct data from several points in time, significantly enhancing accuracy and diagnostic confidence.

The advanced dynamic volume CT technology of the Aquilion ONE enables medical professionals to closely monitor crucial patient information, such as bloodflow as well as real-time function in the heart, brain, and joints.

“What makes the Aquilion ONE unique in comparison with traditional CT scanners is that you can actually image more patient in a quicker time period. And this is very important when you image the heart because the heart is, in fact, beating. And so, what you can do with the Aquilion ONE that’s new and unique is you can image the heart in a single heart beat.”

— Frank J. Rybicki, MD, PhD, is director of cardiac CT and vascular CT/MRI and director of Applied Imaging Sciences Laboratory at Boston-based Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is also an associate professor at Boston-based Harvard Medical School.

For more information, visit www.medical.toshiba.com.


Mammography

S.O.F.T. Paddle
American Mammographics

In today’s imaging field, mammographers continue to run across problems associated with X-raying dense breasts. As breast density increases, there is a progressive decrease in mammographic sensitivity, partly because conventional screening paddles only produce optimum compression of the posterior breast.

There are several compression paddles available that have been developed to improve compression of the anterior breast. These paddles rotate as compression is applied, tilting downward over the anterior breast but at the same time rotating upward posteriorly, which causes suboptimal compression of the posterior breast.

In contrast, the S.O.F.T. Paddle® design utilizes a multiplanar fixed compression surface – a “Special Optimized Full Tilt” compression paddle used as an alternative to the standard flat compression paddle in screening mammography.

The paddle is horizontal near the chest wall, and then curves slightly to slope downward toward the nipple. Image quality is improved by an increased compression of the anterior two-thirds of the breast, which is achieved while maintaining advanced compression posteriorly.

Fibroglandular tissue is spread apart more effectively so that a cancer is less likely to be obscured by superimposed structures. There is additional reduction in breast thickness, which permits a lower kV and increases contrast. The exposure time is also shortened, which helps to eliminate motion blur.

This advanced compression of the mid breast and the anterior breast with the sloping contoured S.O.F.T. Paddle® is expected to improve the detection of breast cancers, particularly in dense breasts, as well as lessen discomfort for the patient.

“The new S.O.F.T. Paddle® is a product that can be considered one of the most important, simple tools in improving image quality that we have seen in the past decade.”

— László Tabár, MD, FACR, is professor of radiology at the University of Uppsala School of Medicine, and medical director of the Department of Mammography at Falun Central Hospital, Sweden.

For more information, visit www.mammospot.com.


PACS

Carestream PACS
Carestream Health Inc.

Carestream PACS, with its built-in streaming capabilities, makes advanced functionality available to authorized users inside and outside the facility by allowing clinicians to review the first images of an exam while the rest of the study is transmitted.

Also, a new licensing structure allows facilities to purchase optional features according to the number of concurrent users, making the tools not restricted to specific workstations. Other Carestream PACS features include:

“The CARESTREAM PACS offers outstanding functionality and performance for 329-bed St. Clair hospital and two remote outpatient imaging centers serving the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

This platform delivers an integrated RIS/PACS desktop, a single worklist, and optional native advanced visualization tools including 3-D, MPR/MIP, MinIP, tissue definition, volume rendering, vessel tracking, automatic bone removal, PET-CT viewing of pre-registered images, and comprehensive cardiac review and analysis tools.

The system not only delivers the first image in two seconds, it also allows users to direct which areas of the exam should be loaded first. These advanced tools allow radiologists to use existing workstations that deliver images quickly and with just a few mouse clicks. Eliminating the need to move to dedicated 3-D workstations and conducting separate network log-ins are major advantages.

The platform also offers convenient Web-based access and teaching files that allow clinicians to create a reference library of cases to share with other clinicians. This PACS platform is extremely scalable and it is extremely reliable – an attribute that cannot be underestimated.”

— Mark Straub is the IT manager at Pittsburgh-based St. Clair Hospital.

For more information, visit www.carestreamhealth.com.


Nuclear Medicine/Molecular Imaging

MIMVista PET/CT Software
MIMVista Corp.

MIMvista Corp. is the provider of the MIM® Software Suite, offering practical solutions for radiologists and oncologists. Their initial product offering has become the leading third-party PET/CT software package.

Subsequently, they have developed industry-leading software in the fields of radiology/nuclear medicine, neuroimaging, cardiac imaging, and radiation oncology. “RadNet, the largest outpatient imaging company in the country, adopted MIMvista PET/CT software four years ago.

Our radiologists have benefited from the program’s flexibility, ease-of-use, and its industry-leading quantitative and qualitative tools. With MIM’s accurate assessment of SUVs, our results give the referring physicians precise information to make the best clinical decision possible.

One of MIM’s newest features, the ability to take a PET/CT performed in a non-treatment position and deform it to the treatment position provides an exceptional breakthrough in the care of a cancer patient.

One of the very first patients whose treatment was planned utilized this new MIM product allowed the Radiation Oncologist to change treatment to IMRT instead of normal 3-D. This was the result of the precise localization and targeting of the tumor. RadNet also has recently implemented the MIM application for the iPhone.

This allows us to download our PET/CT images to an Apple iPhone and get them swiftly into the hands of our marketing staff and referring physicians. MIMvista has an excellent product. The company consistently adds useful features that directly improve workflow, accuracy and, most importantly, have substantially advanced the care of the oncology patient.”

— Judy Rose, MD, a specialist in PET/CT and nuclear medicine, works for Los Angeles-based RadNet Inc.

For more information, visit www.mimvista.com.


MRI

1.5T Dedicated Breast MRI System
Aurora Imaging Technology Inc.

The Aurora System is the only fully integrated MRI system designed specifically and exclusively to image the breast  and optimized for breast imaging and interventional procedures. Some of the proprietary and distinguishing features of the Aurora System include:

The Aurora System is designed to be located within the breast care center where it is readily available to specialized physicians and their patients.

As a diagnostic imaging tool, the Aurora® 1.5T Dedicated Breast MRI System with Bilateral SpiralRODEO™ is suitable for a wide range of indications in breast disease management, including detecting or excluding the existence of cancer in high-risk women and monitoring cancer response and the extent of residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

— Stephen Feig, MD, FACR, is the director of breast imaging at the Breast Health Center of UCI Medical Center in Orange, Calif.

For more information, visit www.auroramri.com.


RIS

NovaRIS
NovaRad

The Web-based NovaRIS has provided managers with an efficient resource to advance their radiology department, delivering the necessary information needed to monitor department quality, efficiency, and profitability.

NovaRIS allows managers to track patient information, procedures, exam status, revenues, and insurance payouts. It also allows users to generate reports based on CPT or revenue codes. Its “Administrative reports” function alerts users to potential problems, such as incomplete exams and missing insurance codes.

Integrating seamlessly with the installed PACS or HIS, NovaRIS also includes the RIS scanning module, which can upload scanned information into the patient record. Patient documents can be scanned in on a flatbed scanner and then be accessed through the patient record.

“With NovaRIS, not only was the installation of this system unbelievably quick and easy, we have seen immediate impacts from the automation. We are able to speed patients through the administrative procedures and have been able to virtually eliminate data entry errors and lost paperwork.

If we have a question, the technical support offered for NovaRIS is tremendous. There is no phone tree – a live person answers your call every time. In addition, the technical support personnel are extremely knowledgeable about the whole system and can help you then and there with what you need.

We have a busy department and really appreciate knowing that NovaRad values our time and has put an infrastructure in place to help us eliminate downtime.”

— Dan Huffmaster, MD, is director of radiology at North Baldwin Hospital, Bay Minette, Ala.

For more information, visit www.novapacs.com.


Teleradiology

Teleradiology Solutions

Teleradiology has become an essential part of the practice of radiology, with broad implications for care delivery and the organization of work. The same technology that can transmit a CT scan from an emergency department in Philadelphia to Bangalore, India, can move any digital radiograph anywhere at any time.

Studies can be transmitted to the referring physician, a workstation in the operating room, a specialty radiologist for a second opinion, or a “nighthawk” company for after-hours coverage. Teleradiology Solutions provides teleradiology services to hospitals around the globe, including the interpretation of all noninvasive imaging studies – CT, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear medicine studies, and digitized X-rays.

Emergency reports are provided within 30 minutes to locations diametrically across the globe. The company also provides subspecialty consultations in cardiovascular and oncologic imaging to hospitals in India as well, and has joint research partnerships with major technology vendors, such as GE Healthcare, to explore new techniques in 3-D imaging analysis.

“We were with [another teleradiology company] for two years before going to Teleradiology Solutions. We have been completely happy with the switch. The benefits we have seen from the switch are more timely and accurate readings.

In over 2,000 exams that have been read by Teleradiology Solutions, we have not had one complaint. To show that our radiologists are precise over-readers, in any similar number of reads we would have averaged over a dozen such QA discrepancies with the prior nighthawk service.

The Emergency Department doctors particularly like having a radiologist available to speak with if there is a question of clinical correlation with the results of the exam.

Since inception in 2006, our discrepancy/QA rate with Teleradiology Solutions has been less than one-QA-per-thousand reports – 100 percent audited. With our prior teleradiology firm, we were above 10 QAs per thousand.”

— Richard Maskowsky, RT(R)(CT) is the manager of Midstate Radiology Associates in Meriden, Conn.

For more information, visit www.teleradiologysolutions.com.


Ultrasound

S-series ultrasound systems
SonoSite Inc.

With the S-Series ultrasound tools, clinicians are able to utilize hand-carried ultrasound technology to acquire advanced image quality. With technology that acquires the optimal image in seconds with just two controls, the S-Series is also packaged in the first and only ZERO footprint ultrasound solution.

S-Series ultrasound tools can be carried, mounted on a pole, or fixed on a wall or ceiling, and also can withstand being dropped from three feet onto a hard surface. Additionally, customers can use S-Series system transducers with SonoSite’s M-Turbo™ product line.

Also, an onboard flash memory of 4 GB retains enough data for 20 standard exams, even after the power is turned off, while three USB slots on the systems allow for direct sharing of images and clips to a PC or Mac® computer.

“As an emergency physician who has been using ultrasound for 15 years,  I’ve found the S-Series to be a remarkable, game-changing innovation. When it comes to resuscitation and care for critical patients, ultrasound is an essential tool for quickly monitoring vitals, and the S-Series provides an unparalleled solution for  the unique needs of an emergency setting.

By being wall mountable, the S-Series not only saves much-needed space in cramped, bustling emergency departments, but also enables a full emergency team to view patients’ information together, which has not been possible before and is very powerful  when every second counts.

Additionally, the interface is simple and easy to use,  which expedites care, especially when a radiologist is not immediately available. All this and there is no compromise on the quality of the image – it’s the best of  both worlds.”

— Diku Madavia, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center/Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.

For more information, visit www.sonosite.com.


Software

Regulatory Compliance Software
RiskWatch Inc.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005,  finalized on February 2, 2006, landmark new rules on the certification of an Electric Reliability Organization and the procedures for the establishment, approval, and enforcement of mandatory electric reliability standards.

Cybrinth Inc. and RiskWatch Inc.™ have co-developed a Web-based assessment software program to measure compliance with the FERC 2008 Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Reliability Standards. This automated, easy-to-use compliance assessment software is to be called RiskWatch for FERC CIP.

It is a comprehensive, standards-based software tool that automates the surveying, data collection, analysis, and reporting for risk assessments for an organization’s IT security infrastructure, based on FERC mandatory CIP elements 002-009.

The use of an automated, repeatable, and verifiable way of conducting FERC CIP compliance assessments is the wave of the future in security. The complex task of complying with these new regulations will be streamlined by the use of the RiskWatch for FERC Software.

The ability to use a Web-based program to incorporate input from people in different parts of the organization and be able to compare results over time creates a much more comprehensive assessment.

“It [RiskWatch] is one of the most cost effective tools. The RiskWatch tool has saved us thousands of hours spent in performing the analysis, report writing, and producing supporting graphs and charts. It allows us to capture the key issues upfront, followed by the details.

The report produced provides a clear understanding of the risk and threats to critical assets, mitigation techniques, along with the return on investment of the recommended safeguards.”

— Business Continuity & Resiliency Consulting, IBM Global Services

For more information, visit www.riskwatch.com.