Applied Radiology

Toshiba highlights gamma camera workstation

Toshiba America Medical Systems (Tustin, CA) showcased their e.soft workstation software for the T.Cam gamma camera systems at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's (SNM) 48th Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario.

Engineered through a joint-development agreement with Siemens Medical Systems' Nuclear Medicine Group (Hoffman Estates, IL), the workstation enhancements feature macro-like tools that enable a user to perform multistep procedures with a single-button click on the interface.

A quantitative gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) package that provides automatic quantification, analysis, and display of static and gated short-axis myocardial perfusion SPECT has also been added. It also features two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) displays with interactive cine controls and full left ventricular volumetric analysis. A quantitative perfusion SPECT offering enables e.soft to automatically segment, quantify, analyze, and display static (nongated) short-axis myocardial perfusion SPECT images. The application also lets the user perform normal file comparison with stress, rest, reversibility, polar maps, and defect analysis.

The product also offers automatic calculation of both right and left ventricular volumes and ejection fractions, and displays the results in an interactive 3D model.

A 4DMSPECT application, developed at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, completes the myocardial analysis package and can provide comparisons with both gated and nongated stress-rest parameters to normal data. The program features automatic left ventricular segmentation, 2D and 3D (gated) polar map display, and left ventricular volumetric analysis.

All versions of the e.soft application are DICOM 3.0-compatible and can be integrated with an institution's radiology information system or hospital information system.

ADAC showcases new products

ADAC (Milpitas, CA) highlighted several new products at the recent SNM meeting, including a hybrid computed tomography (CT)/ positron emission tomography (PET) system, a new gamma camera, and a camera.

Gemini, a work in progress, is a hybrid CT/PET system that integrates ADAC's PET technology with a Philips Medical System single-slice spiral CT scanner. Gemini is designed to fuse functional and anatomic images for surgical and radiation therapy treatment planning in oncology.

ADAC has also introduced the Skylight gamma camera. Skylight has a gantry-free design that mounts directly to the room structure, eliminating restrictions associated with floor-mounted gantry-based systems, allowing for greater patient access and more flexible patient positioning.

A third new product introduced was Allegro, a gadolinium oxyorthosilicate (GSO)-based dedicated PET camera. According to the manufacturer, Allegro will offer higher performance and greater patient throughput than their current PET offering. By combining advanced electronics, sophisticated positioning algorithms, and a new scintillator, ADAC says that Allegro is suitable for research applications as well as the high throughput and clinical demands of a busy radiology department.

SPECT predicts future cardiac events

Researchers at the SNM meeting reported that studying gated perfusion with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was effective in identifying those patients at risk for future cardiac events and for determining post-event survival.

Dr. Xingping Kang and colleagues at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, conducted thallium-201 stress and technetium-99m-sestamibi gated perfusion SPECT imaging on 3,744 subjects with no history of heart disease and 1496 patients who had a previous heart attack or other documented heart disease.

They found that an ejection fraction <45% was a strong predictor of future cardiac events in both groups of patients. However, perfusion data, rather than ejection fraction, was the stronger predictor of survival for patients with no history of coronary artery disease.

"This technique produces better quality images that provide the clinician with more information on the entire ventricular volume, an important factor in determining prognosis," said Dr. Kang.

Alare Systems becomes Array Corporation USA

Alare Systems Corp. of Sparta, NJ, a wholly owned subsidiary of Array Corp. of Tokyo, has changed its name to Array Corporation USA. "When we formed this business in the United States in 1998," said company President Thomas Nardozzi in an exclusive interview with Applied Radiology, "we attempted to use the same name as our parent, but the name was not available. It had always been our intent to do this when we could overcome whatever legal obstacles existed."

"What the name change does for us," he said, "is align us on a worldwide basis not only with our parent, but with our worldwide subsidiaries." These include operations based in Europe and the Far East.

Although Array Corp.'s history has been to design and manufacture equipment for other companies, Array Corp. USA now hopes to build recognition of their own brand name. Their marquee product is the 2905 Laser Film Digitizer, a DICOM-based device designed to scan existing radiographs for conversion to a digital format.

"We make not only the scan device, but the software application to control it as well," said Nardozzi, "and we are continuing to develop this product so that it can address more needs for the end-user client than just scanning film to digital."

This digitizer can scan a 2K resolution image in 7 seconds. However, said Nardozzi, "It does a great many other things as well. We can scan and then do a DICOM store and store the secondary capture. In addition, there are many different features that exist within the software to control the scanner that allow for a very broad range of use," he continued. "A good example of that would be that we have clients who want to scan radiographs simply for the purpose of reviewing images. They don't necessarily have the high diagnostic need of someone who wants to do interpretation. At the same time, the scanner is flexible in its configuration so that such interpretation could be accomplished by varying the micron size or pixel spacing."

It can also be used to take a multi-formated film to the software and break the images into individual DICOM images. "This becomes significant to radiologists when they have to compare studies that are performed today, such as an MR, to the relevant prior study," said Nardozzi. "If that only relevant prior study exists as film, that film can be scanned through our digitizer with our software and become individual image sets." Once the images are converted, they can then be viewed in stack mode.

The company has also begun to develop an interface to allow for printing. "This way the device has far more utility and application than just being a one-purpose device," said Nardozzi.

The company also manufactures DICOM Pro, a series of products that are gateways that allow non-DICOM devices access to the DICOM world. "These are actually pretty popular devices, not just ours, but from the perspective of the entire radiology industry," noted Nardozzi. "When users have to confront how to get MRI or ultrasound equipment on to a DICOM network, they don't have a lot of cost-effective choices. Once choice is total replacement of the equipment, which can be very expensive. Second is possibly upgrading if the OEM supports the equipment and, specifically, the generation; and that can be fairly costly. These devices in general, which are primarily PC-based, are the least expensive alternative for users."

"We like to think that we are all about excellence," concluded Nardozzi. "The reputation of our parent is outstanding, and we hope to earn that same right here in this country. It's really all about quality."

Hologic founder and CEO S. David Ellenbogen dies

S. David Ellenbogen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hologic Inc. (Bedford, MA) passed away unexpectedly June 21 as a consequence of heart failure.

"We have all suffered a great loss with the passing of Dave Ellenbogen," said Jay A. Stein, cofounder, partner, and long-time friend. "Dave was a well-known, well-respected veteran of the medical device industry. He was a true visionary who knew every aspect of the industry. Perhaps Dave's strongest asset was his ability to motivate those around him to new levels of greatness. Dave took great pride in the companies he helped to create. However, he felt his greatest achievement was his family. Our deepest sympathies go out to his wife Elaine, his children, Sandy and Michael, and their families. His strong leadership qualities, his creativity, his entrepreneurial spirit, and great sense of humor will be deeply missed."

Stein, Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, has been appointed Chairman and has agreed to serve as interim Chief Executive Officer while a search to fill the position on a permanent basis is conducted.