RT Image October 5, 2009 : Page 24Nuclear Medicine Biograph mCT Siemens Medical Solutions SIEMENS IS MAKING MAJOR ADVANCES IN DUAL-MODALITY IMAGING WITH ITS BIOGRAPH MCT, the world’s first molecular CT. It is born out of the integration of an advanced HD-PET platform and the world’s first Adaptive Spiral CT. The new technology provides higher resolution images for better detection. It also boasts low patient doses, more comfortable examinations, and is fully scalable and upgradeable. Also, its five-minute whole-body PET/CT scans make the most of shared modalities to improve throughput. Biograph mCT can enhance high- resolution CT images, when required, with molecular contrast for even greater diagnostic certainty. Its ultra HD-PET technology delivers highly detailed images with up to four times as much contrast as conven- tional PET/CT scanners. “We have completely changed our workflow to fully utilize our new molec- ular CT,” says Marjorie Calvetti, MSW, director of radiology at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Ill. “With the ability to perform faster PET scans, we maximize use of the scanner by handling both our PET and our busy CT schedules on one system. Despite a higher initial invest- ment, this new shared-service model has helped us to reduce our over- all spending. As the economy continues to strangle capital equipment budgets, a game-changing system like Biograph mCT maximizes our return on investment.” The combination of technologies in one compact system benefits patients and offers referring physicians quality imaging capabilities in less time. For more information, visit www.medical.siemens.com. PACS iSite PACS Philips Healthcare A STANDARDS-BASED, SINGLE DATABASE SOLUTION, the architecture of iSite PACS was designed to improve workflow and efficiency across the entire enterprise for clinicians, technolo- gists, the IT department, and administrators. With advanced API functionality, iSite PACS can also image-enable an institution’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR). “iSite PACS features an open API that enables us to connect with best-of-breed clinical and IT applications. We’re leveraging |24| October 5, 2009 Patient Positioning Patient Position System ProCure Treatment Centers, Inc. ALTHOUGH INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS HAVE BEEN USED IN RADI- ATION THERAPY TREATMENT IN THE PAST, the Patient Positioning System (PPS) from ProCure is the first that combines the flexibility and accuracy needed for optimal targeting of the treatment site with advanced clinical versatility and ease-of-use. The basic configuration of the robotic PPS is a Selective Compliant Assembly Robot Arm, and combines commercially available robotic sub-systems with custom-designed arms to allow for the specific needs of patient positioning in proton therapy. A unique dual coupler system is attached at the end of the wrist of the robot arm that is used to attach different devices to the PPS, such as a patient table or chair, or a test phantom. PPS’ advanced design elements enable an increase of the clin- ically usable area of the proton therapy treatment room, which also makes it suitable for image-guided proton therapy in combination with 3-D imaging capability in the treatment room, and improved ergo- nomics for both patients and ther- apists. “The PPS is a great tool for any radiotherapy clinic, whether proton or X-Ray,” says Sameer Keole, MD, from Radiation Medical Associates in Oklahoma City. “The PPS allows us to deliver treatments accurately and inter- change treatment devices quickly and seamlessly. I expect robotic positioning taking a greater role in radiation therapy in the future.” For more information, visit http://procure.com. that capability to help us make more informed decisions,” says Richard Wiggins III, MD, director of Imaging Informatics at University of Utah in Salt Lake City. As one of the leading medical image and information man- agement systems on the market, iSite PACS is appropriately scaled for diagnostic imaging centers of various sizes: from small community hospitals to large multi-scale academic institutions. According to Wiggins: “We recently integrated iSite PACS with STATdx Diagnostic Decision Support System, a reference technology that streamlines work- flow by reducing the time required to research and complete a difficult imaging analysis. This powerful combination of images and information at the point of care greatly increases our diagnostic confidence in complicated cases and has been a critical solution in our enterprise.” For more information, visit www.healthcare.philips.com. Publication List |
