Radiological Society of North America
Last month we attended the annual Radiological Society of North America meeting at McCormick Place to catch up on the new imaging discoveries and advancements in the field. While it was only our second, RSNA was celebrating their 104th meeting! They continue to provide a hands-on experience for attendees and are at the forefront of radiology solutions and new medical technologies year after year. Please read about who we connected with and the latest research from RSNA below.
Intuitive + Intelligent
Canon’s Aplio i-series (below) is a versatile and intuitive ultrasound that provides clear-cut images with it’s 24 MHz ultra-high frequency linear transducer. The ultrasound was recently developed with a new lens, smaller parts, new piezoelectric oscillator, and increased sensitivity and resolution. It offers a wide range of functions and can be used for musculoskeletal cases, pregnancies, cardiac assessments, and breast imaging.
GE Revolution EVO
GE’s Revolution EVO Gen 2 produces rapid results, specifically for cardiac procedures, that help doctors pinpoint details as small as 0.28 mm with its redesigned spatial resolution. EVO has also decreased the amount of radiation dosage need to achieve those images. Their smart dose management tools, like CT 4Kids, are a huge improvement for younger patients and takes less of a toll on the body.
Ultra Sensitive and Minimally Invasive
Endomag’s ultrasensitive node localization instrument, Sentimag, is able to detect and locate sentinel lymph nodes with ease and precision. The portable tabletop unit was designed with an ergonomic probe and foot switch, audible pitch variation (which helps the surgeon focus on patient care), and a large digital display. The instrument uses magnetic susceptometry and iron oxide particles to detect abnormalities.
Data is Key
Google’s Cloud Healthcare API works within medical research communities to help ensure the most secure cloud base allowing patients and doctors to collaborate seamlessly. At McCormick, they showcased companies that have successfully implemented their API, like Ambra Health. With the Cloud, Ambra’s researchers can use anonymous patient data freely and cut down traditional cloud deployments from months to minutes. Google’s Cloud Healthcare & Life Sciences team shared their set of APIs which are starting to be implemented into more and more programs. In this case, the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) connects radiologists to other physicians, experts, and facilities to ensure the best patient care and the most well-rounded data.
With GCP, data can be used to its fullest potential and contribute to life-changing healthcare research. The GCP creates datasets that researchers can pull from to run tests and experiments through analytic workloads – all without the roadblocks of IT management. Because cloud tech and AI go hand in hand, Google owned data scientist community, Kaggle, and RSNA co-hosted their own AI competition. “Kaggle users will build an algorithm to detect a visual signal for pneumonia in medical images. We hope this challenge inspires more AI researchers to build in the healthcare space, as well as encourage broader public sharing of important datasets,” is Gregory Moore’s, VP of Healthcare at Google Cloud, hope for the platform.
Portable + Digital
General Electric’s Optima XR220amx is a revolutionary mobile x-ray that provides a smooth and efficient workflow for technologists and fast exams for patients. The Optima is ready to go at a moment’s notice with no boot-up needed, has a “smart charge” feature that allows the machine to be recharged while still taking exposures, and a durable, easy to maneuver design. The Optima also includes the advanced FlashPad, the wireless digital detector made of carbon-fiber housing, which increases it’s strength as well.
The Science of Sure
Hologic is a champion for women’s health and takes pride in their initiatives to provide the most precise diagnoses with absolute certainty to female patients. Their medical breakthroughs, like their Genius 3D Mammography technology, have contributed to a 20% – 65% increase in locating invasive breast cancers. The ATEC biopsy portable breast ultrasound was on display at the meeting and is Hologic’s flagship product. It can collect multiple tissue samples within one insertion, tissue acquisition lasts less than 30 seconds, and the setup and clean up are only 1 minute.
Screening, Detection, + Treatment
For less invasive biopsies, Hologic’s Affirm system provides a comfortable and quick procedure, leaving the patient with a better experience and peace of mind. Designed with the user’s comfort in mind, Affirm removes patient visibility of the biopsy needle, quickly alleviating the patient of any stress. The Affirm was engineered with automated features which results in a smoother workflow and allows the clinician to conduct an in-depth procedure quickly. The flexibility of Affirm allows patients to comfortably position themselves bidirectionally while the independently rotating c-arm improves overall access to more challenging areas of an exam.
Pulsed Fluoroscopy
Like Hologic, Orthoscan has a versatile and flexible c-arm. Their FD Pulse is the first of its kind with a mini c-arm and pulsed fluoroscopy. The arm has a full orbital rotation of 150 degrees, the largest flat detector of mini c-arms on the market. It also has adjustable pulses which result in reduced and tailored dosage per imaging and patient need.
Closing Out 2018
The Radiological Society of North America connected us to thousands of healthcare professionals and industry leaders. For a look at our related medical projects, please visit our Work page or drop us a note at info@beyonddesignchicago.com. Happy Holidays!
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