$35M funding opportunity for Mo-99, Siemens FDA approval, and more imaging vendor news
Federal officials recently issued a funding opportunity to further the nation’s goal of achieving commercial-scale production of the medical radioisotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) by 2023.
The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration said on July 30 that Congress has set aside $35 million in FY2020 to reach this milestone.
NNSA is looking for partners already in the process of producing isotopes without the use of highly enriched uranium. Companies have until Sept. 30, 2020, to respond with their proposals.
“Mo-99 is a vital medical isotope that helps us fight back against heart disease and cancer,” said Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty, DOE under secretary for Nuclear Security and NNSA Administrator, in a July 30 announcement. “This funding will accelerate efforts to make Mo-99 in America without the use of highly enriched uranium, ensuring that U.S. patients continue to have access to the critical medical care they need while reducing the potential for proliferation of nuclear materials.”
RadNet, Hologic team up on AI in breast imaging
Outpatient imaging services company RadNet and women’s health leader Hologic announced Thursday that they are collaborating to advance the use of AI in breast cancer care.
Los Angeles-based RadNet will combine data from its network of imaging centers with Hologic’s mammography software to develop and implement new AI approaches, the pair said. As part of the effort, RadNet will also upgrade all of its Hologic mammography systems with the latter’s 3DQuorum imaging tech.
“Access to data is critical in training and refining AI algorithms,” said Pete Valenti, Hologic’s division president, Breast and Skeletal Health Solutions. “With this collaboration, we now have the opportunity to leverage data from the largest fleet of high-resolution mammography systems to develop new tools across the continuum of care, provide workflow efficiencies, and improve patient satisfaction and outcomes.”
FDA clears Siemens Healthineers’ bedside CT platform
Siemens Healthineers has received Food and Drug Administration clearance for its Somatom On.site mobile head CT scanner that allows critically ill patients to remain in bed during an exam.
In its Aug. 5 announcement, Siemens said the platform eliminates the costly, high-risk process of transferring ICU patients to the radiology department.
Carestream reveals new x-ray system
Carestream Health launched its new DRX-Compass x-ray system Thursday, labeling it an “upgrade-friendly” machine that increases workflow efficiency and reduces costs.
The system—designed for community, rural and private hospitals—will be compatible with future Carestream updates and add-ons, the company said in a statement.
GE Healthcare agrees to distribution deal with Osprey
GE Healthcare has agreed to exclusively distribute Osprey Medical’s technology that addresses angiography-based acute kidney injury, the companies announced on July 30.
Under the four year strategic alliance, GE plans to commercialize Osprey’s DyeVert products, which decrease the contrast that reaches the kidneys by an average of 40%. According to the firms, it is the only FDA-cleared device for reducing contrast exposure.
The agreement applies to distribution in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Turkey.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.