Breast Imaging puts the focus on digital mammography

Without a doubt, full field digital mammography snagged the spotlight in breast imaging at this year’s show. Vendors showed enhancements to their FFDM systems, as well multi-modality, vendor-neutral softcopy workstations for reading and review of digital mammography images. Since digital mammography offers significant opportunity for organizations to improve quality of care and expand customer service, vendors also showed another cost-effective approach to digital mammography with CR mammography. Additional breast imaging technologies, such as breast ultrasound and breast MRI, also demonstrated how they are becoming integrated parts of women healthcare centers.

Aurora Imaging Technology showcased its Aurora 1.5T dedicated breast MRI system bundled with SprialRodeo technology. It is designed specifically for bilateral 3D breast imaging and provides full coverage of the breasts, chest wall and axillae in a single scan.

Cedara Software, a Merge Healthcare company, announced a new strategic relationship with Advanced Imaging Technologies Inc. (AIT) to market the ARIA Breast Imaging System. Under the terms of the agreement, AIT will be provided with a broad range of software technologies including a console application for the ARIA imaging system.

Fujifilm Medical Systems showcased its Computed Radiography for Mammography (FCRm) system and announced its new generation PACS Synapse version 3.2 will include additional digital mammography capabilities. Fuji also revealed a distribution agreement with Siemens Medical Solutions for the FCRm system.

GE Healthcare showcased its Senographe Essential FFDM system, the newest addition to its breast imaging product line. The system is the next-generation of GE’s Senographe FFDM systems. GE also highlighted clinical testimonials and technical advancements related to the company’s breast MR portfolio.

Hologic showcased its enhanced Selenia FFDM system and the SecurViewDX diagnostic workstation that can display digital mammograms from any vendor. The Selenia FFDM uses selenium-based direct capture technology that eliminates light diffusion for completely improved clarity and image quality. Displaying digital mammograms from any vendor, the SecurViewDX workstation can also locate regions of interest using sophisticated CAD tools and view current and prior mammograms alongside breast images from MRI, PET and ultrasound with seamless file sharing.

Eastman Kodak Company showed a range of digital mammography systems and debuted new RIS mammography technology as a “works in progress.” The company said its CR-based mammography platform has entered the final phases of regulatory review in the United States. The Kodak CR platform, which has been on the market for more than a year in Australia, Europe, Latin America and Asia, is currently offered as an option with Kodak DirectView CR 850, CR 950 and CR 975 systems.

MagView unveiled new enhanced features available on the Mammography Information System version 5.4, including a patient tablet collecting system and a web portal scheduling tool. The new web portal extends secure remote access to referring physicians and staff using MagView throughout the enterprise. The tablet PC patient history collection module was designed at the request of clients and patients wanting to have an electronic, paperless method for accurately capturing patient history, allowing for faster patient throughput and less waiting time by the patient.

Mammography Reporting System showed an interactive patient history collection system that allows patients to enter their medical history into a Tablet PC or kiosk and store their signature, so that the information can be downloaded directly into the MRS patient history data base.

Merge eMed, a Merge Healthcare company, showcased MergeMammo, a multi-modality, vendor-neutral softcopy workstation for reading and review of digital mammography images. With the workstation, breast images from any modality can all be displayed on the same workstation, allowing radiologists to quickly compare images on a single screen. 

Planmed highlighted its Nuance FFDM system. The system for screening and diagnostic mammography is fully DICOM compatible with PACS connectivity. It offers a conservative footprint, requiring only minimum space in the facility. According to Planmed, it has completed patient accrual in the U.S. and FDA clearance is pending.

Siemens Medical Solutions launched the newly acquired prone breast biopsy table, the MammoTest, that offers clinicians the choice of upright or prone stereotactic systems. Siemens also featured Fujifilm Medical Systems’ computed radiography for mammography (FCRm) as part of their exclusive agreement and showcased its own Mammomat NovationDR digital mammography system.

U Systems Inc. featured its third generation SomoVu system coupled with somosynthesis technology that displays acquired information from multiple planes using voxel syntheses processing. SomoVu is an advancement in ultrasound technology that provides a comfortable, automated method for obtaining a comprehensive ultrasound scan of the breast.