Multimodality Workstations means multitasking specialists
Cedara Software, a Merge Healthcare company, brought to RSNA a number of technologies geared for softcopy review, including I-ReadMammo for soft-copy reading of breast images, OrthoWorks geared for orthopedic specialists and Cedara PET/CT for reading the stream of data in a PET/CT study.
GE Healthcare showcased its Advantage Workstation (AW) VolumeShare that provides customized applications and protocols for MR, CT, PET and x-ray imaging studies, and highlighted a remote access application which allows users to visualize, analyze and share multi-modality digital imaging and communications. AW VolumeShare, which also has service-line tools for oncology, cardiology, women's healthcare, orthopedics and neurology, enables 2D, 3D and 4D visualization and analysis with no loss of image resolution and no down sampling of large data sets. The newly released AW RemoteAccess enables remote users to engage AW advanced applications via PC or laptop computer.
Hologic was on board at RSNA featuring its SecurView diagnostic workstation that facilitates diagnostic review of digital mammograms from any vendor as well as breast images from other modalities such as MRI, PET and ultrasound.
Maxant Technologies highlighted MediPort, a digital viewing workstation that combines all of the space-saving construction of a wall-mounted film viewer with the functionalities of a digital workstation.
Philips Medical Systems showcased a new PET/CT viewer available on its Extended Brilliance Workspace (EBW). The viewer offers PET/CT users complete access to a full suite of PET and CT clinical applications. In addition, Philips GuidedFlow technology features a graphical user interface for ease of use and enhanced workflow.
Sectra at RSNA showed as works in progress new ways of retrieving and displaying image data of extreme size and arbitrary dimensions on its next-generation diagnostic workstation. Combined, these methods increase the display speed of radiology images by a factor of 100 times or more compared with traditional methods, the company says. Release is slated for 2006.
TeraRecon highlighted its Aquarius Workstation 3.5 that is driven by VolumePro, a real-time 3D volume rendering hardware engine. It is integrated with modules that are designed with protocol-driven, streamlined workflow that automatically generates a report during the reading process. Tools include single-click coronary vessel extraction using vessel tree in addition to region-growing tools; time-volume analysis for CTA and MRA for measuring myocardial dynamics for LV functions with a perfusion map on the 3D model; time-density analysis for measuring contrast enhancement of perfused areas of the brain; CT colonography module with unfolded views and auto flythrough navigation; vessel analysis for endovascular stent-graft planning; single-click bone removal; soft plaque quantification tools and more.