Industry round-up: Cedara, ImaSight, InSite One, Philips, SIIM

Cedara Software has inked a strategic relationship with InSite One to provide online radiology services. Cedara will provide InSite One with a new web based viewing tool for exams stored on client's archives to allow referring physicians access to results and reports. Known as InDex Web, InSite One's offering will be based on the Cedara I-Reach. Cedara I-Reach is a web-based PACS that provides access to relevant information at the appropriate time, presented in the proper context, with clinically relevant tools to ensure patient outcomes are accurate and timely. For medical imaging centers and healthcare facilities, I-Reach provides online report and image viewing, security features that support HIPAA compliance, 3D rendering, a wide array of clinical tools, back-end storage and archiving. As an internet-deployable technology, I-Reach provides ultimate image and information access between different healthcare facilities.
 
"We are very please to be working with InSite One," said Loris Sartor, President of Cedara Software.  "By combining InSite One's experience in the onsite and offsite image archive and disaster recovery market with Cedara's advanced technology, a broader range of services become available to the end user market. This relationship creates a significant new ASP solution for American healthcare providers."
 

Ottawa, Canada-based ImaSight (formerly Imascope), a developer and supplier of innovative digital radiography technologies, launched the ImaSight4600 digital radiography sensor. The sensors are initially targeted for use in veterinary diagnostics, though future versions of the product are expected to be introduced this year and will be targeted towards applications in human health care, the company said.
 
The ImaSight technology involves the conversion of x-rays into four different light wavelengths, which are integrated through a series of mirrors and lenses to create a sharp image. The ImaSight4600 sensor’s resolution, at 4.6 lp/mm, exceeds the American College of Radiology recommended minimum of 2.5 lp/mm. In addition, the ImaSight4600 incorporates an industry-leading graphical user interface developed in conjunction with Ottawa-based Macadamian Technologies Inc.
 

Philips Medical Systems released Q4 2006 financial results, with sales of $2.68 billion (USD) compared to $2.62 billion in 2005, a rise of 7 percent (comparable) and 2 percent (nominal). Comparable sales grew largely due to double-digit growth in healthcare informatics and customer service, and due to sales of i-Site PACS that went up nearly 50 percent, the company said.
 
Philips said saw earning before tax (EBIT) in Q4 2006 of $403 million compared with $345 million during the period in 2005. The company said it saw improvements in most business, particularly computed tomography, nuclear medicine and customer service.
 

The Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (formerly SCAR), has launched its new website: http://www.siimweb.org. The new website coincides with the re-branding of the society and the intention to use the Internet as a much stronger platform to serve its members throughout the year. The website provides valuable content for the entire medical imaging community and serves as a resource for the emerging field of imaging informatics. The website features include the following:
  • The SIIM Expert Hotline has been integrated and archived on the site. The Hotline taps into SIIM members' expertise and background in PACS technology and imaging informatics applications;
  • More podcasts and streaming video of SIIM educational content;
  • Improved search function with the capability of performing full-text searches of all content on the website;
  • Communities of Practice that are "learning communities" within SIIM.

Around the web

The new technology shows early potential to make a significant impact on imaging workflows and patient care. 

Richard Heller III, MD, RSNA board member and senior VP of policy at Radiology Partners, offers an overview of policies in Congress that are directly impacting imaging.
 

The two companies aim to improve patient access to high-quality MRI scans by combining their artificial intelligence capabilities.