Dose optimization technologies at RSNA

A number of exhibitors in attendance at last week’s Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting in Chicago presented milestones in dose-technology development and hospital integration.

GE Healthcare demonstrated their Q.AC software, a CT reconstruction algorithm providing a means of lower-dose CT attenuation correction for PET/CT systems. The software provides image clarity at doses significantly lower than conventional standards for attenuation.

Beyond the makers of PET/MRs, PET/CTs and the top radiopharmaceutical companies, other names showed significant developments in digital technology from behind the scenes. Capintec, which specializes in radiation monitoring technology, presented a major update to their dose calibrator, the CRC-55tR, which represents the first touch-screen operated dose calibrator from the company and a new era in dose tracking.

“Anytime you have touch-screen technology you are going to see more productivity, because information is more accessible,” said Kathy Thomas, Capintec regional manager, at the meeting. 

The new technology provides data endpoints that not only track information per administrated dose, including standard-uptake value measurements, but also larger-scale productivity studies for the department.

In a similar vein, Bracco Diagnostics brought out new analytics technology for their EmpowerCTA contrast injector, which now feeds into hospital information systems to reinforce compliance with industry standards and benchmarking for dose optimization. These developments represent a slice of the offerings at RSNA 2013 and a look into where dose technologies are going.