Nuclear Medicine: Where PET and SPECT are King
New SPECT/CT, PET/CT systems and a variety of gamma cameras are debuting at RSNA with new functionalities. Vendors promise more user friendliness, advanced algorithms, enhanced lesion detectability and quicker scan times.
Philips Medical Systems (Booth #7113) at RSNA 2004 will be launching a new PET/CT system. The company will also be highlighting its Precedence SPECT/CT system that provides physicians with tools to improve diagnostic confidence and patient care through combined SPECT and CT images. Philips will also be introducing its Molecular Imaging Suite. The software package provides tools to support key elements required for Molecular Imaging. The Suite may help expand the functional capabilities of SPECT and hybrid imaging systems through integrating Molecular Imaging applications into JETStream Workspace for improved workflow, productivity and ease of use, provide enhanced display tools and enable evaluation of individual SPECT and CT images. Philips also has on its roster of nuclear medicine products its JETStream Workspace, a comprehensive nuclear medicine workstation that encompasses all the imaging elements of a nuclear medicine department in one environment.
Siemens Medical Solutions (Booth #2729) is highlighting its TruePoint SPECT/CT, which debuted in June. The system, which combines Siemens' e.cam SPECT with its CT technology, can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, cardiac and neurological diseases. In cardiac applications, TruePoint SPECT/CT will provide information about cardiac function and overall health with its ability to measure attenuation correction with diagnostic multislice CT.
Toshiba America Medical Systems (Booth #7149) is highlighting its t.cam Signature series - an easy-to-use gamma camera for whole body, cardiac SPECT and general SPECT applications - that is available in three configurations: t.cam Variable, t.cam Cardio, and the t.cam Single. Features include: HD4 digital detectors, real-time automatic body contouring and advanced algorithms for diagnostic accuracy; e.media patient comfort and entertainment system; 400-pound table capacity; e.soft and e.soft express, software for remote review of nuclear medicine, cardiac and PET cases; and data and images integrated with multiple vendors and modalities.
Hitachi Medical Systems America (Booth #8350) is rolling out its Sceptre P3 PET/CT hybrid imaging system. The system combines three technologies in one: Lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) PET technology, Hitachi's fast quad-slice CT and connectivity to AVIA PACS. The system features dual attenuation correction (DAC Technology) and FDA approved Non-Rigid Fusion7D algorithm that provides precise registration by correcting for respiration differences between PET and CT acquisitions.
Pico 3-D electronics significantly improves count rate performance, energy resolution and scatter rejection resulting in enhanced lesion detectability and image quality improvements with large patients, Hitachi said.
The Sceptre P3 is designed with a field upgrade capability and allows Sceptre dedicated PET customers an opportunity to cost-effectively upgrade to the benefits of PET/CT. The "Evolve" upgrade program is available to all Sceptre dedicated PET scanners including both installed and forward production systems.
Gamma Medica Inc. (Booth #1850) is showing off X-O, a new micro CT system and the newest addition to its line of pre-clinical imaging products. The system can perform full body scans on a wide range of test subjects in less than one minute. It also features a large field of view at nearly 1,000 cubic centimeters.
In addition, X-O is compatible with the company's other pre-clinical offerings, so users can upgrade by adding the company's SPECT components to their existing X-O Micro CT systems, and thus perform co-registered dual modality CT/SPECT imaging, Gamma Medica said.
CTI Molecular Imaging (Booth #1965) is bringing to the show PETConnect, a fully integrated range of web-delivered software tools and workstations for image analysis, education and practice management. Created in partnership between CTI Mirada Solutions and CTI PETNET, the technology provides all the functionality required to be a PET provider in either the entrepreneurial or hospital setting with specific focus on referral physician services, diagnostic tools and market education. Features include: Scenium, for detailed analysis of FDG uptake in patients with suspected Alzheimer's disease; Ostiview, designed for the visualization and analysis of PET sodium fluoride bone scans; PET/CT U, a comprehensive web-based educational tool, designed to provide clear answers to all your questions about PET/CT; and Call It With Confidence, an educational resource designed to assist the interpreting physician with proper reporting of PET and PET/CT studies.
For radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians, PETConnect includes the MiraView workstation for image review and analysis and the image fusion platform, Fusion7D (available both as a workstation plug-in and a PACS/OEM offering), with both rigid and non-rigid image fusion algorithms. New capabilities include Novisis, an application that facilitates direct comparison of several images, including PET/CT studies, acquired at a range of different time points and is an invaluable tool in monitoring response to therapy or disease progression. These systems support a wide range of MR, SPECT, PET and CT scanners and allow radiologists not currently using PET to integrate molecular imaging.
MedImage Inc. (Booth #3317) is highlighting MedView, a new volume registration tool. MedView allows users to register studies of the same modality or different modalities, including nuclear medicine and PET (DICOM and legacy), CT and MRI.
Rigid-body alignment is performed with a manual technique based on aligning landmarks in operator selected slices. Tools for image registration analysis review include contrast and brightness presets for different organs and modalities, ROIs, SUV calculations and on screen ruler. Users can choose one of several standard fused-window layouts or customize one to fit their screen size and review methodology.
MedView can be used to compare pre- and post-therapy images and provides clinicians with a fast, efficient way of detecting tumor change. Volume registration is an optional feature and is available now in MedView v11 for both Windows and MacOS X.
Naviscan PET Systems Inc. (Booth #8435) is bringing to RSNA its FDA-approved Naviscan PEM Flex Solo PET Scanner. The compact PET scanner is designed to provide high-resolution (1.5 mm intrinsic resolution) images of the breast and guide radiological and surgical procedures. Employing lutetium-based crystals, the device's compact design allows for scanning in a small room or in a mobile environment. It features a four- to 10-minute scan and produces 3D tomographic PET images.
Numa Inc. (Booth #7311) is showcasing its newest nuclear medicine connectivity solutions, NumaList. The product enables non-worklist compliant systems to gain the advantages of DICOM modality worklist. NumaList adds or corrects DICOM modality worklist information in DICOM image files, enabling the correct patient demographic information to be added to the DICOM images with little or no user input.
TeraRecon (Booth #4343), in partnership with Acrorad, is unveiling a handheld mini gamma camera (MGC) for intra-operative imaging, especially of sentinel nodes. The MGC achieves imaging through the use of Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) semiconductor detectors.
Philips Medical Systems (Booth #7113) at RSNA 2004 will be launching a new PET/CT system. The company will also be highlighting its Precedence SPECT/CT system that provides physicians with tools to improve diagnostic confidence and patient care through combined SPECT and CT images. Philips will also be introducing its Molecular Imaging Suite. The software package provides tools to support key elements required for Molecular Imaging. The Suite may help expand the functional capabilities of SPECT and hybrid imaging systems through integrating Molecular Imaging applications into JETStream Workspace for improved workflow, productivity and ease of use, provide enhanced display tools and enable evaluation of individual SPECT and CT images. Philips also has on its roster of nuclear medicine products its JETStream Workspace, a comprehensive nuclear medicine workstation that encompasses all the imaging elements of a nuclear medicine department in one environment.
Siemens Medical Solutions (Booth #2729) is highlighting its TruePoint SPECT/CT, which debuted in June. The system, which combines Siemens' e.cam SPECT with its CT technology, can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, cardiac and neurological diseases. In cardiac applications, TruePoint SPECT/CT will provide information about cardiac function and overall health with its ability to measure attenuation correction with diagnostic multislice CT.
Toshiba America Medical Systems (Booth #7149) is highlighting its t.cam Signature series - an easy-to-use gamma camera for whole body, cardiac SPECT and general SPECT applications - that is available in three configurations: t.cam Variable, t.cam Cardio, and the t.cam Single. Features include: HD4 digital detectors, real-time automatic body contouring and advanced algorithms for diagnostic accuracy; e.media patient comfort and entertainment system; 400-pound table capacity; e.soft and e.soft express, software for remote review of nuclear medicine, cardiac and PET cases; and data and images integrated with multiple vendors and modalities.
Hitachi Medical Systems America (Booth #8350) is rolling out its Sceptre P3 PET/CT hybrid imaging system. The system combines three technologies in one: Lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) PET technology, Hitachi's fast quad-slice CT and connectivity to AVIA PACS. The system features dual attenuation correction (DAC Technology) and FDA approved Non-Rigid Fusion7D algorithm that provides precise registration by correcting for respiration differences between PET and CT acquisitions.
Pico 3-D electronics significantly improves count rate performance, energy resolution and scatter rejection resulting in enhanced lesion detectability and image quality improvements with large patients, Hitachi said.
The Sceptre P3 is designed with a field upgrade capability and allows Sceptre dedicated PET customers an opportunity to cost-effectively upgrade to the benefits of PET/CT. The "Evolve" upgrade program is available to all Sceptre dedicated PET scanners including both installed and forward production systems.
Gamma Medica Inc. (Booth #1850) is showing off X-O, a new micro CT system and the newest addition to its line of pre-clinical imaging products. The system can perform full body scans on a wide range of test subjects in less than one minute. It also features a large field of view at nearly 1,000 cubic centimeters.
In addition, X-O is compatible with the company's other pre-clinical offerings, so users can upgrade by adding the company's SPECT components to their existing X-O Micro CT systems, and thus perform co-registered dual modality CT/SPECT imaging, Gamma Medica said.
CTI Molecular Imaging (Booth #1965) is bringing to the show PETConnect, a fully integrated range of web-delivered software tools and workstations for image analysis, education and practice management. Created in partnership between CTI Mirada Solutions and CTI PETNET, the technology provides all the functionality required to be a PET provider in either the entrepreneurial or hospital setting with specific focus on referral physician services, diagnostic tools and market education. Features include: Scenium, for detailed analysis of FDG uptake in patients with suspected Alzheimer's disease; Ostiview, designed for the visualization and analysis of PET sodium fluoride bone scans; PET/CT U, a comprehensive web-based educational tool, designed to provide clear answers to all your questions about PET/CT; and Call It With Confidence, an educational resource designed to assist the interpreting physician with proper reporting of PET and PET/CT studies.
For radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians, PETConnect includes the MiraView workstation for image review and analysis and the image fusion platform, Fusion7D (available both as a workstation plug-in and a PACS/OEM offering), with both rigid and non-rigid image fusion algorithms. New capabilities include Novisis, an application that facilitates direct comparison of several images, including PET/CT studies, acquired at a range of different time points and is an invaluable tool in monitoring response to therapy or disease progression. These systems support a wide range of MR, SPECT, PET and CT scanners and allow radiologists not currently using PET to integrate molecular imaging.
MedImage Inc. (Booth #3317) is highlighting MedView, a new volume registration tool. MedView allows users to register studies of the same modality or different modalities, including nuclear medicine and PET (DICOM and legacy), CT and MRI.
Rigid-body alignment is performed with a manual technique based on aligning landmarks in operator selected slices. Tools for image registration analysis review include contrast and brightness presets for different organs and modalities, ROIs, SUV calculations and on screen ruler. Users can choose one of several standard fused-window layouts or customize one to fit their screen size and review methodology.
MedView can be used to compare pre- and post-therapy images and provides clinicians with a fast, efficient way of detecting tumor change. Volume registration is an optional feature and is available now in MedView v11 for both Windows and MacOS X.
Naviscan PET Systems Inc. (Booth #8435) is bringing to RSNA its FDA-approved Naviscan PEM Flex Solo PET Scanner. The compact PET scanner is designed to provide high-resolution (1.5 mm intrinsic resolution) images of the breast and guide radiological and surgical procedures. Employing lutetium-based crystals, the device's compact design allows for scanning in a small room or in a mobile environment. It features a four- to 10-minute scan and produces 3D tomographic PET images.
Numa Inc. (Booth #7311) is showcasing its newest nuclear medicine connectivity solutions, NumaList. The product enables non-worklist compliant systems to gain the advantages of DICOM modality worklist. NumaList adds or corrects DICOM modality worklist information in DICOM image files, enabling the correct patient demographic information to be added to the DICOM images with little or no user input.
TeraRecon (Booth #4343), in partnership with Acrorad, is unveiling a handheld mini gamma camera (MGC) for intra-operative imaging, especially of sentinel nodes. The MGC achieves imaging through the use of Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) semiconductor detectors.