Radiology Archives

Riverain Chest X-Ray Temporal Comparison Software Highlights Differences in Chest X-Rays Over Time

by Wouter Stomp on Jan 12, 2012 •

3532dfvzx Riverain Chest X Ray Temporal Comparison Software Highlights Differences in Chest X Rays Over Time
Riverain Technologies has received FDA clearance for its Temporal Comparison software for chest X-rays. The software compares current and previous chest X-rays of the same patient and highlights the differences in order to improve detection of new nodules which may be early lung cancer.

The software uses pattern recognition and machine learning algorithms (including its existing bone suppression algorithms) to normalize each image to make it consistent with a standard format. The lung field is then identified for comparison. The current and prior image are then aligned and processed by subtracting the current image from the prior image. The system integrates seamlessly with the PACS system, saving the resulting difference image as an additional image in the patient’s folder ready for the radiologist’s interpretation.

In a study performed by the company as part of the FDA approval process, on 422 pairs of chest X-rays, 15 radiologists were able to demonstrate an average 12.4 percent improvement in sensitivity for actionable solitary pulmonary nodules using Riverain’s Temporal Comparison software as compared to results based on comparing the X-rays side by side.

In addition to the United States, Temporal Comparison is also available in Canada and Europe. It requires the customer to have purchased Riverain’s bone suppression software SoftView, functioning as an add-on to it. The software can also be used in combination with Riverain’s On-Guard Computer-Aided Detection software to improve early detection of lung disease.

Press release: Riverain Technologies’ Temporal Comparison X-ray Software Receives FDA Clearance…

Product page: Riverain Temporal Comparison…

Flashbacks: Radiologists Get Software Assistance for Chest X-Ray Analysis; Riverain’s Updated Chest X-Ray CAD Technology Gets FDA OK; Riverain’s OnGuard Computer-Aided Detection System Validated in European Study; Riverain Medical Receives FDA Clearance for SoftView Enhanced Chest Imaging; Siemens to Offer Riverain SoftView on Devices

Cardiac Surgery / Cardiology / Radiology / Vascular Surgery

New Guidewire With a Remote Controlled Flexible Tip

by Gene Ostrovsky on Jan 4, 2012
New Guidewire With a Remote Controlled Flexible Tip

Minimally invasive vascular surgery and endovascular procedures depend very much on the clinician guiding catheters through vasculature simply by rotating the wire that has a bent tip at the end, and basically shoving it down the intended side of a bifurcation.

Computer Vision Systems Laboratories out of Boca Raton, Florida has developed a guidewire the tip of which can be remotely manipulated to bend just as much as you want, allowing more control when navigating through difficult vasculature.

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Emergency Medicine / Neurological Surgery / Neurology / Radiology

Ultrasound System for Treatment of Ischemic Stroke Receives CE Mark Approval

by Jan Sinnige on Jan 3, 2012
Ultrasound System for Treatment of Ischemic Stroke Receives CE Mark Approval

Cerevast Therapeutics, Inc. from Redmond, Washington received CE mark approval for the Clotbust ER, a SonoLysis system used to treat ischaemic stroke in emergency settings. The device has been designed to non-invasively deliver therapeutic ultrasound energy to occluded blood vessels in the brain, together with standard intravenous thrombolytic therapy. The energy of the ultrasound beam is transformed into energy of fluid motion, also known as acoustic streaming. At very low pressures this streaming inside the brain will cause a mild “stirring” action in which additional fibrin binding sites are exposed to plasmin. This new method will enhance the clot lysis potential of conventional rtPA treatment.

Integrated software controls the delivery of consistent therapeutic levels of energy required to attain acoustic streaming, which makes the device operator independent and doesn’t require an experienced ultrasound specialist.

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Cardiac Surgery / Cardiology / Radiology

Abiomed Reveals a New, More Powerful Impella cVAD Heart Pump

by Gene Ostrovsky on Dec 21, 2011
Abiomed Reveals a New, More Powerful Impella cVAD Heart Pump

Abiomed‘s Impella left ventricular assist device, an endovascular percutaneously-delivered LVAD, will soon be getting a more powerful sister model. The current model is capable of delivering an augmentation of cardiac output by up to 2.5 liters a minute, but the new Impella cVAD should do around 3.5 L/m, and possibly up to 4 L/m in the not too distant future.

The new device, and above numbers, were announced at Abiomed’s investor day conference and the company hopes to have the device available to clinicians by the Summer of 2012.

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Radiology

Siemens Multix Fusion X-ray System for Small and Mid Size Hospitals

by Gene Ostrovsky on Dec 20, 2011
Siemens Multix Fusion X-ray System for Small and Mid Size Hospitals

Siemens recently released its new budget friendly Multix Fusion X-ray system that provides a full spectrum of clinical applications at a relatively low cost. The ceiling-mounted system offers some features seen on more expensive units, like a 300 kilo capacity adjustable table (to accommodate, of course, those patients who are battling at the front lines of the obesity epidemic).

The key components of the Multix Fusion, such as the ceiling-mounted X-ray tube and Bucky wall stand, were adopted from the high-end Ysio system. Ysio is Siemens’ radiography system for large hospitals with high patient throughput and the most demanding requirements in terms of automation, image quality, and ease-of-use. The Multix Fusion, on the other hand, is most suitable for small to medium-size hospitals and private practices that don’t want to compromise on quality, and at the same time depend on a very good price-performance ratio.

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Nuclear Medicine / Radiology

New MRI Contrast Agent for Cancer Detection. A Game Changer?

by Ronney Shantouf on Dec 20, 2011
New MRI Contrast Agent for Cancer Detection. A Game Changer?

Engineers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a way to coat an iron-based contrast agent so it interacts preferentially with acidic environments in the body such as areas of tumor formation or inflammation.  The technology may lead to a potentially cheaper, safer, and more effective method of tumor detection than current less specific contrast agents.

The research was conducted by Professor Andrew Tsourkas and graduate student Samuel H. Crayton from the bioengineering department at Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Science and published in the journal ACS Nano.  To improve the differentiation between tissues in the body, physicians use contrast agents to achieve better visualization of tissues when imaging.

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Informatics / Net News / Radiology

Mobile MIM 3.0 Gets FDA OK for Portable Radiology Diagnostics

by Gene Ostrovsky on Dec 19, 2011
Mobile MIM 3.0 Gets FDA OK for Portable Radiology Diagnostics

MIM Software‘s new Mobile MIM 3.0 software for diagnostic X-ray and ultrasound image review has been cleared by the FDA.  It displays volume histograms, isodose curves, contours, and images for treatment plans, and allows clinicians to consult with each other wherever they are.  The convenience of displaying radiological images to patients right at the bedside without having to bring in printouts is another welcome benefit.

The company also announced it is working with Accuray to soon launch a new app, called PlanTouch, that will allow a review of a CyberKnife interventional radiation oncology treatment plan right on an iOS device.

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Cardiology / Radiology

Magnetic Catheter Guidance System from Magnetec Gets EU Clearance

by Gene Ostrovsky on Dec 19, 2011
Magnetic Catheter Guidance System from Magnetec Gets EU Clearance

Magnetecs, an Inglewood, California firm, received the European CE Marking for its Robotic Catheter Guidance Control and Imaging (CGCI) System.  The technology involves eight remotely controlled electromagnets that guide the movement of a magnetically-tipped EP catheter, providing precise movement with great dexterity. The display intelligently provides validation of anatomy, EP, and precise visualization of the intended work area as well as real-time display of tool location. Automated mapping of the cardiac chamber of interest removes the repetitive task of manual mapping, thereby shortening the duration of the procedure and increasing the accuracy of the generated map. Since all the imaging, tool location and control operates in the digital realm, the entire procedure is stored and available for review and playback.

According to Josh Shachar, CEO of Magnetecs, the European regulatory decision will allow the company to apply its technology “for electrophysiology and interventional cardiology as well as additional fields of use.”

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GI / Radiology

Swallowable Endoscope Capsule Guided by MRI

by Gene Ostrovsky on Dec 15, 2011
Swallowable Endoscope Capsule Guided by MRI

Capsular endoscopy of the GI tract has its advantages, but since the swallowed capsule moves randomly through the intestines, there’s absolutely no control of where the eye of the device is pointing at. Now researchers from Tel Aviv University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital are using a 3T MRI machine to both power and propel a new capsule they invented. The tail of the device that provides the motive force is made of copper and a flexible polymer.

So far the technology has been tested in a water tank and the researchers believe the power produced is sufficient to navigate the capsule inside the stomach.  This technology is reminiscent of the magnetically guided capsule project between Siemens and Olympus (see flashbacks below), but that one was different in that the capsule doesn’t use a propeller of any sort but is directly moved around by the magnetic field.

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