inSPira HD features NeuroLogica's patented spiral-rotating focused collimators within a mobile platform. Image quality approaches PET with the resulting reconstructed spatial resolution as high as 3.0mm.

inSPira HD is capable of imaging all available neuro radiotracers offering a broad range of clinical applications including Epilepsy, Parkinson's, Stroke and Alzheimer's.

The focused collimators and spiral scan motion of the inSPira HD are responsible for the higher resolution (both in-plane and in z-axis) as compared to conventional Gamma Camera SPECT systems. The combination allows isotropic scans and reconstruction with as high as 3mm resolutionin X,Y,Z.

Product page: inSPira HD...

Press release: NeuroLogica Corporation Announces FDA 510(k) Clearance for inSPira HD: portable high resolution SPECT...

More about the technology inside the Discovery NM 530c:

This revolutionary imaging system has been installed at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City, United States, Ottawa Heart Institute in Ottawa, Canada, University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland and Gabriele Monasterio Foundation, CNR, in Pisa, Italy.

Alcyone Technology brings together a breakthrough design based on combining CZT detectors, focused pin-hole collimation, stationary data acquisition and 3D reconstruction, to improve workflow, dose management, and overall image quality.

CZT detectors directly convert gamma rays into digital signals, eliminating the need for photomultiplier tubes, but maintaining high stopping power to deliver improved energy, spatial and temporal resolution.

With conventional nuclear cardiac imaging, a patient must hold their arms above their head for two scans that take between 15-20 minutes each. Alcyone's focused multi-pinhole collimation has been strategically positioned to view cardiac anatomy and pathology with greater clarity and speed, resulting in scan times as short as 3 minutes. Unlike conventional nuclear imaging, all views are acquired simultaneously during a fully stationary SPECT acquisition, eliminating equipment movement during the scan.

Press release: GE HEALTHCARE INSTALLS NEXT EVOLUTION IN NUCLEAR CARDIOLOGY SCANNERS GLOBALLY

Flashback: GE Unveils Five Minute Nuclear Cardiac Scanner...

From the press release:

GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company, announced the launch of Alcyone Technology, a nuclear cardiology platform combining cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detectors, focused pin-hole collimation, 3D reconstruction, and stationary data acquisition, to improve workflow, dose management, and overall image quality.

The new Alcyone technology will be available on both the Discovery NM 530c and the Discovery NM/CT 570c. Alcyone's heightened sensitivity and zero equipment motion improves both image quality and energy resolution, enabling the potential for new clinical applications including 3D dynamic acquisitions and simultaneous dual isotope imaging.

With conventional nuclear cardiac imaging, a patient must hold their arms above their head for two scans that take between 15-20 minutes each. With the Discovery NM 530c, the scanning time is reduced to 3-5 minutes for each scan. This reduction in time can be less painful, and possibly reduce any patient movement due to the pain or uncomfortable positioning, causing artifacts in the scan. A shorter, more comfortable scan has the opportunity to improve image quality, allowing clinicians to be more confident in their diagnosis.

The Discovery NM/CT 570c has the ability to perform a complete cardiac scan in less than five minutes including myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA), and calcium scoring (CaSC). The Discovery NM/CT 570c also shortens acquisition times, improves dose management, and enables more convenient patient scheduling in comparison to separate, conventional SPECT and CT exams.

Building a growth framework for nuclear cardiology departments to evolve with changing patient needs, GE Healthcare also provides a practical upgrade pathway from Ventri, the dedicated conventional nuclear cardiology camera. With the launch of Alycone technology, clinicians now have the option of upgradeability to the Discovery NM530c and Discovery NM/CT 570c systems.

Press release: GE HEALTHCARE DEBUTS ALCYONE TECHNOLOGY; NEXT GENERATION IN NUCLEAR CARDIOLOGY

Here are the results and conclusions, taken from the study abstract:

RESULTS. Twenty-six women ranging in age from 46 to 82 years (mean age, 62.8 years) with a total of 28 biopsy-proven invasive lobular carcinomas were included in the study group. Mammograms were negative in six of 28 (21%), yielding a sensitivity of 79%. In the 25 patients who underwent sonography, 17 had focal hypoechoic areas, yielding a sensitivity of 68%. In the 12 patients who underwent MRI, the sensitivity was 83%. BSGI had a sensitivity of 93%. There was no statistically significant difference in the sensitivity of BSGI, MRI, sonography, or mammography, although there was a nonsignificant trend toward improved detection with BSGI.

CONCLUSION. BSGI has the highest sensitivity for the detection of invasive lobular carcinoma with a sensitivity of 93%, whereas mammography, sonography, and MRI showed sensitivities of 79%, 68%, and 83%, respectively. BSGI is an effective technique that should be used to evaluate patients with suspected cancer and has a promising role in the diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma.

Considering how sales of Dilon's equipment are already going (see press release below), the future for BSGI looks pretty bright.

Abstract: Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Detection with Mammography, Sonography, MRI, and Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging

Press release: Dilon Technologies Leads Molecular Breast Imaging Expansion

Flashback: Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) Goes to RSNA

From the press release:

NEC's new UA-SFT LCD module technology offers high brightness without compromising contrast or viewing angles, making the image quality outstanding for color or grayscale images. Select units include built-in front sensors for stability, as well as remote assurance of DICOM conformance.

NEC's new offerings to the MultiSync MD Series include the 21-inch, 2-megapixel MD212MC and the 21-inch, 3-megapixel MD213MC color displays - both with front sensors; and the 21-inch, 3-megapixel MD213MG grayscale display with front sensor.

The MD212MC and MD213MC color displays follow in the footsteps of the highly successful line of medical grayscales from NEC, and join the 30-inch, 4-megapixel MD304MC color display with backlight sensor announced earlier this year.

Common features of the monitors:

DICOM calibration and the X-Light ProTM sensor system for maintaining a consistent image

12-bit lookup table (LUT) for detailed images and grayscale

ColorCompTM, which reduces LCD uniformity errors and compensates for differences in color/grayscale and luminance

Front or backlight sensors

Full medical certifications

5-year limited warranty with overnight exchange service

Also, NEC has announced that it received FDA certification for its 5-megapixel 20-inch monitor:

"The FDA digital mammography approval is a clear demonstration of NEC's commitment to the medical industry," said Stan Swiderski, Product Manager of medical and professional displays for NEC Display Solutions. "The MD205MG provides diagnostic professionals with the advanced tools they need to accurately diagnose and consistently review detailed images."

The 5-megapixel monitor is part of the MultiSync MD Series, a family of medical-grade LCDs designed specifically for radiology, Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), MRI, CT and 3D applications.

With a 2560 x 2048 native resolution, the MD205MG display features advanced in-plane switching (IPS) LCD technology, which offers powerful details of medical images and a possible 3,061 shades of gray. It also includes a backlight sensor, DICOM calibration and a contrast ratio of 600:1.

In addition, GammaCompTM MD software, supplied with the MD monitor system, supports different sensors for calibration. These include both external colorimeters for direct measurement at the surface and spot luminance meters for distance measurement.

The 5-megapixel display also is Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) compliant, containing fully disposable plastics, no hazardous materials such as hex-chrome, cadmium, PBDE and PBB, and limited amounts of mercury and lead.

Press releases: NEC DISPLAY SOLUTIONS INTRODUCES A NEW LINE OF HIGH-BRIGHTNESS COLOR AND GRAYSCALE DISPLAYS FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ...; NEC DISPLAY SOLUTIONS RECEIVES FDA 510(K) APPROVAL OF 5-MEGAPIXEL GRAYSCALE MONITOR FOR USE IN DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY APPLICATIONS ...

Product brochure: MD304MC...

Product page: MD205MG ...

From the nSPEED brochure:

nSPEED models the depth-dependent point response function in an iterative reconstruction algorithm (OSEM), thus enabling depth-dependent resolution recovery and improving chamber contrast in cardiac SPECT images. nSPEED has been shown to significantly improve the resolution of SPECT images as compared to standard reconstruction methods. These improvements enable the reduction of acquisition time or patient dose while maintaining image quality as compared to conventional reconstruction methods that do not use depth-dependent resolution recovery.

More details from the press release:

For example, with nSPEED, Digirad Cardius solid-state dedicated cardiac systems can now perform cardiac SPECT imaging procedures in as little as three minutes or with one-half the required pharmaceutical dosages. Supporting 510(k) documentation submitted to the FDA was based on data obtained from a 448-patient, 10-center evaluation using Digirad's single, dual and triple-head Cardius cameras.

Digirad Chief Executive Mark Casner stated: "Our nSPEED software represents a new benchmark for performing nuclear SPECT studies that meet the new standards recently issued by the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology. In addition, with nSPEED which is an advanced 3D-OSEM reconstruction program, the acquisition times for, and count densities of, cardiac SPECT images represent a 50 percent improvement over specifications in prior ASNC guidelines."

On June 18, 2008, the American Society for Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) issued new technology-standards for SPECT image acquisition and processing. This standard stated, "For new software methods specifically designed for reduced acquisition times and/or lower count density images, cardiac count density should be in accordance with that specified in or implicit to the method's 510(k) FDA approval."

Press release: Digirad Corporation Receives FDA 510(K) Clearance for nSPEED® Reconstruction Software for Improved Image Quality in Less Time with Less Radiation

Product brochure: nSPEED... (.pdf)

The company believes that its system will be a "next generation" proton therapy device, based on the following technology:

ProTom International holds the U.S. exclusive rights for a proton therapy technology system developed at the Lebedev Physics Institute. This new disruptive technology will allow community based health care providers the opportunity to add proton therapy in their continuum of cancer treatment options.

Over twenty years has been dedicated to the development of the proton therapy system by some of the world's leading physicists, engineers, programmers and machinists. Currently, twenty-four patents have been filed reflecting the advancements of this system. The combination of unique features of this proton therapy system makes it the Next Generation in Proton Therapy.

True pencil beam treatment scanning, resulting in three dimensional Intensity Modulation Proton Therapy (IMPT). This breakthrough eliminates the need for customized collimators and compensators and improves patient throughput.

Compact design without sacrificing intensity (energy) or dose rate
- Fully variable beam energy of 30-330 MeV ± 0.15%
- Synchrotron external ring diameter of less than 16 feet, with total weight approximately 15 tons

Reduced capital and operating costs

To read more about the company's proprietary proton therapy technology go here...

Press release: PROTON THERAPY COLLABORATION BETWEEN MIT AND PROTOM...

MIT press release: Bates researchers eye proton therapy for cancer...

Flashbacks: The Physics of Proton Therapy; In the Works: Compact, Low-cost Proton Therapy System; Activate the Proton Beam

This is the first time a flat panel X-ray detector will be used for CT imaging in nuclear medicine. This system, along with the new GEMINI TF Big Bore and new NM Application Portfolio on the Extended Brilliance Workspace, is currently on display at the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) annual meeting.

The BrightView XCT features technological advances that can enable low patient dose levels, high-resolution localization and high-quality attenuation correction with the potential for fewer artifacts and shorter exam times. This offers clinical advantages particularly in cardiology studies, the top procedure in nuclear medicine. In addition, the co-planar SPECT and CT capabilities limit, and in some cases eliminate, the need to move the table between scans. Reduced movement can help improve patient comfort and allow for more confidence in image registration, the process of comparing, matching and superimposing the SPECT and CT images on one another for analysis. The BrightView XCT is also the only scalable SPECT and SPECT/CT system that fits into a 12'x15.5' room and does not require special certification for nuclear medicine technicians.

Press release: New Philips systems deliver first-of-their-kind integrated solutions for nuclear medicine and radiation oncology ...

Product page: BrightView SPECT ...

With a full 85 cm bore for PET and CT scans, the new system allows for positioning flexibility and has a rigid table design to meet the accuracy requirements for treatment planning. The GEMINI TF Big Bore allows clinicians to image patients in the same position they are treated, expanding PET/CT capabilities beyond diagnosis, staging and follow-up to include therapy planning. The system combines Philips' GEMINI TF time-of-flight PET imaging technologies with its Brilliance Big Bore CT localization to consolidate radiation oncology procedures, increase potential for greater accuracy and improve scheduling. It is the first system that offers tools and protocols to easily integrate PET functional images into radiation oncology, helping to consolidate procedures while maintaining premium image quality.

Press release: New GEMINI TF Big Bore provides the accuracy needed for radiation oncology ...

Flashback: GEMINI TF from Philips

Here is more from the press release:

The Intego System automatically extracts a patient dose from a multi-dose vial and delivers it directly to the patient, virtually eliminating manual dose preparation and handling, and the corresponding radiation exposure to the technologist. With the Intego System’s dose-on-demand capability, the prescribed dose can be delivered when the patient and technologist are ready, enabling technologists to easily and efficiently respond to schedule changes, patient delays, and add-on patients. Innovative features, including real-time dose availability information, an integrated ionization chamber, and an optional weight-based dose calculation, allow the healthcare provider to more precisely customize each patient’s dose. Safety features include a tungsten multi-dose vial shield, a fully lead-lined mobile cart, and an automated saline flush to remove residual FDG from the line after each infusion.

Product Page: Intego PET Infusion System...

Read the press release...