Philips PACS Software in Security Spotlight
Philips Healthcare and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security advised that Philips’ iSite and IntelliSpace PACS software have vulnerabilities that could allow even “low skill” hackers to access the systems, impacting confidentiality, integrity, and/or availability. Philips assured that IntelliSpace PACS runs in a managed service environment to minimize risk, recommending that users adopt one of several patching programs to address known vulnerabilities. Philips is the latest major player to make security headlines, following a possibly-related report from McAfee that suggested a range of medical imaging technologies (particularly PACS) are “highly vulnerable” to cyberattacks and separate a report from the DHS that hackers could gain control of GE systems. In reality, every connected system has some vulnerabilities, but the recent surge in medical imaging security headlines should be viewed by imaging players as a call to improve their security and an opportunity to craft stronger security operations and messaging.

Agfa USA Quietly Launches Multifunctional DR 800
A year and a half after debuting at RSNA, Agfa HealthCare’s DR 800 multipurpose solution received FDA 510(k) clearance and will soon launch in the US and Canada. Agfa is leaning-in on the DR 800’s multifunctional capabilities, imposing the image of an Agfa-branded swiss army knife on the DR 800’s product page due to its support for radiography, fluoroscopy, and advanced clinical applications. The DR 800 also adopts an updated version of Agfa’s well-established MUSICA multi-scale image processor, which can now support moving images and offers improved noise suppression and brightness control.

FDA Clears Canon Aquilion Precision CT System
Canon Medical Systems USA announced that FDA clearance of its Aquilion Precision, proclaiming it the world’s first Ultra-High Resolution CT system (UHR CT). The Aquilion Precision boasts the ability to resolve anatomy as small as 150 microns and its new UHR detector allows more than 2x the resolution of current CT technology. In addition to the new detector, the Aquilion Precision launches with new tube, gantry, and reconstruction technologies that Canon claims have the potential to expand visualization of diseases. The system also boasts 0.25 dose efficiency with detector channels, the industry’s smallest Focal Spot Tube (0.4×0.5mm), and the industry’s first routine 1024×1024 Reconstruction Matrix.

Launches Continue at Japan’s ITEM Conference
Medical imaging manufacturers continued to announce new products timed for the upcoming ITEM 2018 (International Medical Imaging General Exhibition) conference in Yokohama, Japan, following a number of launches last week.

• Fujifilm announced the development and upcoming Japan launch of its CoreVision 3D surgical C-arm X-ray fluoroscopic system, highlighted by its new Dynamic Core X-ray video processing engine, which reduces blur associated with the moving C arm. There is no record of the CoreVision 3D existing outside of Japan (at least under that name), suggesting that it may expand to other regions.
• Canon Medical Systems launched the new Xario 100G and 200G mid-range ultrasound cart systems, which replace the Xario 100/200 Platinum series and are highlighted by their 8-hour battery life and small-size/light-weight. The new g-series’ Japan launch follows the line’s announcement at ECR in March and likely precedes a US launch later in the year.
• Canon Medical Systems announced its Aplio a550 and Aplio a450 diagnostic ultrasound systems in Japan, positioning the models as lineup-expanding additions to the middle of its ultrasound portfolio, below the Aplio i-series. The Aplio a-series already made its European debut at ECR 2018 and is expected to land stateside later this year.
• EIZO launched its new 21.3-inch RadiForce GX 560 MammoDuo dual monochrome displays intended for mammography reading, replacing the GX 550 which is available in the US.

The Wire

• RadNet acquired five imaging centers in Fresno, combining with RadNet’s two existing local facilities to make it the largest outpatient imaging operator in the area (that’s a bigger deal if you’re in Fresno), while giving the company more than 300 locations nationwide.

• Bracco Diagnostics filed a complaint with the US ITC claiming that Jubilant DraxImage and two affiliates infringed on its patents related to its rubidium-82 generators, requesting that Jubilant be prohibited from selling the Ruby elution system and Ruby-Fill rubidium-82 generators, which are often used in cardiac PET studies.

• A Cedars-Sinai research team developed a new cardiac MRI technique, called MR Multitasking, that overcomes typical still imaging issues related to heart and blood movement by continuously acquiring image data (similar to a video) and then eliminating the images that are blurred by motion.

• Sectra and Radiologic Associates of Fredericksburg in Virginia announced a 5-year agreement that is largely focused on PACS, but will also include breast imaging, 3D vessel analysis, lesion tracking, teaching file software, and business analytics.

• Strategic Radiology added Minneapolis Radiology Associates to its consortium of radiology practices, giving the group its first presence in the state of Minnesota and increasing its membership to 22 private practices and over 1,000 radiologists.

• Varian released version 4.0 of its Velocity cancer imaging software, featuring a new Rapidsphere module for Y90 Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) dosimetry analysis that interventional radiologists use in targeted cancer therapy for patients with liver malignancies.

• Conquest Imaging announced that it now offers portable ultrasound depot repair, fixing out-of-warranty systems in 3-5 days, and achieving fast service turnaround times due to its flat rate billing structure.

• Just under a year after achieving US FDA clearance, CurveBeam announced that its LineUP and InReach orthopedic extremity CT systems achieved CE Mark certification, allowing expansion to Europe.

• MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital researchers demonstrated that an FDA-approved and commercially-available fluorescent dye currently used for near-infrared imaging also works “very well” for short-wave infrared imaging, allowing clearer images of blood vessels and other tissues.

• A study by the U of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and promoted by Kubtec found that tomosynthesis (3D mammography) is “very” accurate in detecting positive margins intra-operatively in breast cancer patients undergoing a segmental mastectomy, compared to 2D imaging with extensive processing.

The Resource Wire

• Agfa whitepaper on augmented intelligence and intelligent workflows
• Caresteam video interview details Clinical Collaboration Platform success story
• Canon and Toshiba publish “New Horizons in Ultrasound” report
• Fujifilm video outlines its women’s health solutions
• GE video overview on Centricity Universal Viewer
• IBM Watson post highlights client success at The Iowa Clinic
• Konica Minolta publishes latest Kontours issue
• Olympus webinar on bringing endoscopic ultrasound to community hospitals
• Olympus video on the benefits of using CO2 in endoscopy
• Philips article highlights pediatric radiology innovations
• Philips video highlights its radiology solutions at ECR 2018
• Philips article on managing cybersecurity risks in healthcare
• Siemens video on digitalizing healthcare in radiology
• Siemens and the HBR’s perspective on transforming care delivery
• Siemens and the HBR paper on “The Power of Digitalizing Healthcare”
• Siemens video on expanding precision medicine with BioMatrix technology