- Predicting Heart Failure: A JAHA study suggests that cardiac MRI could be used to predict heart failure (HF) among patients with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). The researchers retrospectively analyzed cardiac MRI findings in 60 patients with ACM, finding that 41 patients (68%) had left ventricular late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac MRI (LV LGE). All 13 patients who experienced HF‐related events during the 34 month median follow-up period also had LV LGE on cardiac MRI (31.7% of patients with LV LGE). HF‐related events also occurred more in patients with higher native T1, higher T2, and higher extracellular volume.
- Annalise’s First FDA: Annalise.ai announced the FDA 510(k) clearance of its Enterprise CXR solution for the triage and notification of pneumothorax on chest X-ray, marking the Australian startup’s first FDA clearance. Annalise Enterprise CXR is also the first product to differentiate tension pneumothorax, allowing users to set up special triage rules for this life-threatening condition. Noting that Enterprise CXR is built to identify 124 different CXR findings (far beyond pneumothorax), it’s very likely that Annalise.ai is working to add more FDA-cleared findings going forward.
- fMRI Behavior Breakthrough: MIT scientists developed a fMRI technique that’s able to image individual groups of neurons and reveal how they interact with each other, potentially allowing researchers to better understand how different brain circuits affect behavior or perception. Unlike current fMRI tech that measures changes to blood flow as a proxy for neural activity, MIT’s virus-delivered “genetic probe” targets specific populations of cells to see how neurons involved in a brain circuit respond to stimuli.
- Change Adds DiA Echo AI: DiA Imaging Analysis and Change Healthcare launched a multi-year partnership that will make DiA’s LVivo Seamless cardiac ultrasound software available via Change’s CPACS cardiology viewer. The FDA/CE-cleared LVivo Seamless solution streamlines Echo Lab workflows by automatically selecting the optimal views from each cardiac ultrasound exam and presenting them on the Change CPACS. The alliance bolsters Change’s cardiac ultrasound capabilities, while further expanding DiA Imaging Analysis’ impressive list of channel partners (also includes GE, Philips, Konica, Terason, SonoScape, Circle CVI, Watson Health).
- GE’s Vscan Air Solutions: GE Healthcare unveiled a pair of Vscan Air solution bundles intended to expand the handheld ultrasound’s device management, image management, and remote collaboration capabilities. GE’s new Vscan Air Fleet enterprise-wide solution combines the Zoom-powered MyRemoteShare collaboration tool (allows clinicians to remotely view/discuss scans) and MyDeviceHub device management application (allows admins to remotely manage and control devices). As its name suggests, GE’s new Vscan Air Individual solution is available to individual clinicians, combining the MyImageCloud image management solution (cloud-based image storage, access, management) and the same MyRemoteShare collaboration tool available in the Fleet bundle.
- EU Density Guidelines: The European Society of Breast Imaging released new screening recommendations for women with extremely dense breasts. The EUSOBI recommends MRI screening for women with extremely dense breasts from ages 50-70, at least every 2 to 4 years. The society also recommends supplementing mammography with MRI, although ultrasound can be paired with mammography as an alternative.
- Philips’ Enterprise Updates: Philips kicked off HIMSS 2021 with a pair of enterprise imaging product updates intended to expand Philips’ informatics solutions across the enterprise. Philips’ updated Enterprise Performance Analytics – Performance Bridge – solution now provides operational insights and analytics for imaging performed or used by the cardiology department (previously radiology-focused). Meanwhile, a new version of Philips HealthSuite Interoperability solution supports health systems ability to create workflows across different technologies and departments.
- MediView Funding: Surgical AR startup MediView XR secured $9.9M in funding (total funding now $14.4M) that it plans to use for FDA submissions, tech development, and team expansion. MediView’s flagship XR90 system combines CT or MRI-based “X-Ray vision” and real-time ultrasound guidance to support tumor removal surgery navigation. This is just the start for MediView, which plans to close a Series A round in early 2023.
- COVID’s Imaging Impact: An Insights into Imaging study used imaging volumes from a German hospital to highlight a considerable decline in overall medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of over 1.3M exams revealed that imaging volumes fell by 10% during the pandemic, although exams (and by proxy, overall medical care) increased by 17% during the pandemic’s second wave and 33% during the third wave.
- Butterfly Network’s Gates Grant: Butterfly Network received a $5M grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to provide healthcare workers in Kenya and South Africa with 1,000 Butterfly iQ+ handheld ultrasound devices in an effort to improve prenatal care. A portion of the grant will also fund the expansion of the Butterfly iQ+ mobile app’s maternal and fetal health capabilities.
- X-Ray Camera: Scientists from Australia’s Curtin University are developing a new X-ray detector technique that’s based on metal halide perovskite materials (vs. caesium iodide or gadolinium oxysulfide) and can record images using a standard digital camera. The researchers highlighted metal halide perovskite’s high sensitivity (allowing efficient x-ray photon detection), low material cost, and low radiation, which could allow them to develop these smaller and lower-cost portable X-ray systems.
