Rishi Nayyar of Pocket Health, in the latest Imaging Wire Show on enterprise image exchange.

How is enterprise image exchange evolving with the healthcare industry? And will we ever be able to get rid of CDs for patient image exchange? We discussed these topics and more in the latest Imaging Wire Show interview with Rishi Nayyar, co-founder and CEO of PocketHealth.

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Imaging IT

Indies Surge in Imaging IT

The market for medical imaging IT technology continues to shift, with a pair of surging independent players growing rapidly in a sector that’s long been dominated by multinational OEMs. That’s according to the latest report on the imaging IT market by UK market intelligence firm Signify Research. 

The new report is projecting that the global market for imaging information technology will grow 18% over the next few years, from $5.6B in 2023 to $6.6B in 2028. 

• Radiology will continue to dominate with a majority of sales, with cardiology IT a distant – but growing – second. Advanced visualization and operational workflow tools will make up the rest.

In terms of vendors, the top three market leaders of 2023 were GE HealthCare, Philips, and Fujifilm, but more recently, Visage Imaging and Sectra have been gaining market share. 

• The report echoes recent news that has seen some of the largest multi-site enterprise imaging installations going to Visage and Sectra; a recent KLAS Research report also showed both companies’ growing momentum. 

Some of the other major points from the report include … 

• Major growth in cloud deployment will occur – by 2028, 37% of the global imaging IT market will be in either hybrid or fully hosted environments
• Cloud will represent 44% of the total radiology IT market by 2028
• On a regional basis, the Middle East will see “significant growth” in imaging IT from 2024 to 2026, particularly in the Gulf States
• Recovery is expected in China and the ASEAN nations, while India’s growing economy is driving healthcare digitization
• Latin America is showing rising interest in AI and cloud technologies, but national elections could complicate matters

The Takeaway
The new Signify Research report underscores the evolving nature of the imaging IT market, as independent vendors rise to challenge multinational OEMs that dominated the sector for years. Be sure to check out Signify’s helpful infographic on LinkedIn that succinctly wraps up the changes.

Visit Gleamer at SIIM 2024

Be sure to visit Gleamer in booth #530 at SIIM 2024 to learn more about the company’s full range of AI solutions, including BoneView for fracture assessment. Learn more about BoneView today.

Ignite Your Imaging AI Strategy

Take your imaging AI strategy to the next level at SIIM 2024 by attending insightful sessions on AI adoption and deployment from Calantic by Bayer, including planning an AI orchestration platform and the benefits of integrating AI in radiology departments. Reserve your spot today.

The Wire

• SIIM 2024 Opens: SIIM 2024 is opening today in National Harbor, Maryland, and like last year the meeting will have a strong focus on AI. Top sessions over the next few days include: An opening general session featuring a talk by Kadija Ferryman, PhD, on thinking about informatics as social infrastructure; a panel discussion on real-world implementation of AI; a talk on the 10-year anniversary of the SIIM-HIMSS enterprise imaging project; a session on AI regulation in Europe; generative AI in radiology reporting; and a panel discussion on how to assess AI before making an acquisition. 

• ACR Launches AI Certification: Want to start using AI in clinical practice but not sure how your patients and referring physicians might react? ACR has launched ACR Recognized Center for Healthcare-AI (ARCH-AI), a new quality assurance and certification program that confers recognition on radiology providers that meet certain standards governing the use and management of AI clinically. Practices that complete the ARCH-AI program will receive a recognition badge they can display in their waiting rooms and lobbies showing they’ve met its standards for responsible use of AI.

• Chest X-Ray AI for Osteoporosis: More evidence supporting opportunistic screening’s effectiveness came this week with the publication of a new paper in Radiology. Researchers from Taiwan used the OPSCAN homegrown open-source AI algorithm to analyze chest X-rays for signs of osteoporosis in 41k people. Of these, AI identified 2.5k as high risk, and they received DEXA scans while a control group got usual care. On follow-up, the high-risk patients had higher osteoporosis rates (11% vs. 1.1%), indicating that OPSCAN could boost osteoporosis screening. 

• JLK Gets FDA OK for Prostate AI: South Korean AI developer JLK has received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for its Medihub Prostate AI algorithm for prostate cancer detection on MRI scans. The solution analyzes multiparametric MRI scans and supports diagnostic tools like PI-RADS and PSA density analysis. With the clearance, JLK will be entering the US market, and the company is planning to submit FDA applications for three additional AI algorithms through October; one solution, for large-vessel occlusion, is under review at the FDA. 

• AI to Analyze Patient Referrals: Nothing drives a radiologist crazier than unnecessary patient referrals for imaging exams. Researchers in Ireland analyzed the appropriateness of 3k brain CT exams using machine learning and natural language processing in a paper in European Radiology. Using the xWave CDS clinical decision support tool from xWave Technologies, they found that 65% were justified, 27% were probably justified, and 8.1% were unjustified, and the model outperformed humans. The study shows AI could be used to streamline scan justification and possibly assist referring physicians when ordering.  

• Qure Gets Merck Investment: AI developer Qure.ai received a strategic investment from Merck Global Health Innovation Fund that it will use to further develop radiology AI foundation models, as well as to fund its US expansion. The company’s qXR-LN algorithm for lung nodule detection was recently cleared by the FDA, and its qSpot-TB solution for tuberculosis detection was given breakthrough device designation. Merck was a previous investor in Qure. 

• Visage Releases Update for SIIM: Just in time for SIIM 2024, Visage Imaging has released an update to its Visage 7 cloud-based enterprise image management software. New enhancements in version 7.1.19 include: dynamic layouts that allow radiologists to define new temporary layouts; a new spherical ROI tool for defining a sphere of interest based on RECIST length measurements; workflow tags for Visage 7 Workflow customers; and 3D key views as a work-in-progress for the Visage Ease VP application for the Apple Vision Pro headset.

• Brain MRI Predicts Parkinson’s: In a new study in Radiology, Italian researchers described a technique for predicting Parkinson’s disease by using MRI to create maps of brain activity, or connectomes. In a study of 146 patients, connectome mapping of structural and functional brain connectivity predicted higher rates of gray matter atrophy over three years in certain brain regions. Researchers said the maps represented the loss of neurons and accumulation of abnormal proteins that can disrupt neural connections; detecting this process with MRI could set the stage for earlier treatment. 

• SimonMed’s Neuro Deal with Oxford: On the subject of neuro MRI, SimonMed Imaging has signed a research collaboration with Oxford Brain Diagnostics of the UK for better diagnosis of patients with mild cognitive impairment who may be developing Alzheimer’s disease. The companies will investigate Oxford’s Cortical Disarray Measurement (CDM) technology, which derives measures of neurodegeneration from MRI and other sources. The FDA has granted Oxford breakthrough device designation for CDM, and SimonMed will use the technology at several of its facilities. 

• Polarean Raises $12.6M: Polarean Imaging raised $12.6M that the company plans to use to expand the market for its Xenoview technology for performing MRI lung function studies with hyperpolarized xenon-129 gas. In particular, Polarean plans to broaden Xenoview’s reimbursement coverage, lower the minimum indicated age from 12 to six years old, and pursue new partnerships and collaborations. Xenoview got FDA approval in December 2022, and Polarean has been growing its distribution network through alliances with companies like Philips and VIDA Diagnostics. 

• Fujifilm Scores CT Clearance: Fujifilm Healthcare Americas has received FDA clearance for FCT iStream, a compact 128-slice CT scanner targeted at the hospital and outpatient market. The system includes the company’s HiMAR Plus metal artifact reduction algorithm, as well as technologies like Intelli IPV data reconstruction, SynergyDrive automation and workflow tools, and IntelliODM radiation dose reduction. Fujifilm debuted FCT iStream at RSNA 2023. 

• deepc Adds Oxipit Chest AI to Platform: AI platform company deepc continues to add partners. The German company has partnered with Oxipit to add that firm’s AI solutions for chest X-ray analysis to its deepcOS platform. deepc is adding Oxipit’s ChestLink algorithm for autonomous generation of radiology reports for healthy patients, ChestEye CAD solution for detecting 75 common findings on chest radiographs, and ChestEye Quality for analyzing radiology reports and images to prevent diagnostic errors. Oxipit becomes the most recent addition to deepcOS since Nexus / Chili. 

• Jubilant to Spend $50M on PET Network: Radiopharmacy operator Jubilant Radiopharma said it plans to invest $50M to expand its PET radiopharmaceutical manufacturing network. The investment will be used to add six sites across the US that are expected to be operational in the next two years, bringing to nine the number of PET sites it operates. Jubilant said it’s making the investment to meet expected growth in imaging demand for applications such as prostate cancer and cognitive impairment. 

• Konica Minolta Signs Partners: Konica Minolta Healthcare has signed a pair of new partnerships. First, the company bolstered its US healthcare IT distribution network by signing a deal with Christie Innomed subsidiary Comp-Ray, which will sell Konica Minolta’s Exa Platform with PACS, RIS, and billing modules. The second partnership is with Apollo Enterprise Imaging to give Exa customers access to clinical content across the enterprise via Apollo’s arrc solution. The partnership will unite patient information across clinical specialties, including from non-DICOM devices, for a longitudinal image-enabled EMR.

Clinical Excellence on the Move

Healthcare providers are striving to deliver faster, better care for patients, no matter where they are. Learn how the MAGNETOM Viato.Mobile 1.5T MRI scanner from Siemens Healthineers delivers high-quality care where your services are needed most.

Meet Merge at SIIM 2024

Whether you’re a physician, IT administrator, or imaging business leader, meet with Merge by Merative at SIIM 2024 to find out how you can benefit from Merge imaging solutions, and sign up now for a June 28 talk on a modular approach to innovation.

Transforming Healthcare with Advanced AI

Visit Enlitic at booth #524 at SIIM 2024 to discover how the company’s advanced AI solutions are helping healthcare institutions standardize their data. See you there!

The Resource Wire

• Presenting Unboxing AI: Check out CARPL’s brand-new video series, Unboxing AI, featuring experts discussing AI and its future in radiology. The next episode on June 28 features Melissa Davis, MD, of Yale University – reserve your seat today. 

• Seamless Integration and Efficient Reading: TeraRecon’s latest Intuition advanced visualization solution now features seamless integration with Mirada Medical’s Mirada XD, providing efficient diagnostic reading with automatic multi-modality and multi-time point registration capabilities. Schedule a demo to learn more. 

• Top-Tier Care at Rural Hospitals: Holzer Health System in Jackson, OH, treats local patients like family. In this video, learn how United Imaging equipped Holzer Health with its uMR 570 MRI scanner, helping them to offer top-tier care.

• Impact You Can See: Visit Intelerad at SIIM 2024 to learn the next chapter of their story: a reimagined and refined brand identity with solutions that can drive impact for your team. Stop by booth #412-414 or schedule your visit today. 

• A Holistic Strategy For Enterprise AI: Finding, vetting, and deploying the right radiology AI solutions can be challenging. In this SIIM 2024 session on June 27 presented by Microsoft + Nuance, learn how industry leaders are laying the foundation for AI while solving today’s real-world workflow challenges.

• AI-Driven Novice Heart Failure Screening: We hear a lot about AI’s potential to expand echocardiography to far more users and clinical settings, and a study using Us2.ai’s AI-automated echo analysis and reporting solution showed that echo AI might make novice-led heart failure screening possible.

• Generative AI’s Transformative Impact on Radiology:  Register today for a SIIM #AskIndustry Panel Discussion at 11 am ET on June 28 to hear from Sham Sokka, CTO and COO of DeepHealth, alongside key industry leaders on how the next wave of AI innovation will revolutionize diagnostic accuracy, radiologist efficiency, and patient outcomes.

• Collaborative Care in the Age of Innovation: Unlock the future of collaborative care with AGFA HealthCare’s pioneering Enterprise Imaging solution. Request a demo today to learn more at SIIM 2024, or visit them at booth #613.

• The Radiology Report with Francis Deng, MD: In this episode of The Radiology Report podcast, Medality Co-Founder and CEO Daniel Arnold talks to Francis Deng, MD, about his decision to enter neuroradiology. Listen to this episode as well as other interviews with leaders in radiology 

• Stop Shipping Discs! By pivoting to a 100% digital fulfillment model for patient images and records, you can improve their experience while significantly reducing labor and shipping costs. Find out how on this page from Clearpath. 

• 5 Things to Know about Cloud PACS: The cloud doesn’t need to be hard. Visage 7 from Visage Imaging delivers simplicity with proven experience. Learn about the five things you need to know in this video. 

• AI and Matters of the Heart: As clinicians face increasing pressure from all sides, can AI provide some much-needed breathing space? In this article from Blackford, learn more about how AI is assisting with cardiac imaging with modalities ranging from CT to echocardiography. 

• Looking to Improve Patient Satisfaction and Avoid Care Delays? Join PocketHealth at SIIM as they speak with industry leaders about overcoming image exchange challenges with patient-centric solutions on June 28. CE credits available. Don’t miss it! 

• How AI Can Liberate Radiologists: Attend this talk at SIIM 2024 at 1 pm on June 27 by Allen Hundley of Riverain Technologies to learn how AI can liberate radiologists from repetitive and monotonous elements of their workflow. 

• Clarity, Speed, and Confidence for MRI Efficiency: Radiologists have used a variety of methods to improve efficiency, but many of these methods come with drawbacks. Find out in this article how SpinTech MRI takes on the challenge of MRI efficiency with its STAGE software.