CHICAGO - PACS and CR vendor Agfa HealthCare debuted a number of new additions to its digital image management offerings this year, with an emphasis on expanding services to other specialties and throughout the enterprise.
Version 4.5 of its Impax PACS software was shown as a work-in-progress. Looking outside the radiology department, Impax 4.5 includes additions such as departmental extensions, teaching file management, and multimedia distribution of results, according to Agfa.
Other new features include support for Microsoft's Windows 2000 operating system, an automated exam work list, a study display management system, and visualization tools such as multi-planar reformatting (MPR) and 3-D. Agfa expects to make the new release available early next year.
In other work-in-progress demonstrations, Agfa showcased its Clinical Content Manager informatics initiative. Designed to providing radiologists with information such as related images and educational material, Clinical Content Manager allows users to receive content from databases and the hospital's RIS and PACS network, according to the vendor. Data mining, authoring, and presentation tools are included in the software, which is being tested at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Agfa has also introduced DigiCopy, a digital image duplication system that creates copies of conventional films by digitizing the studies and printing duplicate images on dry media. DigiCopy includes a film scanner (from Vidar Systems), an interface PC with software, and digital dry imager.
In other related introductions, Agfa added Multi Flex, a printing management system that links Agfa's DryStar imagers, allowing customers to manage and increase film availability and printer throughput.
In specialty components, Agfa has incorporated an echocardiography component to its Impax for Cardiology image and information management system. Agfa expects to begin shipping the integrated server, workstation, and archive in the first quarter.
The company is also rolling out Web1000 for Cardiology, a new version of the firm's enterprise Web server. Among other features, Web1000 for Cardiology includes an MPEG viewer to accommodate real-time playback of cardiac multiframe images, according to the firm.
The OT3000 is an orthopedic display station targeted for bone and joint replacement specialists. An extension of the vendor's DS3000 radiology diagnostic workstation, OT3000 includes special orthopedic measurement and calibration tools. This allows the orthopedist to more precisely conduct measurements and scale implants for joint replacement and reconstructive surgeries, according to the vendor. Agfa is targeting a first quarter shipping date for OT3000.
In computed radiography, Compact Plus joined the firm's CR family. Replacing the Agfa's ADC Compact reader, Compact Plus offers throughput and reliability improvements, according to the company.
The vendor's QS workstation has been ported to the Windows NT platform. Agfa also discussed the benefits of its new client-server functionality. Other enhancements include a scoliosis imaging capability, stitching software, and new dose monitoring and measurement tools, as well as database management additions. Agfa also previewed its new scan-head and needle storage phosphor technology as a work-in-progress.
By Erik L. Ridley
AuntMinnie.com staff writer
November 28, 2001
For the rest of our coverage of the 2001 RSNA meeting, go to our RADCast@RSNA 2001.
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