CHICAGO – Fujifilm Medical Systems USA this morning debuted its smallest CR system to date, the SmartCR, at the RSNA annual meeting. The unit is a self-contained image reader with an integrated PC-based workstation and image processing software, an ST-VI imaging plate (IP), and an IP Cassette 3 Type C all housed within a footprint of three square feet.
Bob McGee, Stamford, CT-based Fuji’s vice president of sales, said “Its potential impact on the industry is substantial since our primary target is the distributed market, which is the largest single digital X-ray segment. SmartCR also provides an attractive option for hospitals to expand their digital X-ray capabilities with in-room CR readers.”
The SmartCR runs off U.S.-standard 110-volt power and features a 500-MHz Intel Pentium III processor with 512 MB of RAM and a 10 GB hard drive running on Microsoft's Windows 2000 Professional operating system. User input to the system is conducted through a flat-panel touch screen LCD set at a 1024 x 768 pixel resolution. The unit also supports cassette identification through an optional bar-code scanner.
The company touts the product’s DICOM modality worklist management capabilities for direct connections with a facility’s RIS/HIS software to reduce a technologist’s data entry for a scheduled patient. Images can be automatically optimized for diagnosis and output via DICOM CR store SCU (storage class user) to a PACS or teleradiology network. In addition, SmartCR supports the DICOM modality performed procedure step, which notifies the RIS/HIS when a scheduled exam has been completed.
SmartCR’s IPs and cassettes are cross-compatible with older FCR 5000 readers, making the technology adaptable with existing systems. According to Todd Minnigh, national marketing manager for Fuji, “the amount of energy needed to scan the image from the plate is much less than traditional systems, shortening the time it takes to read the image and improving workflow.” The company released throughput figures of between 56 IPs (when using 14 x 17-inch cassettes) to 90 IPs (when using 18 x 24-cm cassettes) per hour.
Fuji’s latest addition to its CR line is being offered at a price point of $96,000, and is available now. The unit includes Fuji’s benchmark image processing technology, with spatial frequency processing, tonal conversion processing, dynamic range control, tomographic artifact suppression, and multi-objective frequency processing standard with the package.
By Jonathan S. Batchelor
AuntMinnie.com staff writer
November 26, 2000
Copyright © 2000 AuntMinnie.com
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