by
Lisa Chamoff, Contributing Reporter | July 01, 2019
From the July 2019 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
Galen MRI
In February 2019, Galen MRI received FDA clearance for a 1.5-tesla breast MR system, called Emma.
The company is in the process of installing 10 systems, said David Tse, the board chairman for Galen MRI.
The scanner has abbreviated protocols that reduce the scan time from 45 minutes to 15 minutes for preliminary screening, while more detailed screening takes about 20 minutes.
The scanner also employs machine learning and two AI systems to further reduce the time.
Scan Assistant scans the images to enhance radiologists' diagnosis, while Report Assistant generates the initial scan report, to facilitate further reporting.
“In many cases, the patient can only afford to have a breast scan once in a while,” Tse said. “Therefore, they need a much more comprehensive report than the typical report.”
The scanner is currently awaiting approval from the China Food and Drug Administration.
GE Healthcare
Last year, GE Healthcare launched the second generation of its SenoBright HD contrast-enhanced mammography system, which was FDA cleared in 2017.
The new system has improved image quality and a reduced acquisition time, according to Annemijn Eschauzier, chief marketing officer for women's health at GE Healthcare.
“There were some artifacts in the previous solution that have been removed,” Eschauzier said. “With SenoBright HD, the image has become even more clear.”
Technologists are able to perform the exam, which highlights areas of unusual blood flow on an inconclusive mammogram, on the same machine that performed the regular four-view mammogram.
“I think the customers who are adopting it are extremely enthusiastic,” Eschauzier said.
The company has also introduced the 3D version of its Pristina Serena stereotactic biopsy system after showcasing the 2D version at last year’s RSNA.
With this dedicated add-on, the customer can transform their screening room into an interventional room quickly, Eschauzier said. “It gives a lot of flexibility,” Eschauzier said.
While typically a biopsy is done in the vertical position, the arm of the system can be moved from vertical to a side position, which reduces needle visibility to the patient and targets lesions close to the chest wall or breast support.
Clinicians “had no idea that a side approach was actually so useful,” Eschauzier said.
The technologist can change the position of the biopsy arm with the woman under compression on the system.
“It really helps makes this interventional procedure as easy as possible for the patient and the radiologist,” Eschauzier said.
