Fonar claims to have the largest exhibit area at the upcoming RSNA show. Their intent is to show their complete product line. But when I read the following a thought struck me--WHERE IS FONAR??
Road to RSNA 2006: MRI Preview - - November 1, 2006
Dear AuntMinnie Member,
The U.S. MRI market continued to chug along at a respectable pace in 2006, with nearly 1,000 scanners expected to be sold during the year, according to market research firm IMV Medical Information Division of Des Plaines, IL. The installed base of MRI scanners has been growing by about 4% annually for the last several years, according to IMV's estimates.
But clouds loom on the horizon as the January 2007 implementation date for the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 approaches. Signed into law earlier this year to effect cuts in Medicare reimbursement, the DRA would slash reimbursement for many MRI procedures conducted in an outpatient setting.
The DRA has many operators of outpatient imaging centers wringing their hands over whether they can continue to do business in an environment in which revenues drop by as much as 30%. And perhaps no modality is as associated with entrepreneurial outpatient imaging as MRI.
Will the DRA lead to a widespread drop in MRI scanner purchasing? Or has much of the fear of the DRA's impact already been incorporated into MRI orders? Or will the cavalry somehow ride to the rescue at the 11th hour, with Congress overturning the legislation in a lame-duck session after the November 7 elections?
Whatever happens, one thing is certain: MRI vendors will continue to churn out new technology, and the halls of McCormick Place in Chicago will be the best place to see it. At this year's show, 3-tesla scanners will continue to claim their place as the new gold standard for clinical high-field imaging.
Also look for specialized scanners to garner attention. Breast MRI continues to make inroads as an adjunct to mammography, and several vendors will be introducing new image acquisition techniques and breast imaging accessories. Another market segment, orthopedic MRI with dedicated extremity scanners, has also been experiencing activity.
For a full rundown on new products and technologies to be shown on the technical exhibit floor, just click on the links below.
Disclosure notice: AuntMinnie.com is owned by IMV, Ltd.
Brian Casey
Editor in Chief
bcasey@auntminnie.com
Exhibitor Summaries
Aurora Imaging Technology
This North Andover, MA, developer of dedicated breast MRI systems will emphasize SpiralRODEO, a new image acquisition technique based on the company's RODEO (rotating delivery of excitation off-resonance) technology.
GE Healthcare
Look for GE Healthcare to emphasize recent introductions in its Signa HD scanner family, as well as new advancements that range from a technique designed to reduce motion artifacts to a method for assessing articular cartilage integrity.
Hitachi Medical Systems America
This Twinsburg, OH, company will demonstrate enhancements to its line of MRI scanners, ranging from the 1.5-tesla Echelon system to the Altaire, Airis Elite, and Airis II scanners.
Hologic
Hologic of Bedford, MA, will demonstrate a new version of the dedicated extremity MRI scanner that the company is selling in the U.S. through a partnership with Italian imaging vendor Esaote. The initiative is part of a program Hologic launched in 2006 to expand the company's emphasis from bone densitometry systems to a broader focus on skeletal health.
IES-Patient Comfort System
IES-Patient Comfort System of Hayward, CA, will roll out a line of mattress pads, knee wedges, and positioners designed to enhance advanced imaging scans while boosting patient comfort.
Invivo
Look for this Orlando, FL, company to discuss a new version of its DynaCAD computer-aided detection software for MRI studies.
Medrad
Contrast injector technology developer Medrad of Indianola, PA, will showcase a range of products in its RSNA booth, from a new radiofrequency coil for prostate imaging to a new offering that enables customers to move their contrast equipment wirelessly in the MRI suite.
MR Instruments
This Minneapolis developer of MRI coils and accessories will introduce a new transmit-and-receive head coil for 3-tesla scanners, as well as a parallel transceiver device for ultrahigh-field magnets.
ONI Medical Systems
Specialty orthopedic MRI developer ONI of Wilmington, MA, will highlight a new coil upgrade for its 1-tesla MSK Extreme scanner.
Philips Medical Systems
Look for Philips of Andover, MA, to promote recent advancements to its line of high-field MRI scanners, including the Achieva 3.0T and Achieva 1.0T scanners, and the Panorama 1.0T open scanner.
Resonance Technology
This developer of MRI-compatible patient audiovisual entertainment systems will use the 2006 RSNA conference to highlight recent enhancements to its CinemaVision product, and will introduce a new system for functional MRI (fMRI) studies.
Sentinelle Medical
Sentinelle was formed to commercialize products developed through research at Sunnybrook and Women's Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, and at the 2006 RSNA show the firm will demonstrate a new table dedicated to breast and interventional MRI studies.
Siemens Medical Solutions
In the MRI section of its RSNA exhibit, Siemens of Malvern, PA, will shine the spotlight on 3-tesla scanning, the company's ultrawide-bore 1.5-tesla system, and new scanning protocols for improving image quality by reducing motion artifacts.
Toshiba America Medical Systems
Toshiba will use the 2006 RSNA meeting as a springboard for the launch of the company's first 3-tesla MRI scanner. The Tustin, CA, company will also demonstrate new radiofrequency (RF) coil technology for its 1.5-tesla scanner, as well as new scanning sequences.
Road to RSNA 2006: MRI Preview - - November 1, 2006
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