MD Buyline's clinical analyst Lori Webb highlights vendor showcases from the AHRA 2014 Conference in Washington, D.C. Learn about medical imaging solutions from Agfa Healthcare, Carestream Health, Canon, Del Medical, Fujifilm, GE, Konica Minolta, Kubtec, Samsung, Shimadzu, Siemens, Swissray and Toshiba. http://www.mdbuyline.com/research-library/articles/2014-ahra-annual-meeting-exposition-vendor-highlights/

1. Vendor Highlightsfrom the AHRA 2014 Conference

2. AHRA 2014 Conference Overview
From the moment attendees entered the tradeshow floor, they noticed an abundance of flat-panel detectors and mobile X-ray units that were on display from a multitude of vendors.
Some exhibitors chose to go all out and bring large fixed X-ray and R/F system configurations. Many brought a limited number of systems to demonstrate. Others elected to display their products on video screen kiosks with representatives available for discussion.

3. AHRA 2014 Conference Overview
It is important to note that even though the majority of vendors that play in the medical imaging arena were present at the conference to showcase their systems, a large number of these vendors make donations of time and money to the AHRA as a part of the association’s Education Foundation.
Some of the larger vendors also directly participated in this year’s presentations for CEU credits by sponsoring several exhibitor symposia throughout the conference.
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4. Summary of Trade Show Floor Activities
•All major modalities were represented by OEMs as well as regional and national-level dealers/distributors for purchasing equipment and offering service/support options.
•Flat-panel detectors and mobile X-ray systems dominated the products. There were a few fixed X- ray and fluoroscopy units on display.
•Radiology accessory companies were showing grids, lead protective aprons and barriers, patient positioning aids, and panel protection covers.
•Companies offering equipment refurbishing discussed options for existing equipment.
•Teleradiologyproviders, temporary to permanent radiologists, technologist staffing and healthcare consulting vendors discussed options for turnkey services.
•Local, regional and national X-ray dealers and distributors discussed purchasing options as an alternative to buying from OEMs.
•Independent software companies displayed workflow, billing and coding software, transcription and voice recognition systems, smaller scale PACS and RIS solutions, and hardware items, such as displays and workstations. Critical Results, QA reporting and peer review solutions were also exhibited by multiple vendors.
•Injectors for CT, MRI and nuclear medicine as well as related contrast dose management software solutions were on exhibit.
•Companies offering mobile imaging services and medical trailers that can be outfitted for MRI, CT and mammography coaches were present.

5. Vendor Highlights
Agfa Healthcare
Agfa showcased their DX-D retrofit solution for existing GE AMX 4 systems in addition to their DX-D 100 mobile X-ray unit that utilizes the well-received MUSICA 2 processing software. Agfa’s flat- panel choices include the DX-D 30C or DX-D 35C.

6. Vendor Highlights
CarestreamHealth
Representatives were onsite to feature the DRX family of detectors marketed as the X-Factor, which allows one detector to be used in conjunction with any of Carestream’sunits, such as the Revolution mobile unit, the DRX-Evolution DR Room or the DRX-Ascend floor mounted unit.
The DRX-1, DRX-1C and the DRX 2530C were showcased as well as the DRX-Revolution portable X-ray, which has been well received in the marketplace and now comes with updated motor assist functionality and fully automatic collapsible column.
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7. Vendor Highlights
Canon U.S.A.
Canon brought its entire line of flat-panel detectors: the CXDI-70C, CXDI-80C, CXDI-701C and CXDI- 801C.
Also present in the booth were RadPROmobile X- ray units and a new family member, the RadPRODelinia200 Digital Acquisition Cart.
The Delinia200 serves as a solution to use an existing X-ray unit and bring it up to the gold standard of digital imaging by way of flat-panel detector technology without additional cabling or interfaces.
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8. Vendor Highlights
Del Medical
Del Medical showcased their fixed, floor-mounted unit along with the DelWorksF14G DR and F14G Wireless DR.
Vendor personnel discussed the company’s entire system portfolio, which includes both floor-mounted and ceiling-mounted solutions and can be configured as an analog system or partnered with wireless panels.
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9. Vendor Highlights
Fujifilm Medical Systems
Fujifilm showcased its FDR GO mobile X-ray unit along with the line of D-EVO detectors offered in sizes 17” x 17”, 14” x 17” and 24×30 cm.
Vendor staff highlighted Fujifilm’s ISS technology, which enhances overall image quality.
A recent addition to the company’s mammography product line, the Aspire Cristalle, was also included in the booth tour as the Comfort Paddles and Hexagonal Close Pattern detector design were said to produce more detailed images at a higher efficiency.
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10. Vendor Highlights
GE Healthcare
GE’s Optima XR220amx was on display and attracted a great deal of attention from attendees as they stopped to ask questions and find out more about the use of both the GE FlashPadas well as Konica Minolta plates with this mobile unit and other systems in GE’s radiography portfolio.
The vendor was also present to discuss their entire product line, including the Proteus XR/a, Discovery XR656, BrivoXR385 and the Precision 500D R/F system.
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11. Vendor Highlights
Konica Minolta
The AeroDRline of flat-panel detectors was the main focus in this booth with three sizes on display: 17” x 17”, 14” x 17” and 10” x 12”.
Booth staff described the unique battery technology utilized in the detectors. It involves a lithium ion capacitor that allows for a lighter-weight panel and is completely sealed without a removable battery compartment (as is found with many other vendors’ panels).
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12. Vendor Highlights
Kubtec
Kubtecrepresentatives were present to demonstrate and discuss the Digiview250 system designed for imaging neonates in addition to their line of digital specimen radiography units, which include the XPERT 20, XPERT 40, XPERT 80 and XPERT 160.
Kubtec’sTomoSpecis a solution that will provide the capability of digital specimen tomosynthesisfor better margin confirmation of specimens. TomoSpecis pending FDA approval, but the topic was top of mind to most who visited their booth.
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13. Vendor Highlights
Samsung NeuroLogica
Newcomer to the digital X-ray market, Samsung had a lot of activity in its booth displaying X-ray units and ultrasound systems.
The Samsung XGEO 80 is an automated, dual-detector system configuration. The XGEO GU60A is a U-arm design that is completely motorized and desired by some facilities for its space savings attributes.
The XGEO GF50 system comes with either a floor-mounted, tube stand or floor-ceiling layout. It is geared toward environments that are short on space and may not want to deal with the rigging and construction needed for ceiling-mounted units. Samsung’s digital detector, the XGEO GR40CW, is 384mm x 460mm and has a panel weight of under 7 pounds.
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14. Vendor Highlights
Shimadzu Medical Systems
Shimadzu showed the Mobile DaRTEvolution portable X-ray unit, the RadSpeedfixed DR rooms and a recently launched R/F system, the SONIALVISION G4. The SONIALVISION G4 uses dose eye and asymmetric collimation to obtain a very small field of view. As Shimadzu has partnered with multiple panel vendors, such as Canon and Konica Minolta, for use with its systems, many of Shimadzu’s dealers and its own staff answered questions about panel compatibility.
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15. Vendor Highlights
Siemens Healthcare
Siemens demonstrated its digital mobile X- ray unit, the MobilettMira, and highlighted some of the more recent product launches, such as the MultixFusion, MultixSelect DR and the MAX wi-D panels.
Siemens will be offering lighter weight MAX flat-panel detectors that are swappable among other Siemens MAX systems. Siemens also showcased its smaller-sized detector, the MAX mini, which is marketed toward pediatric and orthopedic settings.
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16. Vendor Highlights
Swissray
Swissrayattracted attention in its booth by displaying a new version of the ddRCruze, which includes a frontal-view camera to assist the technologist when driving the unit. This system also includes an additional workstation display that is intended for use in trauma and surgical settings.
Swissrayrepresentatives also discussed the rest of their product line, which involves fixed systems, such as the ddRVersa, ddRElementand ddRFormula, as well as the NorlandDXA scanners, the XR-600 Series, and XR-800 series, which are used in assessing bone mineral density.
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17. Vendor Highlights
Toshiba America Medical Systems
The Toshiba booth included several video display kiosks that highlighted the company’s imaging portfolio. The RADREX-I, T.RAD Plus, T.RAD Wireless and Kalaresystems were showcased via the interactive kiosks as well as ultrasound units, such as the Aplio, Xarioand Viamosystems.
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