CR/Mini-PACS Imaging Solution Designed to Meet Budgets of Medical Offices

The system combines selected models of CR systems with PACS software that can run on a variety of personal computer (PC)-based workstations. Use of standard PCs helps lower costs and delivers greater flexibility for users.

The Image Suite, developed by Carestream Health, Inc. (Rochester, NY, USA), also provides comprehensive image review capabilities including magnification, annotations, measurements, layout, and other tools. Clinicians can adjust and reprocess raw image data on the host workstation to enhance visualization capabilities and help deliver better patient care. Most mini-PACS systems give clinicians very limited image manipulation capabilities by only allowing window and level adjustments to the processed image. Image Suite also features Carestream Health's image processing software to optimize image quality.

Image Suite will include a choice of Directivew Classic, Point-of-Care 140, or Point-of-Care 360 CR readers and will be primarily sold and serviced by Carestream Health's channel partners. Image Suite will also support Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) storage from other modalities, including ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and exams from other vendors' CR systems. Being able to integrate all types of imaging systems makes the Image Suite a scalable solution for general practitioners, orthopedists, podiatrists, chiropractors, other specialists and clinics. It is scheduled to be available worldwide in the second quarter of 2010.

The system features DICOM store/print/modality worklist and images can be stored on CDs and hard disk drives. Carestream Health's processing software streamlines workflow and provides automatic identification of body part/projection to eliminate manual data entry.

Image Suite options include a report/notes template; long-length imaging software; and up to eight concurrent licenses for web viewing and/or patient registration. Mammography imaging is supported when the system is configured with Classic CR Readers in countries where the Carestream Mammography feature is approved for use. Digital images in DICOM/JPEG/BMP/TIFF formats can be imported and the system can be connected to document scanners for digitization of paper records. The system also supports output to paper printers.

Both systems are not yet approved for use in the United States.

Carestream Health is a worldwide provider of dental and medical imaging systems and healthcare information technology (IT) solutions; molecular imaging systems for the life science research and drug discovery/development market segments; and X-ray film and digital X-ray products for the nondestructive testing market.

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