Thales introduces the latest Pixium Portable 3543 DR, the first ever truly standalone device with embedded patient identification working in auto-detection mode without connection to any
external device. This patented product allows for images to be taken at the bedside. By simply scanning the patient’s ID bracelet the images are linked to the patient and can be stored directly on the detector. An easy-reading display indicates the number of images taken per patient and the total number of images stored in the device for an ulterior upload into the radiology room.
Ever since the launch of the Pixium Portable 3543 DR in 2016, the company has been researching on how to ensure images are seamlessly assigned to patients and easily stored in a way that allows doctors and technicians to examine multiple patients easily. By working in auto-detection mode, the new Pixium Portable 3543 DR does not need to connect to any external devices, making it easier and quicker to operate than legacy portable systems. This makes for higher efficiencies since practitioners can examine multiple patients at minimal dose, anywhere in the hospital. Thanks to its optimized workflow, errors and stress are minimized and time and money are saved. Images and patient files can be uploaded directly to the radiology room, eliminating the need for numerous CR cassettes and answering the growing need of reducing system total cost of ownership.  

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EKF Diagnostics has announced the successful evaluation of its Quo-Lab® point-of-care HbA1c analyser by the European Reference Laboratory for Glycohemoglobin. In a recently published paper. The reference laboratory’s evaluation study assessed HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) POC devices using international quality targets, posing the question ‘Are they fit for purpose?’ Out of 30 available on the market and the four that agreed to participate, only EKF’s Quo-Lab and one other analyser passed the same stringent quality criteria as laboratory analysers, achieving excellent analytical performance.
The study aimed to evaluate the four POC HbA1c instruments according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) protocols and how they performed when different criteria were applied using four certified IFCC and NGSP secondary reference measurement procedures (SRMPs). The reference laboratory study confirmed there was minimal bias between Quo-Lab and the mean of four SRMPs, it also passed all relevant performance criteria going far beyond what is required for NGSP and IFCC certification.
Notably, Quo-Lab showed no consistent clinically significant interference from the common hemoglobin (Hb) variants HbAS, HbAC, HbAD, HBAE and elevated A2. It also easily met imprecision criteria, achieving a ≤2.4% CV in IFCC SI units and ≤1.7% CV in DCCT units which represents a significant improvement on previous studies.
Commenting on the successful European Reference Laboratory for Glycohemoglobin evaluation, Gavin Jones, Diabetes Product Manager, EKF Diagnostics said, “The excellent performance that Quo-Lab has demonstrated in this latest study confirms that it is very definitely fit for purpose, delivering reliable HbA1c results in a range of settings. Quo-Lab® HbA1c is a desktop analyser designed specifically to meet the needs of diabetes clinics and laboratories in settings that demand low cost of operation and ease of use. From a simple semi-automated procedure, Quo-Lab provides test results within four minutes from a venous or finger prick blood sample of just 4 μLwww.ekfdiagnostics.com
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T2 Biosystems’ T2Bacteria^® and T2Candida^® Panels are the first and only FDA-cleared and CE-marked tests that identify the most serious bacterial and fungal pathogens directly from blood sample in just three to five hours, without waiting for a positive blood culture —which can take one to six or more days. These capabilities allow for faster species identification, enabling the potential for faster targeted treatment, de-escalation of empiric therapy and improved patient outcomes.
All T2Direct DiagnosticsTM panels are run on the T2Dx^® Instrument using a patient’s blood sample with validated clinical sensitivity of 91 to 96% and specificity of 98 to 99%. The direct from blood capability is enabled by the proprietary T2MR-powered T2Dx^® Instrument which can detect organisms at concentrations as low as 1 CFU/mL. This represents a thousandfold increase in sensitivity compared to products that detect species from positive blood culture bottles where the number of cells is typically in the range of 10,000 to 10,000,000 CFUs/mL.
T2 Biosystems recently received FDA Breakthrough Designation for the T2ResistanceTM Panel, a diagnostic panel that can detect 13 resistance genes from both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens from a single patient blood sample in 3 to 5 hours. The T2Resistance Panel is also run on the T2Dx instrument and is expected to be CE-marked and available in Europe by the end of 2019, and offered as a Research Use Only product in the United States before yearend.
T2 Biosystems will showcase its latest innovations at ECCMID at Booth #1.22.

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Carestream Health has introduced a new optional advanced metal artifact reduction software for its OnSight 3D Extremity System which captures high-quality, low-dose 3D extremity exams. This second generation of software provides enhanced flexibility depending on the metal content present and reduces the visual distortion caused by screws, implants, rods and other metal objects to create improved visibility. Image processing can be adjusted and optimized according to the amount of metal present. The software uses information from the original scan to eliminate the need for additional imaging studies, which reduces costs and lowers radiation exposure for patients. An intuitive touch screen interface allows technologists to adjust for either moderate or complex metal content. The metal artifact reduction software can be activated prior to the scan or it can be applied after the original reconstruction is complete. Both the original and corrected images are always available to view and compare. The OnSight 3D Extremity System also assists surgeons in detecting occult and non-union bone fractures. Unlike traditional CT systems, this cone beam CT system has a large-area detector that captures a 3D image of the extremity in a single rotation, which takes only 25 seconds. A patient simply places the injured extremity into a donut-shaped opening in the system. Since the patient’s head and body are not confined, patients do not experience the claustrophobia that often occurs with traditional CT systems. Dose is significantly reduced because only the affected body part is imaged. The compact extremity system can be installed in an exam room and plugs into a standard wall outlet.
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The Brevera breast biopsy system with CorLumina imaging technology combines tissue acquisition, real-time imaging, verification and advanced tissue handling for an optimal patient and physician experience. Before this innovation, radiologists performing stereotactic breast biopsy procedures to diagnose breast cancer were often required to leave the patient under compression while they moved to another room to image and verify tissue samples. This leads to lengthy procedure times and anxious, uncomfortable patients, and can interrupt facility screening schedules. With the Brevera system, radiologists are able to obtain and image tissue samples in the procedure room in just a few seconds, potentially saving up to 10 minutes per patient and cutting the procedure time by up to 25 percent according to the 2015 Kadence International survey of 200 healthcare professionals. In addition to saving facility resources and clinician time during a breast biopsy procedure, the Brevera system’s proprietary CorLumina imaging technology helps enhance workflow across multiple departments within a health system. The technology automates the tissue sample collection and separation process, which allows patient tissue to be sent to pathology with little or no manual handling, and also protects the integrity of samples. The system also features PACS integration for advanced image sharing and transfer of patient records.

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