The SmartCurve system is available standard on Hologic’s new 3Dimensions mammography system and as an enhancement option to existing Hologic Selenia Dimensions systems. With a unique, curved design that mirrors a woman’s breast, the system is clinically proven to deliver a more comfortable mammogram compared to standard compression. With pain being the number one complaint during mammograms, this fear of pain prevents many women from making regular breast imaging appointments a priority. Not only can this have a negative impact on patient volume and satisfaction scores, but it can put women at risk of a cancer being missed, or diagnosed at a more advanced stage. With improved comfort, the SmartCurve system was designed to address this challenge and provide a better patient experience for women during their mammograms. The device is F DA-cleared and CE-marked and was also recognized at Premier’s Innovation Celebration as part of its annual Breakthroughs Conference.

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Advantech, a provider of medical computing systems and services, has launched its HIT-W183 and HIT-W153 healthcare infotainment terminals specifically designed for a wide range of hospital applications. Featuring an Intel® N4200 processor, dual operating systems (Windows 10 IoT and Android 6.0.1), and an 18.5”/15.6” 16:9 widescreen display with projected capacitive (PCAP) 10-point touch control, HIT-W183/W153 offers healthcare providers a cost-effective and highly flexible medical computing device. In addition to a 5MP camera, HIT-W183/W153 is equipped with rear-access I/O that includes USB 2.0, USB 3.0, RJ12, RJ45, optional power-over-Ethernet (PoE) support (HIT- W153 only), and dual isolated Ethernet ports that enable separate Internet (patient use) and intranet (caregiver use) traffic for superior connectivity and data security. The IP65-rated true-flat front panel protects against water and dust ingress and can be cleaned easily to ensure the highest levels of hygiene and infection control.
For nurse call applications, HIT-W183/W153 features an integrated nurse call button with LED indicator and a handset equipped with two microphones and noise cancellation technology to guarantee optimal responsiveness and superior patient care. Compliant with EN 60601-1 and IEC 62368 medical and ITE certification standards, the HIT-W183/W153’s ultra-slim (43 mm) design allows it to be easily mounted on walls, counter tops, mobile carts, and bedside swing arms to serve as medical equipment control panels, nurse station terminals, pharmacy information systems, medical cart devices, and patient infotainment terminals. Moreover, to expand the functionalities according to specific usage needs, HIT-W183/W153 terminals can be integrated with a smart card reader, RFID/NFC reader, and optional barcode scanner and TV tuner modules. HIT-W183/W153 is built with an integrated handset that features two microphones and noise cancellation technology to eliminate environmental noise and provide optimal sound quality during nursing assistance calls. Advantech’s HIT-W183/W153 terminals are equipped with a red emergency call button and LED indicator that can be integrated with a hospital’s existing nurse call system to allow patients to request assistance or alert staff of any emergencies. The red emergency call button uses a separate power supply from that of the HIT system. This allows the red emergency call button to remain functional even when the terminal is powered off. Additionally, considering patients and staff usage requirements, the HIT-W183/W153’s front-facing function buttons are built-in at a 60° angle for accessibility and easy operation. HIT-W183/W153 can be installed in bedhead units or mounted on bedside swing arms to function as bedhead terminals or patient infotainment devices, respectively. Healthcare staff can use the terminals to access medical records and hospital information systems, retrieve laboratory results, monitor patient vital signs, and document treatment observations. Meanwhile, patients can use the terminals to watch movies/TV, make phone calls, play games, surf the Internet, send emails, request nurse assistance, and manage the ward environment, such as adjust the bed height, lighting, and curtains. These infotainment terminals provide a single solution that enables efficient provision of digital entertainment and clinical services at the point-of-care for improved service quality.
     
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Medtronic has received CE Mark for Micra™ AV Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS), the world’s smallest pacemaker with atrioventricular (AV) synchrony. Micra AV is indicated for the treatment of patients with AV block, a condition in which the electrical signals between the chambers of the heart (the atria and the ventricle) are impaired. Medtronic now offers the only CE Mark approved leadless pacemaker portfolio. First implants of Micra AV recently occurred in Spain by Dr. José Ramón González Juanatey at the University Hospital in Santiago de Compostela.
“This new device not only stimulates but is also able to recognize the electrical activity of the whole heart. Now we can extend this wireless technology to our patients who require dual chamber stimulation and in whom traditional stimulation cannot be performed or is conditioned by previous infections, occlusions of the vessels of the upper extremities, etc.,” said Dr. Juanatey, director, Cardiology and Intensive Cardiac Care Department, full professor of Cardiology, University Hospital, Santiago de Compostela, Spain (past-president, Spanish Society of Cardiology). Historically, patients with AV block have been treated with traditional dual-chamber pacemakers which are implanted in the upper chest, under the skin below the collar bone, and connected to the heart using thin wires called “leads”. Identical in size and shape to the original Micra TPS, Micra AV has several additional internal atrial sensing algorithms which detect cardiac movement, allowing the device to adjust pacing in the ventricle to coordinate with the atrium, providing “AV synchronous” pacing therapy to patients with AV block.
Unlike traditional pacemakers, Micra does not require leads or a surgical “pocket” under the skin, so potential sources of complications related to leads and pockets are eliminated – as are any visible signs of the device.
For more information, visit: www.medtronic.com
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The CIRS Dynamic Cardiac Phantom, Model 008C, is a precision instrument that simulates the realistic motion of an average human heart. It provides known, accurate and repeatable 3D motion of a solid heart model inside the tissue-equivalent thorax phantom. The phantom is designed as a comprehensive image analysis tool for calcification detection, iodine contrast resolution and ECG signal gating. The cardiac phantom is constructed from a tissue equivalent thorax body, moving rod with a solid tissue equivalent heart inside, motion actuator, motion controller and CIRS Motion Control software. The 3D movement of the heart is controlled by CIRS Motion Control software, which is installed on a Windows PC or Laptop. The software comes loaded with three basic motion profiles that are specific to different anatomical parts of the heart and one correlated ECG profile. The software can overlay respiratory motion with cardiac motion to account for total displacement of the heart. The respiratory motion can mimic either breath hold or continuous breathing of a patient. With repeatable and controllable 3D heart motion, this tool could help define protocols in the cardiac field for better and safer patient imaging. The Cardiac Dynamic Phantom joins CIRS’ existing lineup of dynamic phantoms, which includes the Dynamic Thorax Phantom (Model 008A), MRI-LINAC Dynamic Phantom (Model 008M), Dynamic Pelvis Phantom (Model 008P) and Dynamic Platform (Model 008PL). Each of these products is operated using CIRS Motion Control Software.
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