Vendor-Neutral PACS Improves Breast Imaging Workflow

A multi-modality, vendor-neutral picture archiving and communications system (PACS) and diagnostic review solution is designed to improve breast imaging workflow and radiologist efficiency.

Agfa HealthCare (Mortsel, Belgium), a provider of diagnostic imaging and healthcare information technology (IT) systems, is launching its Impax for Breast Imaging solution at the 2010 European Congress of Radiology (ECR) in Vienna, Austria in March 2010.

Impax for Breast Imaging is available with Impax 6.5, Agfa HealthCare's next version of its PACS solution. Employing newly designed Workstation Accelerator technology, Impax 6.5 will combine workflow and location recognition to provide optimum performance.

Impax for Breast Imaging extends Agfa HealthCare's PACS solution into breast imaging with unique new features. It implements the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) Mammography Image profile, which solves image display problems typically encountered in mixed vendor environments (orientation, size, justification, consistency of grayscale contrast, completeness of annotations). It also introduces the innovative 1:1 Navigator, which allows for a fast review of mammography images at full resolution, minimizing the viewing of blank detector space and adapting the number of cells necessary for viewing the entire breast. The solution also supports Agfa HealthCare's Musica MCE (MicroCalcification Enhancement) technology, specifically designed for the enhancement of potential microcalcifications.

Impax for Breast Imaging automatically routes relevant data (including breast ultrasound, full field digital mammography, and breast magnetic resonance [MR]) based on a variety of user-definable criteria. Relevant prior exams are automatically prefetched from the archive management system and sent to the diagnostic review station. When available, radiology results from the radiology information systems (RIS) can also be displayed. The system is provided with a specially developed keypad to improve the overall workflow speed.

"The launch of Impax for Breast Imaging at ECR is a next step in our ambition to deliver a complete portfolio of diagnostic imaging IT solutions to the market,” stated Volker Wetekam, vice president IT at Agfa HealthCare. "Today we offer Impax for significant number of specialties, from orthopedics to cardiology, and the introduction of Impax for Breast Imaging will only reinforce this offering, and our ambitions. The solution combines all of Agfa HealthCare's knowledge and best of breed solutions in a system that promises to deliver new levels of service to our customers.”

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