Agfa HealthCare to launch new mobile DR system with FreeView telescopic column at AHRA 2015

Other solutions to be shown focus on maximizing existing investments, collaboration and workflow, in the medical imaging department and beyond

Agfa HealthCare announces today that it will launch its new mobile DR system with FreeView telescopic column at AHRA 2015, the Association for Medical Imaging Management's annual meeting, in Las Vegas, Nevada, July 19-22. Agfa's FreeView technology creates better maneuverability and ease of use by offering an telescoping column for an unobstructed view while driving the mobile DR system.

Mobile DR with FreeView technology: imaging excellence, ease of use

The highly maneuverable, wireless DX-D 100 direct radiography (DR) unit combines full mobility with Agfa HealthCare's gold-standard MUSICA image processing, enabling high-quality radiology exams to be efficiently performed in mobile environments, including intensive care units (ICUs), emergency departments, operating rooms at the patient bedside.

With the new FreeView technology, the telescopic column of the DX-D 100 can be collapsed when moving and positioning the system. The unobstructed view offers enhanced visibility and maneuverability while driving the unit, and allows the radiographic technologist to get to the patient swiftly and securely, especially in critical care areas crowded with overhead equipment. The column can then be quickly popped back up at the patient's bedside. FreeView Technology offers faster, easier positioning more reliably than common electric columns. It also requires less maintenance. With no motors, it will not contribute to battery depletion and thus improves operating time. Secondary controls on the system's arm allow positioning to be refined without returning to the main console. This enables operation by just one person and allows the operator to stay with the patient at all times.

In addition, the new DX-D 100 offers a new level of efficiency with a crystal lead battery upgrade that offers 30% more battery life , resulting in 30% more uptime, and 30% more exposures before re-charging. In addition, the dual battery system helps maximize clinical operating time, by powering the motor and the generator separately.

Other new upgrades for the DX-D 100 will be shown, including features that provide dose control, such as a new collimator with advanced dose management features, a DAP meter and infrared wireless remote control, which lets the user stay further away from the unit. The DX-D 100's wireless Cesium Iodide (CsI) detector technology also allows potential dose reduction of up to 60%.

"Regardless of the location of the imaging examination, facilities need to be able to count on excellent image quality for a high level of diagnostic confidence, and that's what the DX-D 100 provides," says Lenny J. Reznik, Vice President, Marketing, Agfa HealthCare. "With the FreeView technology and other new features, we are setting a new benchmark when it comes to helping hospitals and users operate efficiently while continually enhancing the delivery of patient care. We have incorporated the user feedback we have received over the last three years into the new DX-D 100 with the goal of creating the ideal portable imaging system."

Other solutions that will be shown at AHRA 2015 include:

DX-D Retrofit: flexibility and cost-effectiveness plus the benefits of DR

With this cost-effective yet versatile upgrade solution, healthcare enterprises can move to DR, while maximizing their existing investments in imaging equipment. As part of a cassette-less and filmless solution, DX-D Retrofit provides a host of benefits that improve workflow and speed up exam time. Agfa Automatic Exposure Detection (AED), or auto-triggering, based DR Retrofit allows for easy installation without the need for x-ray generator integration. The mobile DX-D Retrofit comes with the choice of wireless or tethered Cesium Iodide (CsI) or Gadolinium Oxy-Sulphide (GOS) detector conversion screens. The wireless panels may be shared with other fixed or mobile Agfa HealthCare DR solutions for further cost reduction.

CR 15-X: Table-Top CR

Agfa's CR 15-X delivers high-quality, detailed images for clinic, private practice and mobile applications. The entire tabletop Computed Radiography (CR) product line is powered by workflow efficient MUSICA and the NX Workstation. Agfa HealthCare CR is affordable, reliable and easy to maintain with a very low total cost of ownership. The CR 15-X features variable speed and resolution for workflow versatility. When used with Agfa's Cesium Bromide needle-based detectors, along with the MUSICA image processing in the NX system, the CR 15-X system provides excellent images and the potential to reduce dose.

Enterprise Imaging: a single, unified platform

Agfa HealthCare has converged its enterprise and departmental diagnostic imaging solutions (radiology, nuclear medicine, cardiology, etc.) into a single platform for Enterprise Imaging that allows any physician to create, collaborate on, exchange, view and manage a comprehensive medical imaging record throughout the patient's care. This universal delivery tool has already been implemented at sites in more than 25 countries around the world, including North America, South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Enterprise Imaging for Radiology: collaboration "anywhere, anytime"

Offering a powerful task-based workflow designed to achieve gains in clinical productivity, Enterprise Imaging for Radiology is now live at over 150 sites around the world. The solution offers easier reporting, enhanced viewing and sharing of images, and flexible deployment options, including off-site and on-site hosting.