Women’s Health
While the mammography vendors each had a different focal point this year, one commonality is that they all centered on advancements in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT).

• Fujifilm presented its Aspire Cristalle system. Having submitted its last module to the FDA for PMA approval of 3-D imaging last July, Fujifilm has already gained approval for 2-D use of the Aspire Cristalle.
• GE Healthcare showcased a new platform, the Senographe Pristina™. This system features a redesigned gantry that is currently FDA approved for 2-D mammography; 3-D use is pending FDA clearance.

• In addition to its Selenia Dimensions™ system, Hologic displayed the Affirm™ Prone 3-D biopsy system. The Affirm Prone creates images consistent with those on the Selenia Dimensions, allowing for greater ease in locating suspicious areas seen on the original mammography images.

• Adding to its Mammomat Inspiration, Siemens now includes PRIME dose-reduction technology as a standard feature on all of its mammography platforms.

This year’s RSNA focused heavily on customer education. All of the mammography vendors hosted some form of training session to provide physicians and technologists with further insight into their product offerings.

Ultrasound
A majority of the ultrasound vendors showcased their premium-level systems with advanced applications, as well as economically-priced systems and point-of-care systems. The diagnostic ultrasound market continues to provide customers with premium-level systems that include new software enhancements, advanced imaging applications and intuitive quantification software aimed at increasing the efficiency and reproducibility of the ultrasound examination.

Economically priced systems continue to be exhibited in a majority of the vendor booths. These systems are typically configured with standard features and software and provide a cost-effective solution for many customers who need a high-volume, shared-service system with good image quality. Many of these systems can be configured with additional premium software upgrades and multiple transducers.

The point of care ultrasound systems (laptop, tablet and handheld) have grown in popularity. Many of these systems are dedicated to specialized applications, such as musculoskeletal, emergency medicine, anesthesiology and vascular access, to name a few. Many of these systems feature easy-to-use controls and intuitive applications, and are often used by medical professionals other than trained sonographers.

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