Medical software maker CorTechs Labs has announced that Hitachi 1.2T Oasis, 1.5T Echelon Oval, and 3.0T Trillium Oval MRI scanners are compatible with NeuroQuant.

NeuroQuant software is used for volumetric MR processing and will provide accurate, consistent brain segmentation results for the Hitachi devices.

“This Hitachi scanner validation marks the first time that NeuroQuant products can be used with open MR scanners, helping to accommodate a broader patient demographic for neurodegenerative evaluations,” Guri Stark, CorTechs Labs’ CEO, said in a statement.
The inclusion of Hitachi scanner compatibility furthers the company's goal of providing vendor neutrality, according to Stark.

The improved capability expands MR scanner options when using CorTechs Labs automated brain image analysis software in diagnosing a variety of neurodegeneration ailments, including Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and brain volume changes caused by brain trauma, according to the company.

“With NeuroQuant products now validated and compatible with Hitachi 1.2T Oasis, 1.5T Echelon Oval and 3.0T Trillium Oval MRI scanners, health care providers have access to exceptional automated brain volume imaging technology, allowing them to deliver better patient care in Hitachi’s unique patient-centric environment,” Sheldon Schaffer, vice president and general manager, MR/CT, Hitachi Healthcare Americas said in a statement.

Hitachi was in the news in January when it announced that it was pulling its Americas-based ventures into a new entity, Hitachi Healthcare America Corp.

"We are focused on the long-term future of Hitachi's Healthcare commitment in the Americas and are taking deliberate, strategic actions to improve the company's overall operations while enhancing our competitive position and future growth," senior vice president and general manager of the Healthcare Division, Hitachi America, Yasuhiko Taniguchi said in a statement.

Hitachi also announced its intention to expand its focus into health care innovation and medical informatics in the Americas – “such as using radiation therapy treatment data and artificial intelligence to support creating better treatment plans,” the company stated.

"Integrating our medical imaging operations will allow us to accelerate the design and development of cost-effective health care technology and services offerings, while continuing to provide a superior level of service and support to our customers and partners in the Americas," said Donald Broomfield, president and CEO, Hitachi Medical Systems America.

In August, 2016, Cortechs Labs added LesionQuant to the NeuroQuant family of products.

This combines data from 2-D or 3-D Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) and 3-D T1 MR images, and gives lesion and brain structure quantification “in a completely automated and optimized, easy-to-read report,” the company said at the time.

LesionQuant gives FLAIR lesion segmentation, quantification, and visualization.

“LesionQuant provides clinicians with objective, reliable and consistent quantitative information, aiding in their assessment of gray and white matter lesions, which can be found in a variety of neurological conditions, from Multiple Sclerosis to traumatic brain injury, as well as other neurological diseases,” Stark said at the time.

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