Breaking with its past dependence on phosphor-based computed radiography plates, Fujifilm featured a flat-panel digital radiography system at the RSNA 2008 meeting.

Increased use of CT for pneumonia is unlikely to be the sole cause of increased hospital costs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, according to a study presented Dec. 5 at RSNA

Flat-panel detectors designed to be pulled from one bucky and put into another -- or simply set upright or laid flat on patient tables -- redefined general radiography suites featured on the RSNA exhibit floor this year. They came from suppliers such as Trixell, Varian, and Canon. Some were wireless. Others bore cables with easy disconnects for quick relocation.

An intuitive interface, faster PC server, and work-in-progress detector panel enhance the Infinix VF-i/BP (biplane) Vascular X-ray at the Toshiba America Medical Systems booth at RSNA 2008.

A low-cost 16-slice scanner designed for cost-constrained customers debuted at the Philips booth during the RSNA meeting.

Expanding its portfolio in digital radiography, GE Healthcare introduced at RSNA 2008 a new high-end DR product, Discovery XR650, and midtier unit, Optima XR640.

GE Healthcare combined ultrasound scanner controls and real-time imaging on a single display with the integration of a touchscreen monitor into its compact Logiq e product.

An add-on digital stereotaxy option for GE’s Senographe Essential lets users perform biopsies on its full-field digital mammography system, sparing institutions the expense of setting up a dedicated biopsy room, according to the company.

Centricity PACS Version 3.0.6 debuted at the GE Healthcare booth of RSNA 2008 offering enhancements aimed at improving collaboration between radiologists and referring physicians.

Carestream Health’s new portable x-ray detector, showcased at the RSNA meeting and scheduled for routine shipments in 2009, promises the means for film-dependent radiography sites to transition to digital. Designed to fit into a standard bucky, either table- or wall-mounted, Carestream’s DRX-1 offers the flexibility of computed radiography. Its solid-state design allows immediate data acquisitions and its wireless transmitter sends the data directly to the console.