Hologic to Showcase Imaging, Sampling Innovations

Hologic Inc. will feature several imaging, sampling and diagnosis technologies at RSNA this year. Among the highlights:

Hologic’s Selenia Dimensions 3-D breast tomosynthesis technology is designed to help clinicians in catching breast cancers earlier and in significantly reducing the number of unnecessary diagnostic work-ups, the company said. Launched in international markets in 2008, Selenia Dimensions breast tomosynthesis was approved for sale in the U.S. in 2011.

Selenia Dimensions breast tomosynthesis delivers 2-D images as well as allows radiologists to offer their patients a conventional 2-D digital mammogram and a 3-D tomosynthesis exam in one compression. The breast tomosynthesis system produces 3-D images which help to reveal the inner architecture of the breast, free from the distortion typically caused by tissue shadowing or density.

Eviva, Hologic’s newest vacuum-assisted breast biopsy device, which will also be highlighted, is designed to incorporate firing, pain management and site marking into one integrated system, according to the company.

The Affirm upright breast biopsy guidance system, designed for the Selenia Dimensions digital mammography system, provides minimally invasive breast biopsy the company said is cost-effective, space-saving and upgradeable.

For prone biopsies, the Hologic MultiCare Platinum stereotactic breast biopsy system’s new MultiCare Maximum Comfort Package is designed to ensure that patients are as comfortable as possible. It offers a table top designed with a 350 pound weight limit to accommodate a broader patient population, a collection of ergonomically engineered cushions for targeted pressure-point support and three user selectable apertures to provide optimal selection for all body types and lesions.

Hologic will highlight its new Trident specimen radiography system, which uses proprietary direct digital detector technology to produce images for rapid verification of tissue specimens such as breast biopsy samples. Trident is a mobile biopsy system designed to reduce procedure steps, streamline workflow, and give physicians increased confidence in the accuracy of their biopsy procedures, Hologic officials said.

The FDA in October 2011 cleared the company’s Sentinelle Endo Coil array for pelvic imaging including the prostate, cervix, colon and the surrounding tissues in the pelvis, and the Sentinelle 16-channel Breast Coil array for use with Siemens 1.5T and 3.0T MRI systems.

The company will feature its Advanced Body Composition assessment feature on Hologic Discovery DXA system, which produces color images of fat and lean tissue and bone mass and translates the information into an easy to interpret report for patient management and counseling. Body composition values are useful in the management of chronic renal failure, anorexia nervosa, obesity, AIDS/HIV, and cystic fibrosis.