ALI broadens miniPACS line with release of UltraPACS Prodigy

System designed for small departments

Ultrasound image management vendor ALI Technologies launched anew line of UltraPACS products with the introduction of UltraPACSProdigy at this week's American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicinemeeting in San Francisco. Prodigy is a more economical versionof the UltraPACS platform and will be targeted at small and mid-sizedultrasound departments, according to Greg Peet, CEO of ALI, ofVancouver, British Columbia.

UltraPACS Prodigy is designed for facilities with up to threefixed scanners and any number of portable units. The system employsIntel Pentium 90-MHz desktop computers rather than the Pentiumminitowers used in the larger version of UltraPACS. Targetingthe system at smaller facilities also allows ALI to avoid manyof the costs inherent in large-network configuration.

A standard configuration of UltraPACS Prodigy would includean image acquisition station in each exam room, a physician reviewworkstation and an optical disk drive. Options include printersand optical disk jukeboxes.

UltraPACS Prodigy performs all of the functions of UltraPACS,including that system's automated reporting functions. Prodigyusers can automate patient scheduling, create electronic reportsand electronically transmit reports to referring physicians. ALIis developing an interface between the system and radiology andhospital information systems using the HL7 standard, Peet said.

The system's archiving capacity has also been boosted thanksto improvements in ALI's optical storage technology. Each opticaldisk can now hold up to 560 exams or 17,000 images, a fourfoldincrease over a year ago, Peet said.

Offering an integrated reporting system with digital imagemanagement enables UltraPACS Prodigy users to dispense with hardcopies almost entirely, according to Peet.

"When you look at hospital productivity or economic payback,hard, measurable dollar savings start with film reduction,"Peet said. "Our system allows 98% to 100% filmless operationand 94% reduction in film costs."

ALI plans to begin deliveries of Prodigy a month after theAIUM meeting. The system will be offered through computer vendorDigital Equipment, an ALI business partner, and Diasonics, withwhom ALI has signed a new OEM relationship for Prodigy. List priceof a basic system for a department with two scanners is $68,000,while a three-scanner configuration lists at $84,000.