Siemens installs first AS 20-slice CT

Siemens installs first AS 20-slice CT
The Center for Diagnostic Imaging in Milwaukee, WI, is the first to receive Siemens new 20-slice Somatom Definition AS 20 CT scanner. Key advantages of the scanner, according to the company, are reduced radiation dose a 31-inch (78 cm) gantry bore, and optional 660 pounds (300 kg) weight capacity of the patient table. The Definition AS 20, which can be field upgraded to 40-slice, 64-slice, and 128-slice configurations, supports perfusion imaging of the brain and other organs. 

Viztek crafts mini-PACS
Viztek has added a customizable mini PACS to its Opal line of healthcare IT systems. Designed for smaller practices, the scalable Opal-WS allows facilities to choose features, storage space, and Web components based on size and image volume. Users can login from any Web-enabled PC.

Hologic contraceptive gains FDA approval
Its 2007 merger with Cytyc dramatically extended the product offerings of Hologic. This week the company, best known for mammography and bone densitometry, announced FDA approval of a minimally-invasive alternative to surgical permanent contraception. In January 2009, Hologic received CE marking approval for the system, dubbed Adiana, and started marketing and sales of the product in certain European countries. The procedure using this product requires no incisions and can be performed in a doctor's office under local anesthesia.