Prominent Radiology Group in Washington State Installs Breakthrough Digital Radiography System From Canon Medical Systems.

Business/Health & Technology Editors

IRVINE, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 20, 2001

First-Of-A-Kind System In Western U.S. Will Significantly Improve

Patient Diagnostic Services And Workflow

Canon Medical Systems, a division of Canon U.S.A., Inc., announced that it successfully completed the first western U.S. clinical installation of the Canon CXDI-22 Digital Radiography (DR) system integrated with Imaging Suite software from IDX Systems Corporation, a leading provider of medical software.

IDX Imaging Suite is an innovative web-based system that provides intelligent digital workflow and bi-directional communication between IDXrad (RIS), PACS, and modalities. Canon U.S.A., Inc. is a subsidiary of Canon, Inc. (NYSE: CAJ).

The Canon CXDI-22 was installed last April at Inland Imaging North Center in Spokane, Washington. Two additional systems will complete the installation by the end of the year. Inland Imaging is a 36-physician radiology group with eight offices throughout the city.

Integrating the IDX Imaging Suite with the Canon DR environment eliminates the need for manual entry of patient/study order information into the Canon DR system. This reduces total study time and the potential for human error. It streamlines x-ray diagnostic procedures by providing access to patient/study order information on the DR operation screen. Using a web browser, technologists see an electronic work list of patients and study orders without requiring paper requisitions. Once images are acquired by the DR system, Imaging Suite automatically notes the status. This two-way communication between the modality and the RIS is enabled by the tight integration of the DR system and the Imaging Suite.

"The DR system combined with the IDX Imaging Suite means referring physicians can receive the images and diagnostic reports on their patients faster and begin patient treatment sooner to speed them on their way to recovery and improved health," said Jon Copeland, chief information officer, Inland Imaging. "Even more exciting, Digital Radiography opens the door to becoming filmless. Today, all DR images are printed on laser film. But in the near future, these images will be part of a filmless radiology system that distributes and stores images digitally for faster and more reliable access."

Penny Doolittle, technical operations coordinator at Inland Imaging, said key advantages of the new system include time management improvements and greater medical efficiency.

"The advantage of DR for patients is reduced wait time," said Ms. Doolittle. "Physicians will see advantages in that they can now see soft tissues, bone detail and lungs instantly, all optimized on the same image. The addition of our Canon DR system has drastically increased the efficiency of our radiology operations. We're processing more patients in less time than ever before and with fewer operational errors."

The first commercially available bucky sensor system, the Canon CXDI-22 (FDA510(k) approved in 1999), enabled technologists to preview x-ray images within three seconds of exposure. The large dynamic range reduces the need for retakes. Since it is filmless, time is not wasted waiting for the return of developed images.

The Canon DR System provides digital sensors that offer a totally filmless economical solution to traditional analog x-ray film equipment. With the industry's largest imaging area, 17-inches x 17-inches, the slim flat panel can be inserted into new or existing bucky tables and mounted on tilting wall and universal stands. A crystal-clear diagnostic image is available quickly, within just 30 seconds after the pre-view images are confirmed by the technologist and sent to a PACS and/or a DICOM printer. A matrix of over seven million pixels produces high-resolution images in 4,096 gray scale for superior resolution and contrast. Researchers have found that digital systems reduce exam time by as much as 62 percent.

"Canon Medical Systems is delighted that this joint effort with IDX Systems Corporation has resulted in the first successful commercial installation of a Canon DR System integrated with the IDX Imaging Suite technology," said Eric Kuramoto, director and general manager, Canon Medical Systems Division, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "We are looking forward to further implementing this application throughout the Inland Imaging network and helping actualize a region-wide state-of-the-art filmless network."

Canon and IDX will demonstrate this integration and further enhancements at the upcoming Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) show in Chicago, November 26 - 30.

The only service in Spokane that is ICAVL (Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories) accredited in all four areas of noninvasive vascular testing, Inland Imaging provides radiology services, including CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, breast imaging and ultrasound, to the eastern Washington area with emphasis on problem solving and prompt, concise reporting. Inland Imaging radiologists are committed to providing the best service available to patients and their physicians. Using the most advanced imaging technology available, Inland Imaging strives to provide cost effective, high quality and convenient medical imaging to their patients.

Canon Medical Systems (CMS), based in Irvine, California, is a division of Canon U.S.A., Inc. CMS was created in April 1999 to provide medical facilities with a single source from which to purchase Canon's innovative Digital Radiography systems and PACS technology thereby streamlining costs associated with diagnostic procedures.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. is an industry leader in professional and consumer imaging solutions and, through its parent company, Canon Inc., is a top patent-holder of imaging technologies. The company's comprehensive product line includes networked multifunction devices; digital and analog copiers (color as well as black and white); printers, scanners, image filing systems, and facsimile machines; camcorders; cameras and lenses; and semiconductor, broadcast and medical equipment. Canon employs 12,000 people at more than 30 facilities through North, Center and South America and the Caribbean.

All referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners.