A Diagnotics & Imaging Week

TomoTherapy (Madison, Wisconsin) reported that it has partnered with Vision RT (London) to expand imaging options for Hi•Art treatment system users.

The companies will introduce AlignRT 3-D imaging technology for the Hi•Art platform at the annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (Fairfax, Virginia) in Boston later this month. TomoTherapy will distribute AlignRT for use with both its TomoHelical and new TomoDirect delivery modes.

Fred Robertson, CEO of TomoTherapy, said, "AlignRT does for Hi•Art system imaging what TomoDirect does for Hi•Art treatment delivery: both provide a new option for our users that can significantly improve patient throughput across a broad range of cancer cases."

AlignRT for the Hi•Art platform will consist of two ceiling-mounted 3-D camera units, each focused toward the external isocenter of the radiotherapy device. Prior to treatment, the patient will lie on the treatment couch for initial set-up. The cameras will then acquire a surface scan of the body in treatment position, and software will be used to register real-time image data to the reference surface scan and provide new couch coordinates for patient positioning.

In other agreements/contracts news:

• GE Healthcare (Waukesha, Wisconsin) and Varian (Palo Alto, California) reported that they will begin a collaboration to develop a new preclinical 7T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system.

Under the agreement, initial development and integration will be a joint effort between the two companies. Once development is complete, Varian will offer customers a fully integrated 7T System combining GE Healthcare's state of the art electronics, user interface, pulse-sequences and applications with the magnet, gradients, positioning devices and RF coils provided by Varian.

Garry Rogerson, president/CEO at Varian, added, "Preclinical imaging is a key area of growth for Varian. We are very pleased to be entering into this collaboration with GE. Our established MRI product range is highly regarded by the MR scientific community, and this new system enables us to reach beyond our traditional customers."

• Neurostar Solutions (Atlanta) reported the incorporation of M•Modal's (Pittsburgh) advanced Speech Understanding technology into its existing Virtual Radiology Network (VRN).

Neurostar said its VRN is a step beyond Picture Archiving and Communications Systems. It said its architecture and universal workflow enable imaging centers, hospitals, and physicians' offices to share image data with a virtual community of radiologists and referring physicians, helping them expand productivity and referrals.

• National Jewish Health (Denver) and Roche Diagnostics (Mannheim, Germany) have reached an agreement in the field of molecular diagnostics, combining National Jewish's expertise in clinical testing and care for patients with respiratory and environmental diseases with Roche's technology to bring new diagnostic solutions to the market.

The companies are collaborating initially on the introduction of a consumer product to test indoor air quality. The Family Air Care product will measure indoor allergens from cats, dogs, cockroaches, dust mites and mold.