Nov. 10, 2009--CIVCO Medical Solutions (www.civco.com) announces the release of a disposable endocavity needle guidance system for use with Toshiba's PVT-681MV transducer. The PVT-681MV needle guidance system is designed to direct minimally invasive instruments by working in conjunction with biopsy software on Toshiba Aplio XG, Xario and Xario XG ultrasound platforms. CIVCO's endocavity needle guidance system offer physicians reduced technique variability, providing a shorter learning curve and reduced procedure time--increasing productivity during tissue biopsy, fluid aspirations and catheter placement.

The disposable design of CIVCO's PVT-681MV endocavity needle guide reduces the risks associated with cross-contamination and aids in easy clean-up between procedures. This new, easy-to-use guide provides finger grips allowing easy assembly and removal from the transducer, while also providing a secure and stable fit to the transducer locating features. The guide features zero needle resistance, offering smooth movement and navigation during puncture procedures. In addition, the PVT-681MV needle guide is equipped with a large funnel style insertion point for quick instrument insertion in a darkened ultrasound suite. The needle guide accepts 16-18 gauge instruments.

Nov. 10, 2009--Franklin & Seidelmann (F&S) (www.franklin-seidelmann.com), a national full-service radiology interpretations provider, has integrated its critical findings result management process into AccuRad, F&S' proprietary web-based radiology workflow system that manages the creation and distribution of radiology reports. The system now automates the process that enables F&S radiologists to deliver critical result notification at the time it is identified by utilizing a new feature available on their reading dashboards. 

With a single click, an alert is routed to the F&S operations staff, which initiates contact with the referring physician. Once the referring physician is on the phone, the F&S radiologist is connected in order to verbally communicate the critical results. The entire process is fully documented and the communication loop is then closed with the institution. By utilizing the internal operations staff, the burden of trying to locate physicians is relieved from the radiologist who can return to reading cases until the connectivity is made. 

The critical findings module complies with The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goal for improving effectiveness of communication among caregivers. Benefits of the new software tool include easier and faster access for the radiologists as well as an automated documentation process that tracks each point of contact with date and time records to provide an auditable trail of data for measurement and reporting purposes. This also provides the significant advantage of person-to-person interaction rather than other electronic-only communication tools. The new solution has been implemented with all of F&S' current hospital clients and is included as part of a hospital services agreement.

Nov. 10, 2009--InSite One Inc. (www.insiteone.com), a provider of imaging data archiving and content management services, introduces InDex Web-Continuity, a remote image access solution that assures immediate availability during a declared event to imaging exams and associated data previously archived in the InDex Enterprise Archive. Declared events include PACS downtime, from human error and natural catastrophes.

This new feature enables business continuance providing access to vital diagnostic exams both internally and for referring physicians. InDex Web-Continuity is part of InSite One's InDex comprehensive portfolio offerings for medical imaging and reports--from disaster recovery and scalable long-term storage to a complete managed onsite and offsite enterprise-wide active-archive supporting an integrated patient record through strict adherence to IHE (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise) standards.

For more information, visit the InSite One booth, #1606 Lakeside Center, at RSNA 2009.