Researchers report in the February 1st issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics that the use of 3D ultrasound with the Clarity(TM) Breast System provided enhanced image information to enable radiation oncologists to better define the treatment region when delivering partial breast irradiation treatment (PBI) for breast cancer. The Clarity Breast System marks the first application of 3D ultrasound technology to Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) and was developed by Resonant Medical, an innovator of 3D ultrasound image-guided adaptive radiotherapy products.

The study, “3D Ultrasound Can Contribute to Planning CT to Define the Target for Partial Breast Radiotherapy,” conducted at the Radiation Therapy Program, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver Island Centre and the University of British Columbia, examined 20 consecutive cases of early-stage breast cancer where the patients were treated with breast-conserving surgery. Researchers found that in 40 percent of cases, the variability between lumpectomy cavity contours was reduced when ultrasound was used instead of CT – the current standard of care for planning breast cancer treatment. In particular, 3D ultrasound proved to be particularly beneficial for imaging patients with dense breasts and small cavities.

“Precision in planning and the increased certainty that radiation is being delivered to the exact area where it is needed have never been more critical, with the percentage of patients opting for breast conservation therapy and PBI on the rise,” said Pauline Truong, MD, CM, a researcher on the study. “Following this study, however, it is clear that the benefits of this technology could be applicable to not only PBI patients, but those undergoing whole breast radiation and electron boost therapy – potentially helping an even larger population of women with breast cancer.”

The Clarity Breast System marks the first application of 3D ultrasound technology to Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) in breast cancer. The Clarity system was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2004 for guidance in the treatment of prostate and breast cancers.

In addition to its application with treatment planning, the Clarity System is also used to image the lumpectomy cavity daily with each radiation treatment, to get an actual visual image and location of the tumor cavity on a regular basis. While the breast cancer radiation oncology community is aware that the location of the lumpectomy cavity target can change throughout the course of treatment, this issue is still largely unaccounted for in current treatment protocols. Clinical consequences can include delivery of radiation to healthy tissue, application of radiation too close to the chest wall or skin and, in some cases, under-treatment of certain areas. Clarity provides the first method of daily lumpectomy cavity monitoring that is based on visualization of the actual anatomy–rather than an estimation of the location of the cavity. This precision in planning and treatment could enable physicians to reduce the field of radiation they need to deliver, which is always preferable if clinically justified.

Several studies detailing the benefits of the use of Clarity during breast cancer treatment have also been presented in recent months. For example:

– At the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), data from a study conducted at McGill University and the University of Vermont was presented investigating the use of the Clarity system to track tumor cavity movement prior to daily treatments. The study compared the use of 3D ultrasound to CT, and found that these techniques were statistically equivalent. Researchers concluded that because ultrasound is non-ionizing and non-invasive, it is preferable to daily CT for tumor cavity monitoring.

– Additionally, at the 2008 meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), data collected at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York on the use of Clarity when delivering electron boost therapy was examined. Although electron boost treatments have been delivered for quite some time, there has been no way to ensure that the electron dose is treating the correct area. This study found that in 45 percent of treatments, part of the tumor cavity would have been outside of the dose region and would have been missed without ultrasound guidance.

“The Clarity System has been used in the treatment of thousands of prostate cancer patients, and we are encouraged by the results and feedback we have seen and heard from radiation oncologists regarding its application with breast cancer,” said Tony Falco, PhD, FCCP, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Resonant Medical. “This mounting clinical evidence acknowledges the value of the Clarity system for the effective planning and treatment of breast cancer.”

About Resonant Medical

Resonant Medical (Montreal, Canada) develops, manufactures and commercializes 3D ultrasound image-guided adaptive radiotherapy products. Originally developed at McGill University Health Center, Resonant’s technologies are available in more than 50 cancer centers in the U.S., Canada and Europe, helping cancer centers make significant improvements in radiation therapy planning, verification and delivery–advancing patient care. Resonant can be found on the Web at http://www.resonantmedical.com

Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) has been proven to be a highly sensitive imaging technique for the diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) — a type of breast cancer that begins in the milk-producing glands (lobules) and then spreads to the surrounding breast tissues — according to a study published in the February 2009 issue of American Journal of Roentgenology. The study found BSGI provides better sensitivity for detecting ILC than mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). BSGI, performed with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera, is a molecular breast imaging technique that can see lesions independent of tissue density and discover very early stage cancers.

“The study is significant because ILC can often be difficult to detect mammographically and is often not palpable at clinical examination. BSGI offers improved detection of this form of breast cancer that impacts approximately 10 percent of new breast cancer patients every year,” said Dr. Rachel Brem, Director of Breast Imaging and Intervention at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and Vice Chair of the Department of Radiology.

Brem and her colleagues conducted a retrospective multi-center study of women with biopsy-proven ILC. All patients had undergone mammography and BSGI, and the imaging findings were classified as positive or negative for invasive lobular carcinoma by experienced breast imagers. Ultrasound and MRI results, if performed, were included for analysis. The sensitivity of mammography, ultrasound, MRI and BSGI was determined for each modality and compared. Twenty-six women, ages 46 to 82 (mean age of 62.8), with 28 biopsy proven pure ILC, mean size of 22.3mm (2mm – 90mm), were included.

The study concludes that BSGI had the greatest sensitivity for the detection of ILC with a sensitivity of 93 percent. Mammography, ultrasound and MRI demonstrated sensitivities of 79 percent, 68 percent and 83 percent, respectively.

With BSGI, the patient receives a pharmaceutical tracing agent that is absorbed by all the cells in the body. Due to their increased rate of metabolic activity, cancerous cells in the breast absorb a greater amount of the tracing agent than normal, healthy cells and generally appear as “hot spots” on the BSGI image. The Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera is a high-resolution, compact gamma camera, optimized to perform BSGI. The camera provides a manageable four to 16 images versus up to thousands of images with breast MRI.

“BSGI is a physiologic, rather than an anatomic, approach to breast cancer diagnosis. It is likely that the molecular imaging obtained with BSGI is the reason it has the greatest sensitivity for the detection of invasive lobular cancer,” said Dr. Brem. “In our study, the sensitivity of BSGI for detecting ILC was greater than MRI. In fact it is known that MRI can be limited in the detection of ILC. In addition, the cost of BSGI is significantly less than a breast MRI.”

The complete study can be found in The American Journal of Roentgenology, Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Detection with Mammography, Sonography, MRI, and Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging, AJR: 192, February 2009; Pages 379 – 383.

About Dilon Technologies

Dilon Technologies Inc. is bringing innovative new medical imaging products to market. Dilon’s cornerstone product, the Dilon 6800, is a high-resolution, compact field-of-view gamma camera, optimized to perform BSGI, a molecular breast imaging procedure which images the metabolic activity of breast lesions through radiotracer uptake. Many leading medical centers around the country are now offering BSGI to their patients, including: Cornell University Medical Center, New York; George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.; and The Rose, Houston. For more information on Dilon Technologies please visit http://www.dilon.com.

Dilon Technologies Inc.
http://www.dilon.com

New automated breast ultrasound system automatically acquires volumes and offers intelligent clinical applications. Siemens Healthcare recently introduced the Acuson S2000 Automated Breast Volume Scanner (ABVS), the first multi-use ultrasound breast system that automatically acquires volume images of the breast. Thanks to the user-independent, standardized image acquisition, the system is ideally suited for early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer with ultrasound – especially for women with dense breast tissue.

According to the New England Journal of Medicine1, dense breast tissue increases the risk of breast cancer for a woman up to five-fold. While mammography remains the method of choice in breast cancer screening, a study published by the RSNA (Radiological Society of North America) in 20022 showed that the detection rate for non-palpable, invasive breast cancer increased by 42 percent when mammography was followed by an ultrasound examination.

“I am convinced that automatic ultrasound volume imaging with the Acuson S2000 ABVS can make a significant contribution in diagnostic confidence for women with dense breast tissue or inconclusive mammography findings,” said Klaus Hambüchen, CEO, Ultrasound at Siemens Healthcare. Examinations performed with the Acuson S2000 ABVS technique generally take less than 15 minutes. “Time well spent if you consider the extended diagnostic capabilities of ultrasound in dense breasts.”

Coronal anatomical view

The system quickly and comfortably acquires and surveys full-field sonographic volume images that provide a more comprehensive overview of the breast. Included is the intuitive, anatomical coronal plane of the breast (from the nipple to the breast wall), which is not available with conventional ultrasound imaging. This view provides a more understandable representation of the global anatomy and architecture of the breast.

The system’s automatic image acquisition significantly improves the workflow of a breast ultrasound examination. While hand held examinations usually take up to 30 minutes, with the Acuson S2000 ABVS, the exam can be performed in less than 15 minutes. Semi-automated reporting and comprehensive BI-RADS® ultrasound reporting capabilities further enhance the clinical workflow. This Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) is a classification of the American College of Radiology (ACR) for reporting mammography screenings.

To further optimize high-volume patient care, the system also supports innovative breast imaging applications, such as Fatty Tissue and eSie Touch elasticity imaging. All of these applications help increase diagnostic confidence, while at the same time reducing examination and waiting time for the patient. The new system is an all-round system for ultrasound breast care, from early detection, to diagnosis to aftercare.

The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the largest suppliers of healthcare technology in the world. The company is a medical solution provider with core competences and innovative strengths in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as well as knowledge processing, including information technology and system integration. With its acquisitions in laboratory diagnostics, Siemens Healthcare is the first integrated healthcare company that combines imaging and lab diagnostics, therapy solutions and medical information technology and also supplements these with consultation and services. Siemens Healthcare offers solutions for the entire supply chain under one roof – from prevention and early detection to diagnosis and on to treatment and aftercare. In addition, Siemens Healthcare is the global market leader for innovative hearing instruments. The company employs some 49,000 employees worldwide and is present in more than 130 countries. During fiscal 2008 (ending on September 30), Siemens Healthcare achieved sales of 11.17 billion euros and incoming orders totaling 11.78 billion euros. The Sector profit from operations amounted to 1.23 billion euros.

For more information, go to: www.siemens.com/healthcare

1 N Engl J Med 356;3. Boyd N.F. et Al., Mammographic Density and the Risk and Detection of Breast Cancer 2 Radiology 2002;225:165-175. Kolb T.M. et Al., Comparison of the Performance of Screening

Mammography, Physical Examination, and Breast US and Evaluation of Factors that Influence Them: An Analysis of 27,825 Patient Evaluations

Healthcare and breast radiology professionals from around the world recently attended the annual meeting of the Aurora® Breast MRI Society in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“The three-day meeting provided the opportunity for dedicated breast radiologists to learn about the latest advances in breast MRI technology,” said Kamilia F. Kozlowski, M.D., president, Aurora Breast MRI Society, and medical director/CEO and clinical breast radiologist at the Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center in Knoxville, Tenn. “It also provided us the opportunity to share our clinical experience, data, and enhance our professional development. In doing so, we can collectively improve the management and treatment of breast disease around the world.”

In addition to renowned breast radiologists, the group heard from distinguished medical colleagues. Aaron Ciechanover, M.D., DSc, of Haifa, Israel, spoke about how his Nobel-prize winning discoveries at the cellular level coupled with genetic research is paving the way toward improved, more personalized treatments for diseases such as breast cancer that could ultimately lead to prevention.

Louis Chow, M.D., executive director of the Organization for Oncology and Translational Research and medical director of the Comprehensive Centre for Breast Diseases at the UNIMED Medical Institute in Hong Kong, addressed the role MRI plays in evaluating therapies given to breast cancer patients prior to surgery, radiation and other treatments.

F. Lee Tucker, M.D., of Wirtz, Va., a consulting pathologist, spoke about the need for pathology to keep pace with advances in diagnostic imaging and for close cooperation among all medical members of the patient care team.

Arthur Lerner, M.D., surgical director at the Dickstein Cancer Treatment Center in White Plains, N.Y., talked about recent advances in nonsurgical techniques for treating early invasive breast cancers. He said breast MRI would play an important role in evaluating disease as researchers develop techniques to destroy small breast cancers with heat or extremely low temperatures without removing them from the breast.

World-renowned breast radiologists also shared interesting cases and the latest research involving breast MRI. Speakers included Steven Harms, M.D., clinical radiologist with the Breast Cancer Center of Northwest Arkansas in Fayetteville and medical director of Aurora Imaging Technology, Inc; Elsie Levin, M.D., medical director of the Faulkner-Sagoff Breast Imaging & Diagnostic Centre in Boston; Stephen Feig, M.D., director of breast imaging at University of California, Irvine Medical Center, and Aurora Breast MRI of Orange County; and Rebecca Stough, MD, clinical director of Breast MRI of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City.

Participants came not only from Israel and China, but also from Italy, Puerto Rico and across the United States.

The Aurora Breast MRI Society was established in 2006 to advance the use of cutting-edge dedicated breast MRI technology as an effective means to reduce the mortality and morbidity of breast cancer, which kills 400,000 women and men worldwide each year.

About the Aurora® Breast MRI Society

Breast radiologists worldwide who are committed to providing patients with state-of-the-art breast imaging have established the Aurora® Breast MRI Society. Society members have selected the Aurora® Dedicated Breast MRI System to offer patients its superior breast imaging and interventional capabilities. To support its mission to advance the use of cutting-edge dedicated breast MRI technology as an effective means to reduce the mortality and morbidity of breast cancer, the Aurora Breast MRI Society’s goal is to educate the medical profession, lay public and health care industry about the vital role of breast MRI in the earlier detection of breast cancer and more effective evaluation of breast disease.

For more information about the Aurora Breast MRI Society, or to inquire about becoming a Society member, visit http://www.aurorabmrisociety.org.

Matrox Graphics Inc., the leading manufacturer of specialized graphics solutions, is pleased to announce that ASPYRA Diagnostic Solutions Inc. is incorporating hardware-based image processing support in it class-leading AccessNET PACS solutions using the advanced features of the Matrox Xenia™ Series display controller boards.

ASPYRA AccessNET PACS is a modular designed PACS solution that ranges from imaging modality viewing stations to multi-facility, enterprise-wide implementations with load balancing, redundancy, and remote backup archives, allowing healthcare facilities to build systems with components that meet their needs. System features include flexible licensing, built-in web server for image and report access, flexible Storage (Archive) Solutions, user definable Search Lists and Work Lists, a full featured MedVIEW Viewer with intuitive human interface, and built in Dictation and Transcription functions based on common medical communication standards such as DICOM and HL7 that integrates with healthcare systems, protecting investments and streamlining workflow.

“We were amazed by the impressive performance using the Matrox Xenia Series,” says Bill Culton, Product Manager, Aspyra Inc. “The ability to window and level large image data quickly and smoothly on high resolution monitors are critical to medical imaging workflow and optimum patient care. By implementing Xenia’s new advanced hardware features we were able to significantly improve the response to changes on our viewer which will further enhance the user experience. ”

Matrox Xenia is the first native PCI Express single-slot board with all-digital, triple-monitor output and the flexibility to drive practically any known display configuration. Xenia Series supports resolutions from under 1MP up to 8MP, with up to 1GB of on-board memory, and features new technology to ensure optimum display calibration (via Matrox DLC™ and 8/10/13-bit gamma LUTs).

“Our goal was to quickly demonstrate the enhanced hardware functionality to Aspyra, an important development Partner who has contributed to our initial specification of the Matrox Xenia Series design;” says George Rigas, business development manager for medical imaging, Matrox Graphics Inc. “Ease of development was paramount for Aspyra developers to incorporate performance enhancements for efficient workflow and a better end user experience.”

With the development potential for increasing hardware-accelerated performance via hardware LUTs, multiple hardware window IDs, and additional hardware features, Xenia Series is a flexible and expandable solution for medical imaging developers and integrators looking for leading edge technology.

About Aspyra

Aspyra is a global provider of Health Care Information Technology (HCIT) solutions and services to the healthcare industry. The Company specializes in Clinical Information Systems (CIS), Picture Archive Communication Systems (PACS) and Clinical Image Management Systems (CIMS) for hospitals, multi-specialty clinics, clinical laboratories, imaging departments and centers and orthopedic environments. Aspyra’s highly scalable systems can be installed standalone or integrated to provide a single-vendor, enterprise-wide solution. For more information on Aspyra, its products and services, visit www.aspyra.com.

About Matrox Graphics Inc.

Matrox Graphics is a leading manufacturer of graphics solutions for professional markets. In-house design expertise, top-to-bottom manufacturing, and dedicated customer support make our solutions the premier choice in industries that require stable, high-reliability products. Founded in 1976, Matrox is a privately held company headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with representation and offices in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Mathematicians at the University of Liverpool have found that it is possible to gain full control of sound waves which could lead to improved medical scans, for technology such as ultra sound machines.

Working in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, they tested the numerical properties of a flat lens made out of ‘meta-material’ – a material that gains its properties from its structure rather than its composition. This material is thought to defy the laws of physics, allowing objects to appear exactly as they are rather than upside down as seen in a normal convex or concave lens.

Dr Sebastien Guenneau, from Liverpool’s Department of Mathematical Sciences, explains: “We know that light can be controlled using ‘meta-material’ which can bend electromagnetic radiation around an area of space, making any object within it appear invisible. Now we have produced a mathematical model that proves this theory also works for sound.

“This theory becomes particularly interesting when considering ultrasound, which is a sound pressure used to penetrate an object to help produce an image of what the object looks like inside. This is most commonly used in pregnancy scans to produce an image of a foetus. We found that at a particular wave frequency the meta-material has a negative refraction effect, which means that the image produced in the flat lens appears at a high resolution in exactly the same way it appears in reality.

“What surprised us most of all, however, was at the point where negative refraction occurs the meta-material becomes invisible, suggesting that if we were to use this in sonogram technology, it could be possible to make the image appear in mid-air like a hologram rather than on a computer screen. We also found that if we arranged the meta-material in a checkerboard fashion, sound became trapped, making noisy machines, for example, quieter.”

The scientists predict that the technology could be adapted for tests at higher sound frequencies such as when drilling for oil, where a more accurate image of the earth could be made in order to pin point where drilling should take place.

Escalon Medical Corp. (Nasdaq Capital Market: ESMC) announced that its Sonomed, Inc. subsidiary received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the MASTER-VU(TM) ophthalmic B scan ultrasound system. The MASTER-VU(TM) System consists of a B scan probe that can be interfaced to a standard personal computer (via a USB cable connection) using Sonomed’s proprietary software, thereby converting the personal computer into an ophthalmic ultrasound system. Sonomed plans to commence shipments of the product in the United States immediately.

Barry Durante, Sonomed’s President stated: “The FDA clearance, along with the previously received CE certification, will allow Sonomed to market this new breakthrough instrumentation worldwide. With computers becoming standard in most ophthalmic physician offices, purchasing the probe and software offers complete portability for use in multiple locations. Loading the software in computers in multiple offices allows the physician to carry only the probe from office to office. We expect that the MASTER-VU(TM) will be a valuable addition to our product line in both the U.S. and international marketplace.”

The MASTER-VU(TM) System adds to Escalon’s wide range of top quality and market leading ultrasound systems. This flexible and easy-to-use instrument offers simple installation, low maintenance and immediate user productivity. The MASTER-VU features include:

– Measurement calipers for multiple intraocular measurements.

– Ability to save both 30-second “clips” as well as individual frames on a scrolling frame manager.

– On-screen annotation capability, including text and graphics.

– Easy installation and low maintenance.

Sonomed, Inc. is a diagnostic ultrasound company specializing in the design, manufacture and distribution of instruments for ophthalmology. Sonomed is focused on providing quality instrumentation for ophthalmic physicians’ offices, clinics and hospitals.

Founded in 1987, Escalon develops markets and distributes ophthalmic diagnostic, surgical and pharmaceutical products as well as vascular access devices. Drew Scientific, which operates as a separate business unit, provides instrumentation and consumables for the diagnosis and monitoring of medical disorders in the areas of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and hematology, as well as veterinary hematology and blood chemistry. Escalon seeks to utilize strategic partnerships to help finance its development programs and is also seeking acquisitions to further diversify its product line to achieve critical mass in sales and take better advantage of Escalon’s distribution capabilities, although any such partnerships or acquisitions may not occur. Escalon has headquarters in Wayne, Pennsylvania and manufacturing operations in Long Island, New York, New Berlin, Wisconsin, Dallas, Texas, Waterbury, Connecticut and Barrow-in-Furness, U.K.

This press release contains statements that are considered forward- looking under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about Escalon’s future prospects. They are based on Escalon’s current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially. The uncertainties and risks include whether the Company is able to:

– implement its growth and marketing strategies, improve upon the operations of Escalon’s business units, including the integration of Drew’s and MRP’s operations, the reorganization of the Drew business and the integration of any acquisitions Escalon may undertake, if any, of which there can be no assurance

– implement cost reductions

– generate cash

– identify, finance and enter into business relationships and acquisitions.

Other factors include uncertainties and risks related to:

– new product development, commercialization, manufacturing and market acceptance of new products,

– marketing acceptance of existing products in new markets

– research and development activities, including failure to demonstrate — clinical efficacy

– delays by regulatory authorities, scientific and technical advances by Escalon or third parties

– introduction of competitive products

– third party reimbursement and physician training, and — general economic conditions.

Further information about these and other relevant risks and uncertainties may be found in Escalon’s report on Form 10- K, and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available from the Commission as well as other sources.

Escalon Medical Corp.

http://www.sonomedinc.com

The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) officially announced that they will publish jointly the Guideline for the Performance of the FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma) Examination.

The FAST examination is a proven and useful procedure for the evaluation of the injured patient immediately during resuscitation to detect large abnormal fluid collections or other collections that need immediate treatment. Prior to its use, more invasive procedures, including surgery, were required to evaluate trauma patients.

With the growing use of the FAST examination to evaluate trauma patients in hospital emergency rooms, pre-hospital situations, military locations, and disaster areas, the AIUM and ACEP joined forces to create guidelines to provide assistance to emergency medical practitioners and to promote high-quality ultrasound examinations.

Created with expert input from both traditional and emergency physician ultrasound experts, the FAST guideline includes indications for performing the examination, qualifications and responsibilities of the performing physician, specifications for individual examinations, documentation requirements, equipment specifications, quality control, and safety standards.

The FAST examination is now taught to more than 95% of emergency medicine residents and included in Advanced Trauma Life Support, a training program for doctors in the management of acute trauma cases. The FAST examination is widely accepted as the standard of care for the initial assessment and treatment in trauma centers.

Vivek Tayal, MD, FACEP, Chair of the ACEP Section of Emergency Ultrasound and member of the AIUM, commented that the joint Guideline for the Performance of the FAST Examination will help the FAST examination gain further national and international prominence.

“The FAST Guideline reinforces ACEP’s ultrasound imaging criteria,” said Dr. Tayal. “In addition, the FAST examination, an emergency department focused, bedside ultrasound examination, gains further national and international prominence by its formal acceptance by AIUM, a national, multispecialty organization.”

“Because ultrasound is utilized by so many medical specialty groups, the future use of this technology lies in working collaboratively with other societies to develop uniform guidelines for performing ultrasound examinations,” said Joshua Copel, MD, AIUM President.

To download a copy of Guideline for the Performance of the FAST Examination, visit the AIUM website at http://www.aium.org or the ACEP website at http://www.acep.org.

ACEP is a national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine with more than 26,000 members. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.

The AIUM is a multidisciplinary association dedicated to advancing the safe and effective use of ultrasound in medicine through professional and public education, research, development of guidelines, and accreditation. The AIUM’s members include physicians and sonographers from varying specialties, scientists, and engineers. The AIUM has established standards for the accreditation of ultrasound practices that serve as a benchmark for professionals seeking to meet nationally accepted protocols for performing ultrasound related examinations. Practices accredited by the AIUM have demonstrated competency in every aspect of their operation.

American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

A new radiotherapy system that combines high-tech imaging with precision tumor-targeting capability is helping cancer specialists at Stony Brook University Medical Center treat patients. Those with medically inoperable tumors, at high-risk for surgery, or who do not want surgical treatment may benefit most from the ExacTrac® X-ray 6D System for image-guided radiotherapy. The system adds to patient options for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), a technique that features high radiation doses with pinpoint precision to tumors.

Denis Keefe, 63, of Patchogue, N.Y., is a lung cancer patient who choose the image-guided radiotherapy system because it is the least invasive method available to treat his disease. Keefe was among the first patients to be treated with the system. The option was a good one for Keefe because his lung tumor was small and surgery remained risky because of his overall condition as a congestive heart failure patient.

“Other than mild redness, I experienced no side effects from the treatment and feel very good,” says Keefe, whose tumor has shrunk since the treatment. “I was comfortable during the procedure and only needed to go for three treatment sessions.”

Other patients have experienced few or no side effects when treated for lung cancer or other forms of disease with this radiotherapy system. The power and precision of the system also allows for short therapeutic duration. Treatments take one-to-two weeks to complete and require only three or four doses. Conventional beam therapy often lasts many weeks and many doses.

“We have had substantial success in treating patients with tumors of the lung, brain, spine, head and neck, and prostate with the ExacTrac system,” says Allen G. Meek, M.D., Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, indicating that the system has become an integral part of the department’s therapeutic options after several months in operation.

“ExacTrac enables us to deliver treatment to some previously irradiated sites without damaging critical structures like the spinal cord,” explains Dr. Meek. “This greatly improves our ability to treat some inoperable tumors and cancers that spread from primary sites.”

“Scarring is considerably reduced with this new modality because it delivers top-of-the-line aiming capability using low dose beams from many directions that converge on the same target to deliver a high dose,” says Thomas Bilfinger, M.D., Professor of Surgery and Co-Director of the Lung Cancer Evaluation Center. “Less scarring leads to fewer losses of functioning tissue over time, which can be particularly beneficial for lung cancer patients.”

“The imaging component is critical to the process,” adds Bong S. Kim, M.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology. “We can position the patient within two millimeters precision, which maximizes radiation treatment directly to the tumor.”

The treatment procedure with the ExacTrac System consists of four major steps: 1) An automated and image-guided patient positioning system, based on the patient’s form and location of tumor, is used for the initial patient set-up; 2) high-resolution X-rays pinpoint internal tumor sites, verifying the location across six dimensions and calculating key reference points for delivery of radiotherapy; 3) a remote control system corrects any initial patient set-up errors; and 4) the system tracks any patient movement that may affect treatment during the entire session.

For SBRT to be successful, optimal patient immobilization is required. The ExacTrac System uses the most advanced technology available for ensuring that the patient is positioned for treatment as accurately as possible. The computerized BodyFix® System guides the overall system by way of a non-invasive vacuum activated immobilization and fixation unit. This device limits movement caused by patient breathing, as well as tumor movement.

ExacTrac was purchased by SBUMC for nearly $600,000. Stony Brook is the only institution in Suffolk County, N.Y., to treat patients with this system. As imaging and computer technology continues to become more sophisticated, the system will mirror these advancing technologies in its precision delivery of radiotherapy.

Stony Brook University Medical Center
Level 5- Suite 9 – Room 43
Stony Brook, NY 11794-7538
United States

http://www.stonybrook.edu

Scientists at The University of Manchester have developed a new x-ray technique that could be used to detect hidden explosives, drugs and human cancers more effectively.

Professor Robert Cernik and colleagues from The School of Materials have built a prototype colour 3D X-ray system that allows material at each point of an image to be clearly identified.

The innovative work is reported in the latest issue of The Journal of the Royal Society Interface and is published online.

The technique developed by the Manchester scientists is known as tomographic energy dispersive diffraction imaging or TEDDI.

It harnesses all the wavelengths present in an x-ray beam to create probing 3D pictures.

The technique improves on existing methods by allowing detailed images to be created with one very simple scanning motion.

The method makes use of advanced detector and collimator engineering pioneered at Daresbury Laboratory, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and The University of Cambridge.

Scientists believe this advanced engineering will reduce the time taken to create a sample scan from hours to just a few minutes.

This shorter period would eliminate the problem of radiation damage, allowing biopsy samples to be studied and normal tissue types to be distinguished from abnormal.

Professor Cernik said: “We have demonstrated a new prototype X-ray imaging system that has exciting possibilities across a wide range of disciplines including medicine, security scanning and aerospace engineering.

“Current imaging systems such as spiral CAT scanners do not use all the information contained in the X-ray beam. We use all the wavelengths present to give a colour X-ray image. This extra information can be used to fingerprint the material present at each point in a 3D image.

“The TEDDI method is highly applicable to biomaterials, with the possibility of specific tissue identification in humans or identifying explosives, cocaine or heroin in freight. It could also be used in aerospace engineering, to establish whether the alloys in a weld have too much strain.”

To develop the technology Prof Cernik and his team have had to overcome two major technological challenges.

The first was to produce pixellated spectroscopy grade energy sensitive detectors. This was carried out in collaboration with Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxford and Daresbury Laboratory, Cheshire.

The second challenge was to build a device known as a 2D collimator, which filters and directs streams of scattered X-rays. The collimator device needed to have a high aspect ratio of 6000:1, meaning that it its width to its length is more than that of the channel tunnel.

This device was built using a laser drilling method in collaboration with The University of Cambridge.

Professor Cernik added: “There is a great deal of interest within engineering communities in the non-destructive determination of residual stresses in manufactured components, especially in critical areas such as aircraft wings and engine casings.

“The TEDDI system can be used for strain scanning whole fabricated components in the automotive or aerospace industries, although we are currently limited to light alloys.”

Using detectors made from silicon, the Manchester team has been restricted to looking at thin samples or light atom structures.

But they are developing new, high purity, high atomic weight, semiconductor detector materials that will remove this difficulty and drastically speed up scanning times.

A University of Manchester-led project called HEXITEC (http://www.hexitec.co.uk), which is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), has just started to make new material.