Imaging Technology News

Esaote Presents Update on Open MRI System for Intraoperative Brain Tumor Imaging

tim.hodson — Tue, 05 May 2026 16:44:54 +0000

tim.hodson Tue, 05/05/2026 - 11:44

May 4, 2026 Esaote presented the latest developments of I-Genius* — an open MRI system designed to provide multiple MRI checks during glioma surgery — at the AANS-American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting in San Antonio.

Developed through close collaboration between Esaote’s R&D teams and leading neurosurgeons, I-Genius is designed to support brain tumor surgery by enabling multiple MRI acquisitions. In glioma surgery, where complete tumor removal is yet highly complex, intraoperative imaging plays a critical role. I-Genius introduces a different approach: an open MRI system specifically optimized for the surgical environment. The patient remains on the same table throughout the procedure, allowing surgeons to perform multiple MRI checks without repositioning, reducing intraoperative complexity and enabling more confident, real-time surgical decision-making.

Click here to watch the video.

“Following its introduction to the neurosurgical community at EANS 2025 in Vienna, I-Genius is now entering a new phase of development, with growing international interest and a clear pathway toward the U.S. market. I-Genius is Esaote’s first intraoperative MRI system, a solution dedicated to neurosurgical procedures for brain tumors. It was designed to support surgeons during every phase of the operation, providing high-precision imaging and an optimized workflow that accelerates the procedure without requiring the patient to be moved for MRI scanning” said Massimo Olmi, MRI Marketing Director at Esaote “Our goal is to enhance operating-room efficiency, reduce costs, shorten procedure times, and ensure a higher standard of care for patients”

“For decades, glioma surgery has been performed without real‑time visualization of the tumor, forcing surgeons to rely on experience and indirect tools rather than true intraoperative evidence” explained Dr. Roberto Herrera Chief of Neurosurgery, Clinica Adventista Belgrano, Buenos Aires. “This limitation directly affects patient outcomes, since distinguishing tumor from healthy brain is essential. Techniques like neuro-navigation and awake surgery help preserve function but cannot show how much tumor has actually been removed. Intraoperative MRI systems such as i‑Genius change this paradigm by providing multiple MRI acquisitions directly in the operating room, without disrupting workflow or requiring complex infrastructure. This shifts surgery from estimation to objective measurement, making tumor resection more accurate, safer, and potentially more complete.

For additional information, go to www.esaote.com.

*I-Genius is FDA pending and not available for sale in the USA yet

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - 11:44

New Guideline for Cardiac Ultrasound Artifacts Released by ASE

tim.hodson — Tue, 05 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

tim.hodson Tue, 05/05/2026 - 07:00

May 4, 2026 — The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) has released a new guideline that provides guidance for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging professionals to better recognize and understand cardiac ultrasound artifacts, aiming to enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient safety.

Despite advancements in ultrasound imaging technologies, artifacts remain prevalent across all echocardiographic modes, including two-dimensional, spectral Doppler, color Doppler and three-dimensional echocardiography. These artifacts, which are misleading or false image features, arise from the inherent physical properties of ultrasound and can occur due to interference from external equipment and devices producing ultrasound waves. They can contribute to misdiagnoses and have potentially serious clinical consequences.

“Recommendations for the Identification and Mitigation of Cardiac Ultrasound Artifacts” offers a structured approach to identifying and managing ultrasound artifacts. The document details the visual characteristics of common artifacts, explains the mechanisms behind their generation, and outlines their potential impact on clinical interpretation and patient diagnosis and management. It also includes real case examples and strategies to assist clinicians in avoiding and mitigating artifacts.

“This new ASE guideline is the first document published by an imaging society focused exclusively on cardiac ultrasound artifacts,” said Guideline Chair Dr. Muhamed Saric, director of echocardiography and professor of medicine at New York University Langone, New York. “It is essential for cardiac sonographers and clinicians to recognize these common ‘Achilles’ heels’ in ultrasound to reduce the risk of misdiagnosing critical conditions such as aortic dissection and ventricular thrombus, and to help optimize patient care.”

Developed by a global team of ultrasound practitioners, the guideline features an extensive and unique collection of figures and videos for easy reference to support learning and clinical application.

“While innovations in ultrasound imaging hardware and software are promising to minimize the generation of artifacts, operator education remains essential. Everyone involved in performing or interpreting cardiac ultrasound should be familiar with artifacts and their potential for misdiagnosis,” said Guideline Co-Chair Dr. Anita Sadeghpour, an advanced cardiac imager at MedStar Health Research Institute and associate professor of medicine (Cardiology) at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

The complete guideline document and all guidelines published by ASE are available at ASEcho.org/Guidelines.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - 07:00

ACR Elects New Officers

tim.hodson — Mon, 04 May 2026 21:26:26 +0000

tim.hodson Mon, 05/04/2026 - 16:26

May 4, 2026 — The American College of Radiology Council has elected Alan H. Matsumoto, MD, MA, FACR, as ACR president, and David Larson, MD, MBA, FACR, as ACR vice president during ACR 2026, the College’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

As previously announced, Christoph Wald, MD, PhD, MBA, FACR, will serve as chair of the ACR Board of Chancellors. Gregory Nicola, MD, FACR, will serve as ACR vice chair.

ACR President Alan Matsumoto is the outgoing chair of the BOC. He previously served as chair of the BOC Commission on Interventional and Cardiovascular Imaging and as a member of the ACR Council Steering Committee. He is a professor of radiology and former chair of the Department of Radiology at the University of Virginia.

“Dr. Matsumoto is a trusted physician leader with a long record of service to the College and a clear commitment to quality, safety and patient-centered care,” said ACR CEO Dana H. Smetherman, MD, MPH, MBA, FACR. “His experience across clinical practice, education and ACR governance will continue to be a valuable resource as we work to advance policies, products and services that help radiologists provide the highest quality patient care.”

Vice President David Larson is the outgoing chair of the ACR Commission on Quality and Safety and a member of the ACR BOC Finance Committee. He is also the founder and co-director of the ACR Learning Network and the ImPower improvement training and project support program. Larson is a professor of radiology at Stanford University and director of the Stanford AI Development and Evaluation Lab.

Additional Chancellors Elected

Nina S. Vincoff, MD, chair, Commission on Patient-and Family-Centered Care
Andrew K. Moriarty, MD, MBA, chair, Commission on Body Imaging
Melissa Lee Chen, MD, chair, Commission on Neuroradiology
Eric M. Rohren, MD, PhD, FACR, chair Commission on Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Maitray D. Patel, MD, FACR, chair Commission on Ultrasound
Monica J. Wood, MD, Young and Early Career Professional Section

Council Steering Committee

Esma A. Akin, MD, FACR
Nolan J. Kagetsu, MD, FACR
Chris McAdams, MD
Daniel A. Rodgers, MD

College Nominating Committee

Jiyon Lee, MD, FACR
Sabah Servaes, MD, FACR
Madison Wulfeck, MD, MBA

Intersociety Summer Conference, Private Practice Representative

Rachel Gerson, MD, MBA, FACR

The newly elected leaders will assume their roles at the conclusion of ACR 2026, May 6.

Monday, May 4, 2026 - 16:26

SimonMed Deploys AIRS Medical to Power AI-enhanced MRI Across National Network

tim.hodson — Mon, 04 May 2026 20:18:21 +0000

tim.hodson Mon, 05/04/2026 - 15:18

April 27 2026 — SimonMed, one of the nation’s largest independent outpatient imaging providers, has announced the enterprise-wide deployment of AIRS Medical’s SwiftMR, an FDA-cleared AI solution for MRI enhancement, across its nationwide network.

This decision follows a comprehensive evaluation of leading MRI AI platforms as part of SimonMed’s broader strategy to elevate imaging quality, improve access and deliver a more consistent, patient-centered diagnostic experience at scale.

As MRI demand continues to grow, imaging providers face increasing pressure to deliver faster exams without compromising diagnostic accuracy. SimonMed’s adoption of SwiftMR reflects a deliberate move to raise the standard across its multi-vendor MRI fleet — improving image clarity, reducing scan times, and enhancing workflow efficiency.

“AI in imaging has reached a point where it can meaningfully elevate both the quality and accessibility of care, but only if deployed thoughtfully at scale,” said Dr. Sean Raj, MD, chief medical officer and chief innovation officer of SimonMed.

“We chose AIRS Medical because their technology consistently delivered high-quality images, the most reliable performance across diverse scanner environments, and the greatest potential to improve the patient experience. Shorter scan times, clearer images and more consistent studies across our network directly translate into better, faster answers for patients. That’s the bar we hold ourselves to.”

With one of the largest and most diverse outpatient imaging infrastructures in the United States, SimonMed requires solutions that perform reliably across different scanner types, manufacturers, and clinical environments. SwiftMR’s vendor-neutral architecture enables consistent deployment without the need for additional hardware investment.

The deployment of SwiftMR is part of SimonMed’s broader strategy to integrate advanced AI across its imaging platform, supporting both traditional diagnostic workflows and its expanding preventive and longevity-focused programs.

For more information, please visit www.simonmed.com or www.airsmed.com.

Monday, May 4, 2026 - 15:18

Radiation Oncologists: Medicare Changes Threaten Viability of Community Cancer Clinics

tim.hodson — Mon, 04 May 2026 17:05:04 +0000

tim.hodson Mon, 05/04/2026 - 12:05

April 27, 2026 — Radiation oncologists from across the country were in Washington in late April to warn lawmakers that recent Medicare policy changes threaten the viability of community cancer clinics, as new data point to widespread financial strain across the field. Members of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) are urging legislators to support the bipartisan Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) Act and other policies that will safeguard patient access to lifesaving cancer care.

The physicians shared results of ASTRO’s recent national physician survey that found community-based cancer centers face the risk of closing following recent Medicare changes to radiation treatment delivery codes. More than two-thirds of the respondents reported sudden, unexpected double-digit drops in reimbursement in the first months of 2026, and many said these declines place their clinics at risk of insolvency.

As one physician explained, “If these new cuts are sustained for longer than 1-2 months, we will be at a very real risk of needing to declare bankruptcy.” In an ASTRO survey last year, a third of doctors in rural areas said a cut of even 3-5% would force them to close, leave or sell their practice.

More than a million Americans rely on radiation therapy each year, yet Medicare reimbursement for radiation therapy has fallen 27% since 2013, more than most other medical specialties. These ongoing cuts are compounded by rising costs and increasing financial pressures that are driving rampant practice consolidation, reducing local access points and forcing patients in rural and suburban communities to travel farther for cancer care. A recent study found that the number of organizations employing radiation oncologists dropped 13% over the past decade.

“The data in our new survey signal a serious threat to cancer care access," said Sameer Keole, MD, FASTRO, Chair of ASTRO’s Board of Directors. “Community clinics face bankruptcy, prior authorization delays are growing worse, and research funding is under threat. Congress has the tools to fix these problems, and we're asking them to act now before people with cancer lose access to the care that can save their lives.”

Radiation oncologists will urge policymakers to co-sponsor and pass the ROCR Act (S.1031, H.R.2120) to bring much-needed relief to clinics and avoid creating radiation treatment deserts for patients. The bipartisan bill, led by Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), John Joyce, MD (R-Pa.) and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), would protect patient access by stabilizing and centering reimbursement around each patient’s individualized treatment plan rather than the number of treatments given.

ROCR is supported by nearly 30 Congressional co-sponsors and nearly 140 organizations representing a broad spectrum of oncology stakeholders including patient advocates, medical professionals, small and large hospital systems, academic centers, independent clinics and industry.

Prior Authorization

Radiation oncologists also asked Congress to support bipartisan legislation to reform Medicare Advantage’s broken prior authorization system. Research shows that prior authorization requirements for radiation therapy fail to produce savings, ultimately costing taxpayers more than traditional Medicare plans.

ASTRO research points to widespread prior authorization delays and the many negative downstream effects they cause, from added patient anxiety to compromised treatment outcomes. For example, one-third of the radiation oncologists in a 2024 survey said prior authorization has led to adverse events such as hospitalization for their patients. Doctors also report increased prior authorization challenges from health insurers following the implementation of the new Medicare codes; survey respondents said, “processing time has doubled in 2026 relative to 2025 for a large swath of patients,” and that “it feels like insurance companies are trying to drown us in paperwork."

ASTRO members are asking legislators to address these issues by cosponsoring the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (S.1816, H.R.3514). The bill, which has more than 330 bipartisan cosponsors across both chambers, would codify rules that create more efficient windows for authorization requests and require greater transparency for denials and outcomes.

Radiation Research Funding

Bipartisan federal support for cancer research has contributed to a 34% reduction in cancer mortality since 1991, averting an estimated 4.8 million cancer deaths in the U.S. Moreover, investments in cancer research produce outsized economic benefit; in FY25, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) generated $94.2 billion in economic activity nationwide – $2.57 for every $1.00 invested in research funding – and supported more than 390,860 jobs.

Federal funding drives the discovery of new technologies and treatments, including radiation therapy breakthroughs for cancer and other diseases that increase patients’ survival chances and improve their quality of life, but this progress relies on sustained investment that grows with inflation.

Radiation oncologists therefore also asked lawmakers for robust federal investment in the research that drives these improvements: $51.3 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $7.99 billion for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and $1.5 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).

Monday, May 4, 2026 - 12:05

Trice Imaging Accelerates Growth in Women’s Health Sector

tim.hodson — Fri, 01 May 2026 16:38:02 +0000

tim.hodson Fri, 05/01/2026 - 11:38

May 1, 2026 — Women’s health services face rising complexity with growing patient volumes across fertility care, obstetrics, gynecology and menopause health, converging with an increase in data per imaging examination due to the latest advances in 3D/4D ultrasound or AI-enabled tools across multi-modalities.

To support clinicians and practices with more connected, efficient and scalable image management, Trice Imaging is introducing its latest product and customer service updates, new market access collaborations and key leadership appointments at The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting in Washington D.C.

Tricefy, the FDA-cleared and vendor neutral cloud-based medical image management software, enables storage, retrieval, display and exchange of DICOM images, cine clips and reporting with healthcare professionals and patients. New functionality includes the introduction of dynamic reports synchronized with growth charts, percentiles and measurements; and expanded capture of patient history for deeper and longitudinal case continuity of pregnancy care. The security and control module of the platform has also been revamped with Single Sign-On, streamlining access ease and reducing password fatigue for physicians, radiologists and other clinical staff.

To provide greater benefits and market access to Tricefy for US-based IVF clinics, Ob/Gyn practices and other imaging-heavy domains, Trice Imaging has also recently partnered with leading EMR and EHR integration marketplaces: ModMed synapSYS Marketplace; and athenahealth Marketplace.

"Trice Thrive" will also be launched at the event, a best-of-breed customer success initiative enabling users to fully realize the clinical, operational and financial value of Tricefy through ongoing applications support, training and education.

The new product, service and partnerships closely follow several new leadership appointments at Trice Imaging in 2025/26, with digital health and pharma investor-operator Bruce Meadows appointed as chief executive officer and former Canon, Fujifilm, GE Healthcare and Philips sales-growth player, Mark A. Samii, as new chief revenue officer.

“We are entering a new growth chapter at Trice Imaging where our image management platform plus customer support services are ready to meet the robust needs of emerging AI-enabled ultrasound algorithms and imaging volume increases," Samii states. "This will deliver departmental time efficiencies, improved clinical confidence and power positive patient care.”

For more information, visit https://triceimaging.com.

Friday, May 1, 2026 - 11:38

How Expert Radiology Scaled a National Teleradiology Practice

tim.hodson — Fri, 01 May 2026 14:35:48 +0000

tim.hodson Fri, 05/01/2026 - 09:35

American College of Radiology

tim.hodson — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:35:48 +0000

tim.hodson Thu, 04/30/2026 - 15:35

ARPA-H Awards $60 Million to Siemens Healthineers to Advance Photon Flash Radiotherapy for Cancer Care

tim.hodson — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:37:57 +0000

tim.hodson Thu, 04/30/2026 - 13:37

April 30, 2026 — The Siemens Healthineers business area, Varian, has been awarded up to $60 million over five years by the U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to accelerate development of photon Flash therapy, an ultra-high dose rate approach to radiotherapy with the potential to redefine cancer care. In addition to this award, one of the larger federal investments in medical technology innovation, Siemens Healthineers will invest $23 million as a cost share over the project time period, for a total combined commitment to photon FLASH-RT development of up to $83 million.

Flash photon therapy is an experimental treatment modality that delivers radiotherapy more than 100 times faster than today’s technologies,1 aiming to reduce side effects and make it possible to treat tumors where adverse reactions to surrounding healthy tissue is a limiting factor. Flash radiotherapy research has largely concentrated on proton and electron beam platforms; however, both face meaningful access to care scalability constraints.

As radiotherapy is required for more than 50% of cancer patients and photon beams remain the standard of care,2,3 improved access to photon Flash therapy has the potential to transform treatment globally. The company aims to create a scalable, cost-effective treatment option that fits within existing clinical workflows and infrastructure.

“This investment from ARPA‑H strengthens our efforts to explore the potential of photon Flash therapy and to widen the possibilities for patients who may one day benefit from it,” said Arthur Kaindl, head of Varian at Siemens Healthineers. “By building on the extensive installed base of C-arm linear accelerators, we aim to speed potential adoption and enable broader access as this work progresses. Our hope is to help bring promising innovations within reach of more patients and more communities around the world.”

“The radiation oncology community is at the forefront of cancer care, and this ARPA-H award – a milestone as the first for our field – recognizes our specialty’s unique ability to safely and effectively treat cancer,” said Sameer R. Keole, MD, chair of the American Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ASTRO) Board of Directors. “This support for advanced radiation therapy research will drive improved technologies, more efficient treatments, and new hope for people with cancer.”

Matthias Guckenberger, MD, president of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), emphasized that radiotherapy remains significantly underfunded in global cancer research. “ESTRO acknowledges that the U.S. Government (ARPA-H) has identified this missed opportunity and is contributing to closing this gap through a substantial research grant for novel radiotherapy methodologies,” he said. “This milestone highlights the transformative potential of investing in radiotherapy innovation to improve outcomes for patients worldwide.”

Zou W, Zhang R, Schüler E, Taylor PA, Mascia AE, Diffenderfer ES, Zhao T, Ayan AS, Sharma M, Yu SJ, Lu W, Bosch WR, Tsien C, Surucu M, Pollard-Larkin JM, Schuemann J, Moros EG, Bazalova-Carter M, Gladstone DJ, Li H, Simone CB 2nd, Petersson K, Kry SF, Maity A, Loo BW Jr, Dong L, Maxim PG, Xiao Y, Buchsbaum JC. Framework for Quality Assurance of Ultrahigh Dose Rate Clinical Trials Investigating FLASH Effects and Current Technology Gaps. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2023 Aug 1;116(5):1202-1217. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.04.018. Epub 2023 Apr 28. PMID: 37121362; PMCID: PMC10526970.
M Abdel-Wahab, et al. JCO Global Oncol. 2021(7):827-842.
Waddle MR, Sio TT, Van Houten HK, Foote RL, Keole SR, Schild SE, Laack N, Daniels TB, Crown W, Shah ND, Miller RC. Photon and Proton Radiation Therapy Utilization in a Population of More Than 100 Million Commercially Insured Patients. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2017 Dec 1;99(5):1078-1082. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.07.042. Epub 2017 Aug 2. PMID: 28939229.

Thursday, April 30, 2026 - 13:37

ACR Congratulates Saphier on Surgeon General Nomination

tim.hodson — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:36:00 +0000

tim.hodson Thu, 04/30/2026 - 13:36

April 30, 2026 — The American College of Radiology has congratulated Nicole B. Saphier, MD, on her nomination to be surgeon general of the United States. Saphier would be the first radiologist physician to hold this position.

The surgeon general is nominated by the president and is confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a four-year term. The Office of the Surgeon General is part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

If confirmed by the Senate, Saphier would be the highest-ranking radiologist ever in government service. ACR strongly encourages radiologists to pursue their interests in public service, including running for elected office, and accepting government advisory and leadership roles in local, state and federal government departments and agencies.

As the surgeon general, often called the “nation’s doctor,” Saphier would work to provide Americans with scientific information that can improve their health and reduce their risk of illness and injury.

“Dr. Saphier is a tireless advocate for women’s health who has worked to increase access to lifesaving cancer screenings, enable earlier cancer detection and ultimately save countless lives,” said ACR® CEO Dana H. Smetherman, MD, MPH, MBA, FACR.

Saphier is an attending radiologist physician and associate professor of radiology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. She has served as an ACR alternate councilor for New Jersey and a member of the ACR Ultrasound Economics Committee, ACR Economics Committee on the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act (MARCA) and the ACR Website Redesign Task Force.

She has held leadership and advisory positions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New Jersey Department of Health and Radiological Society of New Jersey. Saphier is also a New York Times best-selling author, a network news contributor and the host of the iHeart Radio podcast, Wellness Unmasked with Dr. Nicole Saphier.

Thursday, April 30, 2026 - 13:36