Imaging

Philips, startups look to deploy new ultrasound tech amid coronavirus

The need for point-of-care imaging for lung and cardiac complications among COVID-19 patients has led to a flurry of expedited FDA reviews.

By Nick Paul Taylor • May 14, 2020

AdvaMed pushes US to lift tariffs on Chinese imports of COVID-19 devices

The trade group wants indefinite exemptions for imaging components and devices used in ventilators, among other items. It also floated a compromise: re-imposing them one year after the pandemic passes.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 30, 2020

FDA encourages remote review of digital pathology slides amid COVID-19

The agency's latest effort to support greater access to medical devices during the pandemic follows a move by CMS that opened the door for pathologists to work away from the lab.

By Susan Kelly • April 27, 2020

FDA moves to boost access to imaging systems during pandemic

The agency is allowing devices to be modified for portable use to enable imaging outside of hospitals in an effort to potentially slow the spread of COVID-19. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 24, 2020

Philips to invest $109M as COVID-19 drives connected care order growth

CEO Frans van Houten said sourcing component parts from affected suppliers has been a challenge amid increasing demand for ventilators, patient monitors and certain diagnostic devices.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 20, 2020

FDA clears Sectra's digital pathology module for primary diagnostics as US market heats up

The clearance will intensify competition in the space initially monopolized by Philips, with big medtechs like Roche aiming to enter. The ability to review images from anywhere may be critical amid the coronavirus pandemic.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 02, 2020

Insightec nets up to $150M for incisionless brain surgery tech

Backed by Koch Industries, the privately held medtech makes non-invasive technology that uses ultrasound to help treat ailments such as essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease.

By Greg Slabodkin • March 09, 2020

FDA OKs 1st AI tool to help non-specialists take cardiac ultrasounds

The De Novo ization comes weeks before the agency will host a meeting on artificial intelligence in radiological imaging.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 10, 2020

Epic takes top award in KLAS survey for 10th year

In imaging, Philips led in the cardiology category, followed by Siemens, Fujifilm and IBM Watson Health.

By Ron Shinkman • Feb. 04, 2020

Major conglomerates 3M, GE, Philips bet on healthcare

The corporate giants' earnings reports this week indicate medical segments are increasingly important to strategy as other businesses decline.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 30, 2020

Virtual, augmented reality in medicine pique FDA's interest

The agency is hosting a workshop Wednesday with representatives from Microsoft, Facebook, Philips and other industry players in hopes of identifying roadblocks to developing more uses of extended reality for medical purposes.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 17, 2020

Fujifilm announces delay to $1.63B buyout of Hitachi's diagnostic imaging arm

Citing COVID-19's impacts as a source of slowdown, Fujifilm said the deal is no longer expected to close in July.

By Maria Rachal • UPDATED: May 28, 2020 at 9:03 a.m.

Medtronic and Elekta form radiation therapy pacts with ViewRay

ViewRay's plans to raise $75 million should help reduce concerns surrounding the company's liquidity, analysts at Jefferies said.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Dec. 03, 2019

MRI screening linked to improved detection of breast cancer

The New England Journal of Medicine study found fewer cases of cancer are missed when MRIs are performed. At the same time, the scans come with a high rate of false positives, calling the utility of additional imaging into question.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Dec. 02, 2019

GE Healthcare bulks up in 3D printing, robotics, patient monitoring

Projecting up to $20 billion in revenues this year, GE Healthcare is aiming to capitalize on the shift toward more precision in patient care with investments in Formlabs, CMR Surgical and Decisio Health.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 02, 2019

Hologic wins FDA approval for AI-based breast imaging tech

The imaging company claims the platform saves radiologists one hour per eight hours of interpretation.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 14, 2019

Canon gets FDA nod for AI tech to enhance CT images

Rising use of CT scans, which expose patients to far more radiation than X-rays, has intensified focus on the risks of the imaging technique, particularly in the pediatric population. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • Oct. 22, 2019

FDA warns dental X-ray supplier over radiation exposure reporting

The agency said Denterprise International didn't report complaints involving patients accidentally exposed to radiation and asked for a retrospective review of all such incidents.

By Susan Kelly • Oct. 16, 2019

ViewRay bucks payment fears in field dubbed 'not dead' yet

The radiation oncology company received eight new orders for its MRI-guided Linac, easily beating Jefferies' forecast. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • Oct. 16, 2019

Radiologists call for ethics guidelines on AI

"AI developers ultimately need to be held to the same 'do no harm' standard as physicians," an international coalition said.

By Rebecca Pifer • Oct. 03, 2019

Lantheus strikes deal to buy Progenics, sparking investor backlash

Velan Capital, a big shareholder in Progenics, accused management of selling at a "massive discount" and preventing investors from being heard.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Oct. 03, 2019

FDA designates AI software meant to boost ultrasound accessibility a breakthrough device

Led by Livongo and 23andMe veteran Andy Page, newly rebranded Caption Health anticipates pivotal data on its tech will be published in early 2020."

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 01, 2019

AI just as effective as docs in medical imaging, study suggests

Still, researchers cautioned that the data is sparse and warned against sweeping conclusions, noting "the narrow public body of work comparing AI to human physicians."

By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 25, 2019

Zimmer Biomet dental unit to distribute Invisalign maker's intraoral scanners

The multinational agreement gives Zimmer Biomet a stronger foothold in "the rapidly growing market for digital restorative dentistry solutions," it said.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 20, 2019

NESTcc, ophthalmic imaging first up in FDA medical device 'collaborative communities'

Creation of these groups of manufacturers, payers, regulators, patients and health professionals is one of the device center's 2018-2020 strategic priorities.

By David Lim • Sept. 20, 2019