U.S. Department of Defense announces purchase of more than 100 portable DR systems from Virtual Imaging

Canon U.S.A. announced this week that the United States Department of Defense has purchased more than 100 portable digital radiography (DR) systems from Virtual Imaging, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon. The Department of Defense, looking to “upgrade from their previous aging devices,” said the RadPRO Soltus 100M Mobile Digital X-Ray Systems were selected in part because of their smaller, compact size.

“When we were looking to upgrade our imaging technology, we were looking for a system that would help us respond to emergencies in the field with speed and efficiency,” Diego Gomez-Morales, biomedical equipment specialist for the United States Army Medical Materiel Agency, said in a statement. “The portable digital radiography system met the essential characteristics of our requirements, including being easy to transport and able to provide us with high-quality images with a fast turnaround time—two elements that are crucial for military medical units. This new imaging system will help us reduce our operations cost, improve logistics and, most importantly, help save lives.”

In the same statement, Tsuneo Imai, president of Virtual Imaging and vice president and general manager of Canon U.S.A.’s healthcare solutions division, said every second counts when it comes to providing medical care for the U.S. military. “In the ever-present life-or-death situations of the battlefield, it is vital that medical technicians have the tools that they need to make a diagnosis as soon as possible,” Imai said.

The portable DR systems will be covered by 24/7 technical support provided by Virtual Imaging during “standard business hours” and by Canon Information Technology Services at all other times.

Michael Walter
Michael Walter, Managing Editor

Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.

Around the web

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.

The all-in-one Omni Legend PET/CT scanner is now being manufactured in a new production facility in Waukesha, Wisconsin.