Practices, imaging centers, and hospital radiology departments continue to keep an eye on expanding their service lines and market reach. In part, this expansion is an effort to counteract the negative effects of declining reimbursements while meeting demands to provide better care. Mergers and acquisitions, as well as the procurement of equipment,

RAD-Planning has issued an advisory for imaging centers in the path of Isaac in the Gulf Region, which forecasts predict will soon become a hurricane.

Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. received FDA clearance on its new Vantage Titan 1.5T series, which features the 8-, 16- and 32-channel MR systems. The series offers a scalable solution with a full upgrade path from the 8-channel to the 32-channel system.

Siemens Healthcare has entered into an agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Penrith Corporation of Plymouth Meeting, PA., a manufacturer of integrated ultrasound imaging systems. The deal is expected to close in September 2012.

Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. has received FDA clearance for its high-density 16-element flexible coil system, developed in partnership with NeoCoil.

Siemens Healthcare announced that the MAGNETOM Spectra 3 Tesla MRI system has received clearance from the FDA. The MAGNETOM Spectra system offers premium imaging at a competitive price, providing hospitals and radiological institutes with easier access to 3T technology.

The global market for X-rays will top $9 billion by 2017, according to "Medical Imaging Markets,” a new report from TriMarkPublications.com.

On the exhibit floor, more vendors discussed new partnerships than new technology, turning the exhibits into a kind of Game of Thrones (without the prurient interest), with alliances forming daily.