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Improved security for the patient! The injector itself remains wireless and mobile! Improved workflow in angiography! Keep track of things! Hauptstrasse 255 · D-66128 Saarbruecken For more info: www.medtron.com Contrast medium injectors and consumables for CT, MRI and angiography For Philips & Siemens angiography devices! NEW: DVI-interface between Accutron® HP-D and monitors European_Hospital_1-4_Seite_HPD.qxp_Anzeige 12.02.16 12:47 Seite 1 RADIOLOGY New technique shows OxLDL in atherosclerotic plaques Exporting more Asian medical imaging devices Identifying a likely heart attack Chinese firm reaches into Europe’s market UK researchers have identified a new approach, which could make it easier to identify fatty plaques that could cause heart attacks or a stroke, Mark Nicholls reports Neusoft Medical Systems, a limited company, is the leading supplier of medical imaging equipment in China, a country with more than 46,000 hospitals. The firm also provides equipment to hospitals in 109 other countries, amounting to 9,000 customers. Now Neusoft reports preparations to tap into European market A team from Imperial College London is using fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) optical imaging technique to determine oxidised LDL (OxLDL) – known to play a major role in atherosclerosis and present in high quantities in plaques most like- ly to lead to a heart attack or stroke. The method proved promising when identifying atherosclerotic plaques in mice models and poten- tially could show how likely an ath- erosclerotic plaque is to rupture in human patients. Once identified doc- tors could then treat those plaques, either with targeted drugs or a stent implanted in the affected areas. Atherosclerosis is the build-up of fatty plaques in arterial walls that lead to the brain or heart. If an atherosclerotic plaque ruptures, it can form a clot, causing either a heart attack or stroke. Over 100,000 people die annually in the United Kingdom after suffering such events. The team’s method to detect and visualise amounts of oxidised LDL (OxLDL) in atherosclerotic plaques involves near infrared optical imag- ing. For this, the researchers experi- mentally used a specially designed antibody that targets OxLDL, adding ‘China remains our home market and is definitely our largest base of cus- tomers, yet we have expanded with great success establishing opera- tions not only across Asia but in South America, South Africa, and the Middle East,’ Neusoft Medical Systems CEO Patrick Wu pointed out. The company is now turning strongly to building on a customer base in North America, he said, and this year he will oversee the opening in Frankfurt of a direct subsidiary operation for Europe, with a special focus on Germany. ‘Europe is a highly competitive market with very well established companies, and arguably, Germany is the toughest place to compete. Perhaps for this reason, we want to go there first, to put our systems up against the best,’ Wu explained. ‘Yet, our strategic approach is not to compete against big companies at big medical centres,’ he added. ‘Instead, our focus in Europe is on private imaging centres, and there are about 2,000 of these in Germany alone. We can offer an excellent product portfolio for smaller community hospitals, as well. In this segment of the German market, we can help them meet their need for high performing imaging systems while at the same time help- ing them to meet demanding budget requirements.’ Last year, at a German clinic, Neusoft installed its flagship product NeuViz 128 CT a 128-slice scanner that was launched in May 2015. At this reference site the company is also able to showcase a second prod- uct in its scanner line, the NeuViz 64, a 64-Slice CT System. For smaller hospitals, Neusoft also extended the NeuViz CT product line to include a premium performance 16-slice system, as well as the NeuViz 16 Classic. Building on proprietary technol- ogies and an in-house research and develop- ment expertise for CT, the expanded NeuViz product line includes variations on a unique dual- slice CT system and the NeuViz Twin. Software technology is a core com- petitive strength for the company, as it is an integral part of the Neusoft Corporation, the largest IT solutions and services provider in China. As a result, Neusoft Medical Systems has continuously enhanced its imaging technologies with a powerful com- mand of algorithms to improved image quality and accelerate work- flow. The complete Neusoft Medical Systems imaging portfolio includes a range of CT scanners, MRI scanners, diagnostic X-ray and a best-in-class premium ultrasound platform. In oncology, the company has developed a line of linear accelera- tors for radiotherapy, and launched the NeuSight PET/CT worldwide that is both CE certified and approved by the USA’ Food & Drug Administration in January 2016. ‘When we bring together our complete portfolio, Neusoft Medical Systems can present a very com- petitive package,’ said CEO Wu, add- ing: ‘Customers find that we are exceptionally strong with healthcare informatics to support our systems in image processing capabilities and image management, including a cloud-based technology for storage as well as technical support.’ a fluorescent marker to visualise plaque areas that contained large amounts of OxLDL. The first part of the research utilised Fluorescence Molecular tomography (FMT), which is new technology that allows full- body optical molecular imaging of murine models. During a second part of the research, performed with Harvard Medical School, an infrared catheter was used to look inside the artery of atherosclerotic rabbits and detect any fluorescently-labelled antibody. The researchers hope that this approach will make details vis- ible that are usually invisible to doc- tors using current technology to vis- ualise atherosclerotic plaques. They are now working towards using the technique in people and can already detect the human form of OxLDL. Consultant cardiologists and lead researcher Dr Ramzi Khamis: ‘We are excited about this step in the chal- lenging field of optically imaging molecular activity of atherosclerosis. Most of the imaging techniques out there in the clinic look at morphol- ogy, the structural kind of compo- nents of atherosclerotic plaque, and although that tells you quite a lot, it does not tell you about the inflam- matory status or molecular activity of plaque. ‘With this research we’re trying to pick out the plaques that are most likely to rupture before they cause a heart attack. Our next step will be to modify the technique that we’ve used here so that it can be used in patients to detect dangerous plaques. ‘We are also looking at the pos- sibility of using the same antibody that we’ve developed to image the plaque to deliver drugs directly to the plaque itself. So, we have not only found a possible new diagnos- tic tool, we may also have discov- ered a new way to treat this deadly disease.’ Dr Ramzi Khamis is a consultant cardiologist and clinical research fellow at the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College. London. He splits his time between treating patients and translational research, primarily in the area of the immune system and atherosclerosis. Injected LO1-750 (red) homing in to aortic oxLDL deposits underneath stained endothelium (green) LO1-750 (red) identifying oxLDL in a mouse aorta Injected LO1-750 (red) as seen on fluorescence microscopy of rabbit atherosclerosis Injected LO1-750 Identifying oxidised LDL in rabbit aorta with ex vivo intravascular NIRF imaging and fluorescence reflectance imaging. Patrick Wu, the CEO of Neusoft Medical Systems Neusofts flagship product NeuViz 128 CT 21 www.healthcare-in-europe.com European_Hospital_1-4_Seite_HPD.qxp_Anzeige 12.02.1612:47 Seite 1

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