FDG Automation Arrives in the United States

 

 

With the PET business booming these days, Medrad Inc, based in Warrendale, Pa, has introduced to the market a product addressing the workflow issues that arise from the influx of patients.
Medrad's Intego PET infusion system is the first in the United States to automate and control the FDG delivery process.

 

Enabling health care providers to administer fluorodeoxyglucose at any time throughout the day, the Intego PET infusion system is the first in the United States to automate and control the FDG delivery process.

 

"FDG PET scanning is one of the most efficient and accurate methods to stage cancer patients," said Alfred Buck, professor of nuclear medicine at the University Hospital in Zurich. With colleague Bruno Weber, Buck co-invented the machine, built the first prototype, and has been using the device at the PET center at his hospital for the last 4 years. The principle was patented and licensed to Medrad.

 

"The number of patients receiving PET scans is steeply increasing," he continued. "With this increased throughput, it is very helpful to have an automatic injection device."

 

The system was developed to enhance the clinician's ability to deliver FDG with accuracy and precision, as well as with safety. It works by automatically extracting a patient dose from a multidose vial and then delivering it directly to the patient. As a result, manual dose preparation and handling is eliminated, as well as radiation exposure for the technologist.

 

"With respect to single-syringe deliveries, the injector is more economical," Buck added. "It allows clinicians to deliver a predetermined amount of FDG to each patient with high accuracy. In this way, one can easily adjust the injected dose to the individual patient according to weight."

 

Specifically, with its dose-on-demand capability, the prescribed dose is delivered when the patient and technologist are ready. This affords technologists an efficient way to respond to schedule changes, patient delays, and add-on patients. More features include real-time dose availability information, an integrated ionization chamber, and an optional weight-based dose calculation. Among the safety features offered are a tungsten multidose vial shield, a fully lead-lined mobile cart, and an automated saline flush to remove residual FDG from the line after each infusion.

 

"With our new Intego system that fully automates FDG delivery, we can once again improve how molecular imaging is done," said Cliff Kress, senior vice president, CT Business Unit.

 

In related news, Medrad is working with FDG suppliers to provide FDG in multidose vials and vial shields that are compatible with the Intego System. The company recently announced a distribution and co-marketing agreement with radiopharmacy network PETNET Solutions, a fully owned subsidiary of Siemens Medical solutions USA Inc.