Final NICE diagnostic guidance on the EOS 2D/3D X-ray imaging system calls for the system’s health benefits to be further investigated in clinical research settings.

The new system (pictured) from US company EOS Imaging uses low-dose radiation imaging to produce 2D X-ray images and 3D reconstructions for bones.

Its innovative slot-scan technology, scanning a line at a time rather than taking the entire image at once, enables it to produce upright and weight-bearing whole-body images.

By showing relationships between the spine, hip, pelvis and knees, the EOS system could particularly benefit the monitoring and treatment of patients with spinal deformities or alignment problems.

The system’s reduced dose also offers potential safety advantages in the repeated imaging of patients with spinal deformities, especially children.

The new guidance encourages the use of the 2D/3D imaging system in specialist research settings to collect evidence about clinical benefits associated with weight-bearing whole-body imaging and 3D reconstruction.

Professor Carole Longson, Director of the NICE Health Technology Evaluation Centre, said: “The EOS 2D/3D imaging system was identified by the Diagnostics Advisory Committee as an important emerging technology. There is evidence showing comparable or better images and radiation dose reduction associated with using the EOS system to image patients with spinal deformities.”

However, she said, there is currently no evidence that compares the diagnostic accuracy of the EOS system with that of conventional radiological examinations. “NICE will follow up the Diagnostics Advisory Committee’s research recommendations on the EOS 2D/3D system and will assess the feasibility of this research with a view to facilitating the development of further relevant evidence.”

Full data sets evaluating the system’s benefits will trace the outcome of its use from planning through to complex surgeries such as hip replacements.

Marie Meynadier, CEO of EOS Imaging, said: “The EOS 2D/3D imaging system is subject to an extensive programme of research associating radiologists and orthopaedic surgeons. We will provide data to NICE as they are established to determine when a cost-effectiveness review based on this evidence would be appropriate.”

The new external assessment centres recently announced by NICE will help to develop and facilitate research products to assist suppliers when NICE medical technology or diagnostics guidance recommends it.

A new ultrasound scanning technology that enables accurate tissue characterisation, improving the management of cancer, has won the 2011 Frost & Sullivan Europe Technology Innovation Award.

Belgian company Advanced Medical Diagnostics (AMD) has won the award for its development and commercialisation of the HistoScanning technology, used in treatment of prostate cancer.

Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Darshana De said: “Prostate HistoScanning is an innovative ultrasound-based application that utilises advanced tissue characterisation algorithms to visualise the position and extent of tissue suspected of being malignant in the prostate gland.”

He added that “its design is quite unique and superior to other ultrasound-based technologies.”

The technology offers comparable efficacy to MRI in cancer detection while having greater ease of access and use. Clinical studies have shown that it can detect significant cancer lesions with 93% sensitivity.

De noted: “Prostate HistoScanning offers the simplicity of ultrasound and results that are comparable to MRI in a format that can be made available to all patients in the physician’s office.”

More than 7,000 patients in the EU have undergone Prostate HistoScanning, which has been shown to reduce the number of prostate biopsies by 30% through its ability to make biopsy procedures more selective.

“This technology is serving an unmet need in the management of cancer patients and therefore has the potential to significantly change the current clinical pathway and reduce overall costs,” De commented.

Applications of HistoScanning could be extended to detection of breast cancer and other solid tumours.

The Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognise companies that have shown outstanding achievement and performance. The Technology Innovation Award is based on assessment of the uniqueness of a new technology, its relevance to industry and its impact on new products, functionality and customer value.