Positron Secures PET-CT Orders
Positron Corporation, a molecular imaging technology company, announced the sale of four PET-CT scanners to three prominent nuclear cardiology practices. The sales include associated long-term service agreements for the advanced cardiovascular diagnostic equipment.
- Positron's NeuSight PET-CT scanner is a 64-slice machine that combines the anatomical detail of a CT scan with the metabolic information from a PET scan. This allows physicians to see not just the structure of the heart, but also how it's functioning, such as blood flow and tissue health. - The technology behind PET scans involves injecting a patient with a radioactive tracer, which is a substance like glucose that has a radioactive component attached. Areas of the body with higher metabolic activity, such as cancerous cells or active heart muscle, will absorb more of this tracer and appear as bright spots on the scan. - In cardiology, PET-CT scans are considered a "gold standard" for assessing myocardial viability, which is determining if heart tissue is alive but dormant ("hibernating myocardium") and could benefit from procedures like bypass surgery or stenting. This helps doctors decide the best course of treatment for patients with coronary artery disease. - Nuclear cardiology is a subspecialty of cardiology that uses noninvasive imaging techniques to visualize heart function and blood flow. Unlike an invasive angiogram, these tests can help diagnose heart disease by showing how well blood is reaching the heart muscle. - The field of nuclear cardiology involves a team of professionals with different educational paths. A Nuclear Cardiologist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) with specialized training in both cardiology and nuclear medicine. They work alongside Nuclear Medicine Technologists, who typically have an associate's or bachelor's degree and are responsible for operating the scanning equipment and administering the radioactive tracers to patients. - Positron recently raised $2 million in funding to support the commercial expansion of its PET-CT imaging systems, including product development and regulatory activities. - The company's NeuSight PET-CT scanner is designed to be a more cost-effective option, making this advanced cardiac imaging technology more accessible to a wider range of hospitals and clinics. While their primary focus is on cardiac applications, the technology is also used for oncology and neurology imaging. - A career as a Nuclear Cardiology Technologist offers a blend of patient interaction and technology. Their day-to-day responsibilities include preparing patients for scans, operating the imaging equipment, and ensuring the quality of the images for the cardiologist to interpret.
