FDA Clears Philips' ROCC for Remote Radiology Operations
Key Insights
Philips secures FDA 510(k) clearance for its Radiology Operations Command Center (ROCC), enhancing remote scanning and protocol management capabilities.
The ROCC system, compatible with various MR and CT systems, connects imaging experts with technologists across different locations.
A pilot study showed a 9% increase in scanning throughput with no exam recalls, demonstrating the system's efficiency.
Philips has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Radiology Operations Command Center (ROCC), enabling remote scanning and protocol management. This clearance allows expert radiologists to provide real-time assistance to technologists, addressing the growing challenge of a shortage of skilled professionals in the field. The system is already in use across North America and Europe.
Enhanced Remote Capabilities
The newly cleared remote scanning capabilities of ROCC allow experts to modify MR and CT scanner consoles from any location in real time. This feature is complemented by on-demand chat, voice, and video collaboration tools, ensuring privacy and security. The system is designed to work with any magnetic resonance (MR) or computerised tomography (CT) system, connecting imaging experts in a central command center with technologists at various locations within an organization.
Efficiency and Impact
A pilot study conducted at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London reported a 9% increase in scanning throughput and no exam recalls, highlighting the efficiency of ROCC. Shiv Gopalkrishnan, Business Leader Patient Care Informatics at Philips, stated that healthcare providers are increasingly challenged by a lack of skilled technologists to meet the demand for patient imaging exams, especially complex ones like cardiac MR. He added that the 510(k) clearance of ROCC's remote capabilities further empowers clinicians to deliver timely diagnoses and better care for more patients.
Upcoming Demonstration
Philips is set to demonstrate the ROCC at the upcoming Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting in Chicago from December 1-4, 2024. The company will also unveil its next-generation BlueSeal 1.5T MRI system at the meeting.