COMPARISON CHART

PACS

Customers Are Happy,

But Looking for More
By Helen Kuhl

Participants
Agfa
www.agfa.com

Intuitive Imaging
Informatics
www.intuitiveimaging.com

AMD Technologies
Inc.

McKesson

www.digitalams.com

www.mckesson.com

Avreo Inc.

Medweb

www.avreo.com

www.medweb.com

BRIT Systems

Merge Healthcare

www.brit.com

www.merge.com

Candelis

Novarad Corp.

www.candelis.com

www.novarad.net

Carestream Health

PACSPlus

www.carestream.com

www.pacsplus.com

Cerner Corp.

Philips Healthcare

www.cerner.com

www.healthcare.philips.com

CoActiv Medical

RamSoft Inc.

www.coactiv.com

www.ramsoft.com

DR Systems Inc.

ScImage

www.dominator.com

www.scimage.com

Fujilm Medical
Systems USA Inc.

Sectra
www.sectra.com

www.fujimed.com

Siemens Healthcare
GE Healthcare

www.medical.siemens.com

www.gehealthcare.com

Visage Imaging
Innitt North
America

www.visageimaging.com

www.innittna.com

Viztek
www.viztek.net

Integrated Modular
Systems Inc.

Voyager Imaging

www.imsimed.com

www.voyagerpacs.com

Intelerad
www.intelerad.com

Scranton Gillette Communications

obtained the product specications from
the manufacturers.

24

May 2012 | itnonline.com | Imaging Technology News

icture archiving and communication

systems (PACS) have been around for
more than 20 years, and todays marketplace includes a lot of satised customers who recognize the many benets
they have gotten from them. The PACS market has
achieved a stage of maturity and a track record of
documented benets savings from eliminating lm,
faster turnaround times that leave electronic health
record (EHR) advocates envious, said a recent KLAS
report, PACS 2011: A Victim of its Own Success.
But as providers start to consider replacing
current systems, they will be looking for even more,
as changes in healthcare are creating the need for
additional features. Typically, some of the challenges
people are seeing today is trying to get a radiology PACS system to act as an enterprise archive or
vendor-neutral archive, that is, some type of imaging
archive that can help image-enable an electronic
medical record (EMR), said Ben Brown, author of the
KLAS report. To launch a PACS from an EMR is not all
that unique, but the way the radiology PACS works
with regard to workow and utilization by other
departments is not always seamless.
While it might not be the driving force behind
replacing a PACS, EMR image enablement is going to
be an important consideration when choosing a new
system, Brown noted. With worries about inuences
like reimbursement reductions, Stage 2 meaningful
uses proposed inclusion of imaging, and other legislation, providers are concerned with how the PACS
can improve radiology workow.
Brown said as they look to replace their systems,
providers want a whole slew of forward-thinking
tools to enhance workow, such as dose tracking
modules integrated into the PACS; voice recognition
systems; business intelligence tools like management reporting, radiology department analytics and
critical results; teaching les; advanced visualization,
etc. Even though most providers are happy with
their current PACS vendor, the KLAS report said
when it comes to replacement, they will need to be
convinced their supplier can provide such tools or
they will look elsewhere.
Providers will look for a vendor with a proven
record of ongoing, consistent development and
investment in R&D, Brown said. Vendors will have to
keep moving forward with innovations in technology
imaging, including improved workow for technologists, administrators and referring physicians, as well
as radiologists. They also will need improved imaging workow for dierent clinician specialties, like
womens imaging versus cardiac, for example.
Brown foresees a steady pace of replacements

PHOTO COURTESY OF CARESTREAM HEALTH

...vendors must be
seen as innovators and
partners that can provide
solutions into the future.
happening, especially at the high end of the market
(i.e., larger hospitals) and in situations where radiology groups are working with multiple clinics and
hospitals. To stay in the game, vendors must be seen
as innovators and partners that can provide solutions into the future. As noted in the KLAS report, As
demand for imaging innovation evolves, so do the
technology requirements for vendors wanting to win
business in the PACS replacement market.
Right now, with some vendors, development is
slow and commitments arent followed through,
Brown said. Such vendors will not be seen as a desirable long-term partner.
A PACS vendor does need a lot of courage and
nancial stability to be able to make the leap into a
new generation, no matter how much proof there is
that the current generation is a dead end, Sectra said
in an article, Key Considerations When Replacing
Your RIS/PACS, disseminated at RSNA. The vendor
also needs to be able to see past current buzzwords
and see the true need driving the buzz. A truly futureproof vendor does not act on buzz but stays on top
of trends to be able to deliver customer-driven development when its needed. itn
For more information about the KLAS report, visit
www.KLASresearch.com.

Comparison chart compiled by

Imaging Technology News
Scranton Gillette Communications assumes
no responsibility or liability for any errors or
omissions in this chart.

Comparison Chart Compiled by Imaging Technology News

Scranton Gillette Communications assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in this chart.
Editors Note: All submitted information also appears on our website at www.ITNonline.com.
Company

Agfa

AMD Technologies Inc.

Cerner Corp.

CoActiv Medical

DR Systems Inc.

www.avreo.com

www.brit.com

www.brit.com

www.candelis.com www.carestream.com www.cerner.com

www.coactiv.com

www.dominator.com

Catella PACS Cloud

interWORKS PACS

Roentgen Files

Roentgen Works

ImageGrid PACS

Vue PACS

ProVision PACS

Exam-PACS

Exam-Browser

Exam-Essentials

Unity PACS

Unity RIS

11

17

10

New

20

12

25

10

320

10

390

150+

70

75

2+

42

186

186

Unknown; we
target clinics, small
hospitals, private
practice

Unknown; we
target clinics, small
hospitals, private
practice

Comm. hospitals
32%, imaging
centers 52%,
orthopedics 8%,
radiology 5%,
other 4%

N/S

N/S

N/S

RHIO 10%; hospitals:

large 10%, medium
50%, small 10%,
imaging centers 20%

N/S

Medium hospitals
40%, small
hospitals 30%,
imaging centers
20%, large
hospitals 10%

Medium hospitals Orthopedics 40%,

multi-physician
100%
practices 25%,
chiropractics 25%,
veterinary 10%

Ambulatory /
imaging centers
40%, comm.
hospitals 40%,
large acute care
hospitals 20%

Ambulatory /
imaging centers
40%, comm.
hospitals 40%,
large acute care
hospitals 20%

Mammo, ortho,
Impax RIS,
TalkStation, SMMS, 3-D, scheduling,
MWL, RIS
Audit Manager,
advanced clinical
applications, XERO

Mammo, ortho,
3-D, scheduling,
MWL, RIS

Avreos RIS
available in
interWORKS RIS/
PACS

RIS, HIS, EMR,

QC, speciality
workstations

RIS, QC
Workstation,
Roentgen Burner

None

Standard (HL7,
DICOM, IHE) based

Customizable
launch platform

Any HL7 RIS or

EMR; speech
rec.; tools for
ortho, nuke med,
mammo, cardio,
virtual colonosc.

Any HL7 RIS or

EMR; speech
rec.; tools for
ortho, nuke med,
mammo, cardio,
virtual colonosc.

Unity RIS,
Unity CVIS, Unity
womens health
imaging

Unity PACS,
Unity CVIS, Unity
womens health
imaging

Does your company oer turnkey

solutions, software only or both

Both

Both

Both

Both

Both

Turnkey, including
ASP models

Turnkey solutions

Both

Turnkey solutions

Both

Turnkey
Browser-based,
requires no added
hardware or
software

Both

Both

What is your primary system design

(Web-based, client / server, etc.)

Web-based
service oriented
architecture

Client / server with Internet-based

web viewers

Web-based

Web-based thin
client and thick
client / server
architecture

Browser-based
architecture, built
on an Unbutu
cluster

Client / server

Web-enabled
architecture

Java Webdeployable

Web-based

Browser-based

Web-based

Web-based and
client server
architecture

Web-based and
client server
architecture

What is / are your primary OEM

hardware provider(s)

HP, Sun / Oracle,

EMC

Dell

Dell

HP

Dell, EMC,
JetStor, Barco, Eizo,
Primera, Vidar, Carestream, Konica

Dell, EMC, JetStor

Dell

Sun, Dell, HP, EMC,

IBM, Totoku

HP, IBM

Dell, HP

N/A

Dell, HP

HP, Dell, Dome,

EMC, vmWare,
IBM, NEC, Rimage

HP, Dell, Dome,

EMC, vmWare,
IBM, NEC, Rimage

Storage: DAS (direct attached storage),

NAS (network attached storage), SAN
(storage area network)

Yes

All types

All types

DAS, NAS, SAN

DAS and SAN;

NAS is not recommended

DAS, SAN, cloud

Integrated RAID5
archive

DAS, NAS, SAN

SAN

All, plus cloud

All, plus cloud

All, plus cloud

All

All

Number of upgrades / year

Avg. 1 upgrade, 10
updates

Unlimited

Unlimited

Approx. 1

N/S

N/S

At least 1

At least 1

At least 1

Every 12-18 mo.;

quarterly updates

Every 12-18 mo.;

quarterly updates

Brokered or broker-less RIS interface

(or both)

Both

Both

Both

Broker-less to
non-Avreo RIS

Broker-less

Broker-less

Both

Both

Broker-less

Broker-less

N/A

Broker-less

Broker-less

Broker-less

IHE (Integrating the Healthcare

Environment) standards

Yes, multiple
workows
supported

Yes

Yes

No, but we
monitor standards
heavily

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

N/S

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

DICOM encapsulation to attach

non-DICOM les: (PDF, JPEG, TIFF, etc.)

Stored to Impax
Data Center

Yes

Yes

None

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Clients can store all Yes

types of media

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Images are stored / compressed /

uncompressed (please specify)

Lossless
compressed default; customer
can alter settings
at a modality level
to opt for lossy
compression

Customerspecied

Customerspecied

Store all images

at no more
than lossless
compression for
the lifetime of the
study

DICOM lossless

DICOM lossless

Both, usercustomizable

User-selectable,
lossless or lossy

Clientcongurable

Images acquired
at lossless, digital
mammo stored
at lossless; other
modalities stored
at various levels
of JPEG-lossy

Images acquired
at lossless, digital
mammo stored
at lossless; other
modalities stored
at various levels
of JPEG-lossy

Images acquired
at lossless, digital
mammo stored
at lossless; other
modalities stored
at various levels of
JPEG-lossy

User-selectable,
compressed or
uncompressed,
lossless or lossy
DICOM

User-selectable,
compressed or
uncompressed,
lossless or lossy
DICOM

Local archive: Server level / archive level

Yes

Both local and

server

Cloud-quard
redundant

Yes, all levels

supported

Local archive
synchronizes to
central archive,
local server
supports multiple
levels of
compression

Locally DICOM
uncompressed
or lossless
compressed,
archive local or
remote, including
DR levels

Scalable RAID5

Locally yes, archive

yes

Clientcongurable

Images acquired
at lossless; digital
mammo stored
at lossless; other
modalities stored
at various levels
of JPEG-lossy

100% cloudbased application

Both
Images acquired
at lossless; digital
mammo stored
at lossless; other
modalities stored
at various levels of
JPEG-lossy

Long-term archive (please specify)

Yes

On-line, near term

Cloud-quard
redundant

Varies on customer Archive storage

is DICOM lossless;
needs, partner
typ. storage is DAS,
with InSite One
SAN with dup.
server and a tape
backup

Archive storage
is DICOM lossless;
typ. storage is
DAS, SAN or cloud;
single level of
storage

Local RAID / osite

cloud

SATA, DVD, tape, CAS

Clientcongurable

Cloud-based
vendor-neutral
quad-redundant
archiving

Cloud-based
vendor-neutral
quad-redundant
archiving

Cloud-based
vendor-neutral
quad-redundant
archiving

Support capture of static color images?

Dynamic color images (30 fps)? If less,
identify frame rate. Cine playback

Yes

Static, 30 fps,
playback

Static, 30 fps,
playback

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

All, plus mammo

Yes

Yes, all, 30 fps, yes Yes, all, 30

fps, yes

Yes, all, 30 fps, yes Yes

Yes

Document scanning is supported

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Supports
attached DICOM
les

Yes

Yes

Yes

Web-enabled viewer: PACS, RIS,

mammography

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes
User can view
DICOM, nonDICOM images side
by side

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Tracking module

Yes

No

Yes

Yes, via partner

software

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes and bookmarking

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

3-D viewing

Yes

Yes, optional

Yes, optional

Yes, via partner

software

Yes

Yes

Yes

Native with analysis

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, optional

Yes

Yes

Hanging protocols

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes in 2-D and 3-D

Advanced single
click

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Series linking

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes and by volume

Automatic

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

MIP / MPR

Yes

Yes, optional

Yes

Yes, in Version 7

Yes

Not with browser

only

Yes

Yes and volume

registration

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, optional

Yes

Yes

How many monitors does it support

4 diagnostic +1
SVGA

Limited only by
operating system

No software limit

Up to 5

Multiple monitor
support

4+

N/A

2+

Up to 4 per
workstation

Up to 4 per
workstation

Additional features that make it unique

Large volume
study navigation

Reporting, ortho
/ chiro tools, auto
log-o

QA, QC, matrix,

reporting, ortho
/ chiro tools, auto
log-o

1 application /
database, Webbased, no ActiveX
or Java

Critical results
reporting, voice
recognition,
complete
workow solution
also available as
individual modules, Web-based
image viewing

Critical
results reporting,
DoctorWorks iPad
viewing app,
cloud-based VNA,
supports multisites in a single
cluster

Voice recognition

Native dictation that

can embed analysis

N/S

Integrates with
DICOM-compliant
modalities,
allows for versatile monitor
congurations,
cloud-based
vendor-neutral
quad-redundant
archiving

Supports simultaneous users in

dierent locations
and a full range of
modalities, 100%
cloud-based, no
local software
installation
required for
operation

Aordable
plug-and-play
PACS, basic local
burning of patient
exam CD / DVDs,
opt. cloud-based
vendor-neutral
quad-redundant
osite archiving

Peer review,
critical results
tracking, priors
link, mammo
interpretation, link
multiple patient
IDs, auto worklists,
unied worklist

Web-based
scheduling
and ordering,
real-time eligibility checking,
diagnostic reporting and speech
recognition,
mammo tracking

Intel

Yes

Min. specs, user

can dene

Min. specs, user

can dene

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes: E5504 / E7540

Recommend
Nehalem

Varies by model

Not required

Varies by model

Intel Xeon, 6-core

Intel Xeon, 6-core

MHz

OTS

Min. specs, user

can dene

Min. specs, user

can dene

Xeon processor
and above

Varies

Varies

N/S

2-2.4 GHz

2.4 GHz min.

Varies by model

Not required

Varies by model

2.4 GHz

2.4 GHz

MB

OTS

Min. specs, user

can dene

Min. specs, user

can dene

4 GB

Limited by
architecture only,
Unix

Limited by
architecture only,
Unix

N/S

8-64 GB

6 GB min.

Varies by model

Not required

Varies by model

8 GB DDR3 RDIMM

9 GB DDR3 RDIMM

Power rating (VAC)

OTS

Min. specs, user

can dene

Min. specs, user

can dene

Varies

Varies

Varies

N/S

100-240 VAC

Varies

Varies by model

Not required

Varies by model

90-269 VAC

91-269 VAC

Wattage (W)

OTS

Min. specs, user

can dene

Min. specs, user

can dene

Varies

Varies

Varies

N/S

250-1,100 W

Varies

Varies by model

Not required

Varies by model

650 W

651 W

Website

www.agfa.com

www.digitalams.com

Product name

Impax

Catella PACS 5.0

Number of years oering current PACS

product line (same name)

19

15

Approximate number of clients installed

in 2011 (1 system equals 1 client)

475 U.S., 1,200+

globally

Percentage of primary target market

where PACS currently installed

Large / medium
60%, small /
imaging centers /
comm. hospitals
30%, orthopedics
10%

What proprietary software integrates

with your PACS

Avreo Inc.

N/A = Not applicable N/S = Not specied

Brit Systems

Candelis

Carestream Health

Any HL7 RIS or

EMR; speech
rec.; tools for
ortho, nuke med,
mammo, cardio,
virtual colonosc.

PRODUCT BACKGROUND

INTERFACES

DVD, disk array,

NAS, SAN, CAS

Both

DVD, disk array,

NAS, SAN, CAS

PRODUCT FEATURES

CPU and MEMORY

Imaging Technology News | itnonline.com | May 2012

25

COMPARISON CHART
PACS
Company

Fujilm Medical Systems USA Inc.

GE Healthcare

Integrated Modular Systems Inc.

Innitt North America

Intelerad

Intuitive Imaging Informatics

McKesson

Medweb

Website

www.fujimed.com

www.gehealthcare.com

www.imsimed.com

www.innittna.com

www.intelerad.com

www.intuitiveimaging.com

www.mckesson.com

www.medweb.com

Product name

Synapse PACS

Centricity PACS

Centricity PACS-IW

imsiPACS

Innitt PACS

Innitt Smart-Net

IntelePACS

InteleOne
distributed radiology
solution

ImageQube

Horizon Medical
Imaging

Cloud PACS

PACS

Number of years oering

current PACS product line (same
name)

10

20

5 (When GE acquired
Dynamic Imaging)

12

25

19

20

Approximate number of clients

installed in 2011 (1 system
equals 1 client)

3,000 globally

N/A

N/A

10

300+

120

N/S

N/S

N/S

2,500

100

1,100

Percentage of primary target

market where PACS currently
installed

10%

17% of the global

market

17% of the global

market

Unknown

Comm. hospitals
67%, large hospitals 22%, imaging
centers 11%

Small hospitals
35%, imaging
centers 47%,
physicians oces
18%

N/S

N/S

N/S

21%

10%

30%

What proprietary software

integrates with your PACS

Open API and patented compression

and image processing

EMR, adv. vis., VR,

ortho, peer review

EMR, RIS, adv. vis.,

VR, ortho, mammo,
peer review

imsiINTEGRATOR

Innitt RIS,
mammo, cardio,
Xelis 3D

Innitt RIS,
mammo, cardio,
Xelis 3D

Fovia HDVR,
M*Modal,
PowerScribe,
RadWhere, PACSgear, Convergent,
Traumacad

Fovia HDVR,
M*Modal, PowerScribe, RadWhere,
PACSgear, Convergent, Traumacad

Any standards-based software

Horizon Cardiology,
Horizon Study Share,
McKesson Radiology
Manager, Horizon
Medical Imaging
Collaboration

Any-to-Any

Any-to-Any

Does your company oer

turnkey solutions, software
only or both

Both

Both

Both

Both

Both

Both

Software only

Software only

Both

Both

Both

Both

What is your primary system

design (Web-based, client /
server, etc.)

Web-based

Client server and

Web-based

Web-based

Web-based

Web-based

Web-based

Web-enabled,
distributed
architecture

Web-enabled,
distributed
architecture

Web-based and on-site

Web-based smart
client

Web-based

Client / server

What is / are your primary OEM

hardware provider(s)

Dell, HP, IBM, HDS, EMC, vmWare

HP, Dell, vendors

like EMC, Nexan,
Assureon

HP, Dell, vendors

like EMC, Nexan,
Assureon

ACER, Proteon, Dell, HP

HP, Dell, EMC,

Hitachi, vmWare

HP, Dell, EMC,

Hitachi, vmWare

Dell, HP, IBM

Dell, HP, IBM

Dell, HP, SuperMicro

HP, Dell, IBM

HP, Dell

HP, Dell

Storage: DAS (direct attached

storage), NAS (network
attached storage), SAN (storage
area network)

DAS, NAS, SAN or Grid

DAS, NAS, SAN

DAS, NAS, SAN

All

NAS, SAN, DAS or

osite disasterrecovery

Cloud-based
storage

All

All

NAS primarily, SAN possible

Yes

All

All

Number of upgrades / year

1 major, 2 minor

2-3

2-3

1 major, 2 minor

1 major, 2 minor

N/S

Brokered or broker-less RIS

interface (or both)

Broker-less

Brokered

Broker-less

Broker-less

Broker-less

Broker-less

Broker-less

Broker-less

Broker-less

Both

Broker-less

Broker-less

IHE (Integrating the Healthcare

Environment) standards

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

IHE-compliant

Yes

Yes

Yes

DICOM encapsulation to
attach non-DICOM les: (PDF,
JPEG, etc.)

No, native

Yes

JPEG, TIFF

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Images are stored / compressed

/ uncompressed (please specify)

Lossless and lossy

Compressed

Compressed, JPEG
2000

Both

User-selectable
lossless / JPEG
2000 lossy

User-selectable
lossless / JPEG
2000 lossy

JPEG streaming
and archived
lossless

JPEG streaming and

archived lossless

Compressed 3:1 lossless

Both, nonproprietary,
display compression
user-selected

Either

Either

Local archive: Server level /

archive level

Tier one cache

Both

Server level

Both

Locally yes, archive

yes, osite disaster
recovery

Local cache
optional

As desired

As desired

Either

Yes to all

Both

Both

Long-term archive (please

specify)

Disk, grid or portable media

Onsite, remote,
cloud-based

Onsite, remote,
cloud-based

Spinning disk and hosted archive

All online

All online

DAS, SAN, NAS,

tape

DAS, SAN, NAS, tape

Spinning disk and / or tape

Multiple

Up to 21 years

Up to 21 years

Support capture of static color

images? Dynamic color images
(30 fps)? If less, identify frame
rate. Cine playback

30 fps and color cine

Static color and cine

playback

Static color and cine

playback

Yes to all

Yes, 30 fps, yes

Yes, 30 fps, yes

Yes

Yes

Both, adjustable cine

Yes to all

Yes to all

Yes to all

Document scanning is
supported

Yes, natively

Yes

Yes

Yes, vendor-neutral

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Web-enabled viewer: PACS, RIS,

mammography

Yes, natively

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, plus cardio

Yes, plus cardio

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Tracking module

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, critical
results

Yes, critical results

Yes, workow ags

Yes, via partner

software

Yes

Yes

3-D viewing

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, native

Yes, native

Yes

Yes, VTRIP + third

parties

Yes

Yes

Hanging protocols

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Flexible,
sequenced

Flexible, sequenced

Custom and generic

Staged hanging
protocols

Yes

Yes

Series linking

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

MIP / MPR

Yes, natively

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, native

Yes, native

Built-in

Yes, via VTRIP module

Yes

Yes

How many monitors does it

support

Up to 5

1-4 per workstation,

unlimited per
system

1-6 per workstation,

unlimited per
system

Up to 5

Up to 5

Unlimited

Unlimited

Up to 5

2 plus auxillary

Unlimited

Unlimited

Additional features that make

it unique

N/S

Full desktop
integration with VR,
mammo

SmartLoading,
referring MD access,
mammo

DICOM worklist server

Single database
RIS / PACS /
mammo / cardio
/ 3-D

Cloud-based, ASP
fee-per-study
nancing

Peer review,
physician portal,
MPI, analytics,
chat, tomosynthesis

Peer review,
physician portal,
MPI, analytics, chat,
tomosynthesis

Runs any OS / remote PET fusion /

critical results

N/S

Completely
Web-based

Ultimate in
thin-client

Intel

Intel or AMD

Contact sales for

specs

Varies by
conguration

Scalable by number of users

Customer preference

Customer preference

Yes, multicore
64-bit

Yes, multicore 64-bit

Client preference

2.6 GHz Core 2 quad,

16 GB RAM

Yes

Yes

MHz

2 GHz

Contact sales for

specs

Varies by
conguration

Scalable by number of users

As available

As available

Varies

Varies

Need appropriate

4 GB RAM

Dependent on
server size

Dependent on
server size

MB

8 GB

Contact sales for

specs

Varies by
conguration

Scalable by number of users

2 GB RAM min.

2 GB RAM min.

Varies

Varies

Wide range of options

N/S

Dependent on
server size

Dependent on
server size

Power rating (VAC)

120

Contact sales

Varies by
conguration

Scalable by number of users

N/S

N/S

Varies

Varies

N/S

N/S

Dependent on
server size

Dependent on
server size

Wattage (W)

N/S

Contact sales

Varies by
conguration

Scalable by number of users

N/S

N/S

Varies

Varies

N/S

N/S

Dependent on
server size

Dependent on
server size

PRODUCT BACKGROUND

INTERFACES

PRODUCT FEATURES

CPU and MEMORY

26

May 2012 | itnonline.com | Imaging Technology News

Comparison Chart Compiled by Imaging Technology News

Scranton Gillette Communications assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in this chart.
Editors Note: All submitted information also appears on our website at www.ITNonline.com.

N/A = Not applicable N/S = Not specied

Merge Healthcare

Novarad Corp.

PACSPlus

Philips Healthcare

RamSoft Inc.

ScImage

Sectra

Siemens Healthcare

Visage Imaging

Viztek

Voyager Imaging

www.merge.com

www.novarad.net

www.pacsplus.com

www.healthcare.philips.com

www.ramsoft.com

www.scimage.com

www.sectra.com

www.medical.siemens.com

www.visageimaging.com

www.viztek.net

www.voyagerpacs.com

Merge PACS

NovaPACS

NovaPro

PACSPlus

IntelliSpace PACS

PowerServer PACS

PicomEnterprise

Sectra PACS

Breast Imaging
PACS

syngo.plaza

Visage 7

Opal-Rad PACS

Voyager PACS

11

12

13

11

15

13

18

10

15

300

620

34

200

38

35

>300

1,100

1,100

>100

Dozens

350

32

12%

Comm. Hospitals 45%,

large hospitals 15%,
imaging centers 27%,
clinics 9%, orthopedics
3%

Radiology groups 100%

30%

Up to 20%, depending on
calculation methodology

Ambulatory care
90%, acute care 10%

N/S

Installed
worldwide and
market leader
in Scandinavia

Installed
worldwide and
market leader
in ANZ

Hospitals, IDNs

Emerging market

Imaging centers and

hospitals 60%, private
practices 40%

Small, medium and

large hospitals, imaging
centers

Agfa Talkstation, Epic,

Dolbey, Meditech, Nuance PowerScribe 360,
peerVue, PACSGear,
OrthoView

NovaRIS, NovaScan,
Enterprise Archive,
NovaMG, NovaMotion,
MPR, MIPS, teleradiology, cardio, NovaCapture,
NovaVault, total archive
and orthopedic PACS

NovaRIS, NovaScan,
Enterprise Archive,
NovaMG, NovaMotion,
MPR, MIPS, teleradiology, cardio, NovaCapture,
NovaVault, total archive
and orthopedic PACS

HIS, RIS, EMR

RIS, CPACS, EMR, adv. clinical,

collaboration, communication, workow apps. and
complete modality portfolio

Dragon Medical,
Powerscribe, Voxar,
TraumaCad, MedImage, TeraRecon,
MagView, MRS,
PenRad, ORS

Popular apps for

3-D CT, 3-D echo,
NM QGS / QGS,
ortho templating

See Sectra
CSN program
at sectra.
com/csn

See Sectra
CSN program
at sectra.
com/csn

RIS, adv. vis., CAD functionalitysupported from external

software

Numerous workow,
reporting, EMR and portal
technologies

Any HL7 compliant

system

CD burning stations,
DMWL, scanning,
teleradiology, etc.

Both

Both

Both

Both

Fee-per-study or capital
purchase turnkey solutions

Both

Both

Both

Both

Both

Software only

Turnkey solutions

Both

Web-based

Web-based

Web-based

Both

Client server architecture

with Web-based enterprise
image distribution

Web-based

Web-based

Web-based

Web-based

Client / server, Web-enabled

Server-side processing,
render server(s)

Web-based

Web-based and client

server

Dell, Barco, Eizo, EMC,

HP, NetApp, Vidar

Dell, Totoku

Dell, Totoku

HP, Dell, etc.

IBM

Dell, Double Blac,

Eizo

Dell, HP, IBM

Dell, HP, EMC

Dell, HP, EMC

Primarily HP

HP, Dell

Dell

Non hardware-specic

DAS, NAS, SAN

DAS, NAS, SAN

DAS, NAS, SAN

All

DAS and NAS with data

always online

All

Based on customers preference

Supports
any NTFS le
system

Supports
any NTFS le
system

DAS, SAN for short-term storage, NAS for long-term

DAS, SAN

DAS

All

Updates every quarter,

new releases every 18
months

Updates every quarter,

new releases every 18
months

1 or 2 years

Typically 1 major release

1, updates as
needed

1 major

1 major

2 major, multiple minor

Major quarterly
upgrades, several performance modications

Broker-less

Broker-less

Broker-less

Both

Broker-less

Broker-less

Both

Broker-less

Broker-less

Both

Broker-less

Both

Broker-less

SWF, XDS.b, PIR, CPI,

ARI, KIN, SINR, CT,
ATNA, PDI, XDS-I with
Merge iConnect

Yes

Yes

Yes, not certied yet

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Numerous

Already in practice

Yes, partial and continue

to implement

Yes with 3rd party

integration

Yes

Yes

Yes, by gateway

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

3rd party

YES

Yes

Both, JPEG 2000

lossless and lossy, JPEG
14, JPEG 01

Primary: full delity / no

compression; short-term:
minimal compression;
long-term: higher level
lossless

Primary: full delity / no

compression; short-term:
minimal compression;
long-term: higher level
lossless

Compressed

iSyntax technology platform

takes advantage of lossless
2.5:1 compression for storage
purposes

Compressed,
congurable by the
customer

Either / or, or both

Supports all
and each are
congurable

Supports all
and each are
congurable

DICOM JPEG 2000 or JPEG,

optional lossy for LTA

Both

Compressed, with OpalCompression technology

JPEG 2000

Server level

Images stored at all

levels - locally, archive
and disaster recovery

Images stored at all

levels - locally, archive
and disaster recovery

Depends on user

Images stored locally with

backup at osite disaster
recovery center

Yes, server level and

archive level

Either / or, or both

Both

Both

Yes, all levels

Yes

Server level

All data stored online

Merge iConnect VNA

Two onsite 7-year

archives; PACS incl.
osite real-time emer.
backup

Two onsite 7-year

archives; PACS incl.
osite real-time emer.
backup

Depends on user

RAID-distributed NAS with

disaster recovery

RamSoft Gateway
Router, NAS, osite

Customers media
preference, VNA

Yes, all instant

online

Yes, all instant

online

Vendor-neutra, based on
network shares

Yes, native or integrate to

third-party VNA

Server level, with osite

backup and disaster
recovery options

All data stored online

Yes, both static and

dynamic 30 fps

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes to all

Static or dynamic,
mono / color, with
30 fps cine

Yes to all

Yes to all

Yes

Cine, static and dynamic

color playback (30 fps)

Yes, supports cine loop

playback at up to 70 fps

Yes to all

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, via third-party vendors

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, also via RIS

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Powerful app, FDA mammo

Yes

Yes with PACS

Yes with critical results,

RTWL ED discrp. trackn

Yes

Yes

Third vendor

Yes, via API integration

No

Built-in RIS
functions

Yes

Yes

In RIS

No

Yes

Includes logging and

visual results

Yes, fully integrated

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, native

Yes

Yes

Yes

Native, auto-hang

Yes

Yes, with Voxar

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, exible

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

N/S

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Native, auto-hang

Yes

Yes

1 to 5

4+ possible

4+ possible

Up to 5

Up to 4

Up to 4

Up to 6

Up to 5

The amount that the

windows device will
acknowledge

Typically 3-4

Fully integrated PET /

CT / MR / NM fusion

Rad. dose monitoring,

integrated voice
recognition, enterprise
cloud-based clinical
archive, lifetime software
/ hardware obsolescence
and refresh, advanced
hanging protocols, auto
report distribution

Radiation dose monitoring, integrated voice

recognition, enterprise
cloud-based clinical
archive, lifetime software
/ hardware obsolescence
and refresh, advanced
hanging protocols, auto
report distribution

N/S

iSyntax technology and

patient history timeline

PET / CT fusion, color

mapping, cong.
mouse settings,
physician portal,
study alerts, mgmnt
reports, unltd
worklists, users,
facilities, reporting
and templates

Multi-department
PACS, platform
independent viewing, Web-enabled
reporting

Workload
sharing across
multiple sites

Supports
breast tomo
images

Zero-click integration with

advanced visualization
syngo.via

Fast, enterprise diagnostic

viewer with native
advanced visualization,
Mac, mobile

Completely Web-based,
fastest streaming
technology oered, and
zero-footprint iPad /
tablet device software

N/S

Intel Xeon dual quad

cores

Dependent on customer
requirements

Dependent on customer
requirements

General PC

Yes, multi processor and

multicore

Intel / AMD

Yes

Yes

Yes

1-2 quad cores and more

Yes

e5606

Intel / AMD

2.66 GHz

Dependent on customer
requirements

Dependent on customer
requirements

General PC

2.4 GHz min.

Dual core 1.8 GHz,

dual core 2.8 GHz
or higher recommended

Nominal

1,000 (workstation)

1,000 (workstation)

At 2 GHz

N/S

2.4 GHz

Standard single, dual,

quad

12 GB DDR3

Dependent on customer
requirements

Dependent on customer
requirements

General PC

Dependent on system size

4 GB RAM

Nominal

1,000 (workstation)

1,000 (workstation)

8 MB second level cache

N/S

6 min.

4 GB+

115-230 VAC, 50-60 Hz

Dependent on customer
requirements

Dependent on customer
requirements

General PC

110-240 V

120 / 240 V

110 V typical

Any

Any

HW specic

N/S

Standard

Standard

500-1,100 W

Dependent on customer
requirements

Dependent on customer
requirements

General PC

Dependent on system size

1,000 W

Nominal

500+

500+

HW specic

N/S

Standard

Standard

Imaging Technology News | itnonline.com | May 2012

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