healthcare – Fujifilm Corporate Blog

Girls’Day2023 – 12 Girls, 12 INSTAX cameras and many new Experiences

Empowering women in a male-dominated sector such as healthcare and science in general is one of our goals at Fujiflm Europe because we believe in the power of diversity and inclusivity at the workplace.

Therefore, we can proudly share that we welcomed 12 young girls between 12 and 15 years old at our Fujifilm Europe Headquarters in Ratingen, Germany for Girls’Day 2023. The goal was to inspire and motivate the next generation of female leaders to break the gender gap in technical and scientific fields, the so-called STEM (science, technology, engineering & mathematics) professions.

Girls’ Day is an annual event that aims to increase the proportion of women in male-dominated fields and reduce the shortage of skilled workers in the industry. It is a day that is designed to provide young girls with the opportunity to explore a variety of STEM careers, interact with female role models, and gain hands-on experience in technology and science.

Through small games, test and feel of some of our products, especially those from our healthcare department, as well as a few theoretical background information, we wanted to show these girls what a career in this field could entail. Of course, they also had the opportunity to get an exclusive tour of our Open Innovation Hub to learn more about Fujifilm’s evolution from a camera-based company to shifting its focus to the healthcare sector.

It was not only a new and great experience for us as a company, but also our young visitors have made some unique experiences which might help them to decide which career path they would like to choose in the future.

Fujifilm’s success at the European Congress of Radiology 2023

In early March we attended the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2023, and it was a pleasure to see you all in Vienna, sharing the latest innovations and news from the world of imaging. The exhibition was a great success, and it was great to see delegates returning in good numbers to this renowned radiology event.

We welcomed a high number of delegates onto the Fujifilm’s booth, where we showcased several new additions to our imaging and healthcare IT portfolio, launching products that spanned an increasing range of clinical areas and technologies. Throughout the event, on-site application specialists and product managers offered interactive demonstrations of our comprehensive portfolio such as the newly released advanced ultrasound system – the ARIETTA™ 750 DeepInsight™ .

The event was also the perfect opportunity for Fujifilm to highlight and demonstrate features of products that will be arriving soon. For example, the visitors to the booth could learn how the next-generation ECHELON™ Synergy MRI scanner uses AI technology to rapidly obtain high quality images. Also, they could learn about the SCENARIA™ View Focus Edition CT scanner, which is equipped with the workflow accelerating SynergyDrive™ automation suite. Additionally, it is equipped with an advanced cardiac motion correction feature that helps clinicians obtain clearer images of the heart, even with the most challenging rhythms.

Our general x-ray digital modalities area also got their share of attention, with live demonstrations of the FDR Cross hybrid c-arm, a solution for Fluoroscopy and Radiography in a single platform. The FDR D-EVO III G80i digital X-ray Longview detector that improves efficiency and effectiveness in orthopaedic and spinal procedures, thanks to its ultra-lightweight, long image area and wireless capabilities. A comprehensive range of modality AI support tools were also on display, showing how AI at the point of x-ray can improve decision-making and allow improved triage of patients, allowing more effective and efficient use of resources.

Over in the booth’s Ultrasound Corner, attendees of our ‘Meet the experts’ events enjoyed first-class talks hosted by field specialists, covering topics such as the clinical usefulness of new ultrasound technologies in radiology. Here the benefits of the DeepInsight™ range were revealed, as well as ultrasound imaging techniques for the assessment of diffuse liver disease. The Women’s Health Corner was equally full of activity, with regular discussions on recent advances in mammography screening and Fujifilm’s new Comfort Comp feature – an innovation that provides a more comfortable breast imaging experience – for the Amulet™ Innovality™ mammography system.

The Fujifilm satellite MR symposium also proved a hit, with the audience treated to leading experts exploring the latest opportunities provided by cutting-edge MRI technologies. Prof. Dr. med. Jürgen Biederer – a thought leader in this area – chaired thrilling discussions on topics such as the widespread benefits of open scanners, and the safe management of patients with passive implants on vertical field scanners.

ECR 2023 saw a special visit from Teiichi Goto, President and Chief Executive Officer at FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, to the Fujifilm booth. Goto-san saw the hard work and dedication that went into every aspect of our presence at ECR 2023, and even enjoyed touring the booth to receive an overview of the portfolio and key products on display.

Bring on ECR 2024, where we will be exhibiting the diagnostic imaging solutions we are continually developing and adapting to address ever-evolving issues in the healthcare sector. With a commitment to taking on healthcare challenges together, we are already looking forward to bringing our future innovations back to Vienna next year.

Celebrating International Day of Radiology (IDoR)

Every year on Nov. 8, we celebrate International Day of Radiology.

This year, on the 127th anniversary of Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen’s discovery of the X-ray, we would like to tell you about Interventional Radiology.

The genesis of interventional radiology can be credited to Charles Dotter, a pioneer vascular radiologist who first discussed the idea of interventional radiology in 1963 (1). He suggested that an innovative approach to the use of an angiographic catheter could have important therapeutic implications. The last few decades have witnessed exponential growth in the field of interventional radiology and medical devices, including the development of diagnostic imaging techniques, embolization and tumor ablation techniques and arterial stents and grafts, etc.

Fujifilm has introduced various dedicated modalities and minimally invasive technological tools over the years to facilitate the fast and stress-free image-guided treatment of medical conditions.

Breath- In harmony with nature for the future of health care

Breath – what is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of it? Nature, the feeling when fresh air flows into the lungs, a clear blue sky and letting your gaze wander to the horizon? Perhaps you feel liberated and weightless the longer you open yourself to the impressions of nature.

In today’s world, this feeling of being free in a natural environment is often becoming harder and harder to achieve. Unfortunately, the health sector is not yet the first place where one would expect a relaxed and calming atmosphere connected to nature. But here it seems even more important to connect with nature on closer inspection.

MRI scan stressful for paediatric patients? Not with the help of Little Lucy!

To undergo an MRI scan can be a stressful experience for paediatric patients. The good news is that this doesn’t have to be that way. Preparing the children for the upcoming scan is an important element to mitigate stress, fear, and anxiety. How? With a little help of the young patients’ new best friend: Little Lucy.

Stress factors of paediatric patients undergoing an MRI scan

Before looking at how the stress of young patients who have to undergo an MRI scan can be reduced, let’s first look at the factors causing the stress:

Often, children experience stress before the MRI scan actually takes place. They are afraid of the big machine and of the noise it makes.
Sometimes they are scared to lay in the narrow space.
Also, having to lay still during the scan can be both boring and fatiguing for them.

All in all, enough factors that can cause the young patients stress and enough reason to find a way to reduce it.

How to mitigate children’s ‘MRI scan stress’?

The above-mentioned stress factors can luckily be reduced. Not only by using the new(er) MRI systems, such as the OASIS^TM and APERTO Lucent Plus^TM,which, compared to the traditional MRI systems, are more open and silent, but also by preparing the children for what they can expect of the MRI scan. By playfully introducing them to all the steps involved in undergoing an MRI scan, the children will feel more comfortable and at ease. This is exactly the reason FUJIFILM Healthcare started Project Little Lucy.

Little Lucy helps children to be prepared for the MRI scan

Project Little Lucy is built around the illustrated story ‘The great adventure of Little Lucy’. It is about a small bear who gets hurt and undergoes an MRI scan. In the story, Little Lucy bravely goes through her medical examination, just like real little patients. She learns how the examination takes place and intrigued, asks the doctors many questions about the device.

The book includes colouring pages and is accompanied by gadgets such as pencils, soft toys and a shirt, as well as with graphics for the walls and devices. While reading and playing, the children identify with Lucy’s experience and will learn what they can expect. When the examination is over, the children leave with their ‘Brave Patient’s Diploma’. Everything to keep the little ones busy, make the wait in the waiting room more pleasant and to round off the examination on a positive note.

Learn more about stress-free MRI scans for paediatric patients

Like you, FUJIFILM Healthcare aims to mitigate stress in children that need to undergo an MRI scan. Don’t we all want them to feel comfortable and safe in medical facilities? Learn more about Project Little Lucy and our paediatric MRI and other medical imaging systems here.

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World Cancer Day 2022

World Cancer Day – every 4th February – is a global initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). Starting more than 20 years ago, World Cancer Day has grown into a positive movement for everyone to face one of our greatest challenges in history. By raising global awareness, improving education and collective action, we are all working together to reimagine a world where millions of lives can be saved through preventive care and access to life-saving cancer treatment is equitable for all.

While we live in an era of impressive advances in healthcare – from artificial intelligence to hyper-technological devices – many of us seeking cancer treatment encounter barriers at every turn: income, education, geographical location and discrimination. That is why the Union for International Cancer Control has chosen as the theme for this year’s World Cancer Day, #ClosetheCareGap. To raise awareness of this gap that affects people all over the world, in both high- and low- and middle-income countries.

And we, at Fujifilm, are also promoting this initiative. For years, our goal has been to find solutions for society’s problems. One of the main goals of our Sustainable Value Plan 2030 is to improve access to healthcare globally, reduce the burden on patients by providing innovative solutions for medical imaging and enable early detection of diseases using AI and IT.

Last year – on 4 February 2021–we inaugurated NURA*, a Fujifilm cancer screening center in India. Its cancer screening program includes 10 tests, including breast cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer. With NURA, our vision is to introduce the culture of regular health screening. We will continue to support the development of healthcare by providing state-of-the-art products and services that help improve the health and quality of life of people around the world to #CloseTheCareGap.

*In partnership with Dr Kutty’s Healthcare