Newly completed research now quantifies reduced set-up and infusion time in automated FDG infusion for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging procedures. Comparing manual to automated infusion, process improvements enabled by automated FDG infusion reduced set-up time by an average of 26.39 minutes a day (22.92%). Infusion time was reduced an average of 4.91 minutes per procedure (42.31%).¹
Researchers at the University of South Florida performed 51 injections manually and compared these results to the results of 50 injections performed through automated infusion with the Intego™ PET Infusion System. Process mapping was performed and time duration data was collected for each step of the process. Steps affected by automated infusion were divided into set-up and infusion, and a comparison between the two techniques was performed.
The Intego System can improve workflow by eliminating manual steps in the preparation and handling of patient doses through design that incorporates a multi-dose FDG vial and dose-on-demand technology. Intego also provides safety and accuracy benefits by reducing radiation exposure from dose preparation and infusion by at least 20% and infusing FDG within +/- 2% of the measured dose.
*Standard deviation on the infusion process was 5.56 min for manual injection and 1.04 for Intego injection.
¹Yalcin, A; Eikman, E; Rico, F; “Impact of Intego PET Infusion System on the PET Imaging Process at Moffitt Cancer Center”; USF Department of Industrial Engineering & H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center; Dec 2009. Research supported by MEDRAD and submitted for presentation at 2010 SNM Annual Congress. DF-111333