Hologic has extended the CE Mark for its LOCalizer radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag for long-term placement. The tag can now be implanted more than 30 days prior to a breast-conserving surgery, providing even greater flexibility and convenience to patients and providers.
 
The LOCalizer System
The LOCalizer wire-free guidance system is a non-radioactive, radiofrequency localization system designed for precise marking and targeting of lesions in breast-conserving surgery. It was designed to replace the traditional wire-guided localization method. With this new tag, placement can be done weeks or months prior to surgery. For patients, this means they can arrive closer to their surgery time and experience fewer interventional procedures.
 
Following its earlier placement, the miniature implantable tag can be detected on the day of surgery by a portable, handheld reader that indicates the location and distance in mm to the lesion, enabling the surgeon to pinpoint the correct area of breast tissue for removal. Each tag also features a unique identification number that is displayed on the reader. This improved workflow is designed to help reduce scheduling and logistical hurdles for care teams, and aims to deliver added convenience for an enhanced patient experience.
 
“The extension of LOCalizer’s CE Mark is yet another reflection of our commitment to continue to seek innovative solutions that create a more positive experience for both patients and physicians,” said Jan Verstreken, Hologic's regional president, EMEA, Canada & Latin America. “It also represents another way we are working to improve breast health throughout the entire patient journey, including for complex breast conserving surgeries.”
 
Unifi Workspace
In addition to the LOCalizer system, Hologic is also launching Unifi Workspace, a new comprehensive breast diagnostic reading solution, at the upcoming 105th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The multimodality workstation is designed to enable more informed decision-making and improve workflow efficiencies for radiologists.
 
Unifi Workspace integrates reading of MRI, ultrasound, and mammography into one dedicated platform, and is designed to allow for more efficient review of breast images. The new solution features multimodality pre-fetching capabilities and MRI tools, such as MR CAD with subtraction, colorization, and wash-in wash-out curve; MR motion correction; and multimodality-enabled hanging protocols.
 
“Over the years, we’ve listened closely to radiologist feedback on how we could improve the reading experience,” said Pete Valenti, Hologic’s division president, Breast and Skeletal Health Solutions. “Unifi Workspace represents a prime example of how we’ve innovated with the end user in mind. By integrating multiple imaging modalities into one system, this new solution can not only improve workflow efficiencies and patient outcomes, but also significantly reduce costs over time as it eliminates the need for additional workstations. We believe this product is a real game changer for our customers and we’re confident they will agree.” 
 
Unifi Workspace also provides a personalized reading environment for each radiologist in the breast center. With the new system, each user will have the opportunity to create a customized interface with hanging protocols based on his or her individual preferences. As with Hologic’s other products, Unifi Workspace integrates with all of Hologic’s breast health solutions.