Mammography

Digital system tries to crack European marketSwedish IT and medical technology company Sectra is increasing its stake in the digital mammography market. Sectra is investing $11.6 million into Stockholm-based Mamea Imaging,

Computer-aided detection, initially restricted to mammography, is entering the functional imaging arena. CTI Molecular Imaging is showcasing CAD technology during the RSNA meeting on its Reveal PET/CT scanners, as well as the Reveal MVS PET/CT workstation. Under a recently inked exclusive agreement with R2 Technology, CTI has begun offering the first commercially available CAD system for multidetector CT examinations of the chest.

R2 Technology has unveiled at the RSNA meeting a robust version of computer-aided detection technology programmed to find colon polyps. The company plans to take this latest iteration of CAD, first shown at the 2002 RSNA meeting, to the FDA in next year.

R2 Technology has introduced at the RSNA meeting its new dual-mode ImageChecker, a single computer-aided detection unit that can process analog and digital mammography images simultaneously.

The FDA has cleared for marketing three computer-assisted detection technologies developed by iCAD: iDM, which works with Fischer Imaging's SenoScan full-field digital mammography system; iAD, a full-featured stand-alone unit, and iQ, a low-cost

The FDA has approved the use of CADX Systems' Second Look Digital computer-aided detection system as an integral part of Fischer Imaging's SenoScan TrueView full-field digital mammography system. The agency had approved the two systems previously for

CADx Systems has received approval from the FDA for its Second Look Digital and Second Look AD computer-aided detection systems. The approval paves the way for the technologies to be integrated with GE's Senographe 2000D full-field digital mammography

A deal announced July 31 between women's health equipment vendor Hologic and R2 Technology calls for the integration of the CAD pioneer's ImageChecker into Hologic's Lorad Selenia full-field digital mammography system. The agreement grants Hologic

By Greg Freiherr, Editor, gfreiherr@cmp.comWe tend to look at technology as a problem solver. And in many instances it is. Faster, cheaper, better solutions are natural

Production of full-field digital mammography systems is hitting its stride at Hologic. The company has shipped its 25th Lorad Selenia FFDM to the University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles. Selenia will serve in

If all goes according to plan, Siemens Medical Solutions will soon begin marketing a full-field digital mammography system. The company announced April 7 the submission of an application to the FDA for its Mammomat NovationDR. The submission must

Software developer iCAD launched CAD software at the European Congress of Radiology that is designed for use with full-field digital mammography systems. The product, called CompanionCAD, evolved as part of a joint R&D program involving iCAD and Fischer

Hologic and Agfa have finalized an agreement under which Hologic will manufacture a digital mammography system to be private-labeled and distributed by Agfa in certain international markets. The system, which Agfa will call Embrace, will be built around

The first prototype of Siemens' new full-field digital mammography system has been installed at the University of California, Los Angeles, Iris Cantor Center for Breast Imaging. The experimental system, called Mammomat NovationDR, is built around an

The first company to commercialize a full-field digital mammography system and the first to deliver mammography CAD have renewed their alliance. GE Medical Systems (Waukesha, WI) and R2 Technology (Sunnyvale, CA) announced Dec. 12 that R2's ImageChecker

The Swedish company Sectra has opened an office in the U.K. to meet growing demand from British hospitals for IT support to process digital radiology images. The office will also promote Sectra's digital mammography system. Sectra has already installed

A printer optimized for high-resolution, full-field digital mammography has entered the Agfa product line. The high-resolution 508 ppi images produced by the new unit, Drystar 4500 M, enable the viewing of subtle gray-scale changes, which is vital in the

Hologic teams with R2 to integrate CADSome three months after receiving an approvable letter from the FDA, Hologic has won final approval from the regulatory agency to sell its advanced digital mammography system in the U.S. The

Programmers model normality to find pathologyThe development of algorithms that define disease is an established route in computer-aided detection. Some might argue it is the only route. But not Image Metrics. In sharp contrast to

GE Medical Systems is producing a mobile version of its Senographe 2000D digital mammography system. The mobile configuration includes the full-field digital system, an acquisition workstation for image review, and a patient changing area. The University

Five-year deal calls for technology sharingThe deal is done. Hologic and Siemens have finalized their partnership in digital mammography, cementing mutual sourcing agreements for components of a full-field digital system that were

The FDA issued Hologic an approvable letter in mid-July for its Lorad Selenia digital mammography system. The full-field product is based on an amorphous selenium detector plate developed by Direct Radiography, which Hologic purchased three years ago.

FOV and instant imaging minimize errorsMammography depends as much on operator skill as technology. Poor positioning directly affects image quality, reducing the chance for breast cancer detection and accurate staging. Certain

Detector for digital mammography delayedTrixell is ramping up production of its Pixium 4800, a dedicated digital detector for cardiac catheterization. Philips Medical Systems is already building the detector into its Integris

Full-field digital mammography (FFDM) has a slight edge over conventional screen-film systems when characterizing microcalcifications, according to German researchers. FFDM came out on top when compared to screen-film mammograms of patients with

Computer-aided detection software developed by R2 Technology can now be marketed as an integral part of the GE Senographe 2000D full-field digital mammography system, following FDA approval. This is the latest step in R2's pioneering efforts to make CAD

Hologic hopes to enter a strategic alliance with Agfa to help develop its amorphous selenium digital mammography system. The collaboration, which could be finalized in the next several months, would leverage Agfa's strength in image processing

Hologic exec declares new product DOAJust as one arm of Hologic prepares to begin marketing the company's finally approved full-field digital mammography system, another is preparing to make the product obsolete. Hologic announced

A powerful national computing grid designed to advance breast cancer screening and diagnosis has been established by the University of Pennsylvania. The National Scalable Cluster Project supplements the National Digital Mammography Archive ( see

The wait for the digital mammography market to take shape may finally be over. Fischer Imaging has joined GE in selling full-field digital units in the U.S., and Hologic, with an