ATL and Vital Images ink 3-D deal

Ultrasound vendor ATL of Bothell, WA, and 3-D software developerVital Images of St. Paul, MN, have agreed to collaborate in developing3-D ultrasound technology based on volume-rendering algorithmsdeveloped by Vital Images for its VoxelView workstation (SCAN2/14/96).

ATL last year introduced 3-D Color Power Angio, a techniquefor the vendor's HDI 3000 scanner that creates volume-rendered3-D images from digital cine loop acquisitions without the needfor additional hardware (SCAN 11/22/95). Vital Images will developa next-generation volume-rendered 3-D technology that will befaster and more powerful than 3-D CPA, according to Vital Imagespresident Andrew Weiss.

The technology to be developed by Vital Images and ATL maybe used as either part of an ATL scanner, as 3-D CPA is, or asan off-line 3-D workstation to be marketed by ATL. ATL has exclusiverights to Vital Images technology within the ultrasound industry,Weiss said.