Hologic builds bone densitometry line

Bone densitometry manufacturer Hologic has added to its holdingsin the modality by acquiring product lines from WalkerSonix andSopha Medical. The products will complement Hologic's existingQDR line of bone densitometers, the Waltham, MA, company saidlate last month.

Hologic bought the ultrasound bone analyzer business of WalkerSonix,a subsidiary of Walker Magnetics Group. The company's technologyuses ultrasound instead of x-rays to measure bone density. Hologicacquired patents held by WalkerSonix, as well as the company'sUBA-575+ product line. UBA-575+ is being marketed internationally,and U.S. sales are awaiting the receipt of 510(k) clearance.

Because ultrasound bone analyzers do not produce ionizing radiation,they do not require a licensed operator and are expected to becomewidely used by office-based physicians, according to Steve Nakashige,Hologic president and COO. Most sales of Hologic's QDR line areto hospitals and large clinics.

Bone densitometry has long been a sideline to Sopha Medical'smore lucrative gamma camera business. Hologic acquired worldwiderights to bone densitometry patents held by Sopha, as well asrights to the installed base of Sopha XRA and XRA-L bone densitometers.Hologic will provide technical and applications support for thisequipment. These Sopha customers will also have the option ofupgrading to Hologic's QDR-4500 Acclaim technology, introducedas a work-in-progress at the RSNA conference (SCAN 12/28/94).