Vital Image’s 3-D imaging systems sales soar

The popularity of 3-D imaging systems is rising, and one of the modality’s developers, Vital Images, has sales to prove it.

Vital Images’ revenue for first quarter 2000 (ending March 31) rose 30% to $2.3 million from $1.7 million compared to the first quarter of 1999. In addition, revenue from software license agreements for first-quarter 2000 increased 40% to $1.5 million from $1.1 million in the same period a year earlier.

The company’s losses decreased from a year ago. Vital Image’s net loss in the first quarter of 2000 was $665,000 compared to $765,000 in the first quarter of 1999.

Vital Images provides 3-D imaging software for use in clinical diagnosis, surgical planning, and screening applications. The company considers Vitrea its flagship product for 3-D imaging. This software program is used for surgical planning and noninvasive diagnostic evaluation of CT and MR images.

Along with new ways to visualize, Vital Images creates tools that automatically measure the blood vessel lumen so as to calculate the size of a stent to be implanted. Last month, Vital Images participated in a symposium in Boston at which major imaging companies addressed the challenges of developing hardware, imaging software, and contrast agents (SCAN 4/26/00).

Vital Images will increase its sales force to keep up with the demand, said Albert Emola, president and CEO.