Medicsight PLC Announces Agreements for Global Distribution of Three Medical Imaging Software Products
London, November 23 (ots/PRNewswire)
- Agfa, Vital Images, and Viatronix to Use Medicsight Software
Medicsight Inc.'s (OTC Bulletin Board: MSHT) majority owned
subsidiary, Medicsight PLC ("Medicsight"), announced today that it
has signed letters of intent with Agfa-Gevaert N.V. and Viatronix and
a commercial agreement with Vital Images for global distribution of
Medicsight's medical imaging software products. These agreements are
the first of their kind for Medicsight and represent a major step
forward in the company's plans to commercialize its advanced imaging
technology on a worldwide basis. The intent is to incorporate
Medicsight's software into the three companies' existing product
offerings."The letters of intent and commercial agreement are major milestones for Medicsight in reaching our goal of being the leading global supplier of medical imaging analysis software," said Paul Samuel, Medicsight CEO. "We look forward to working with Agfa, Vital Images, and Viatronix to integrate our software into their systems. We believe these partnerships demonstrate the significant value of the Medicsight software and clearly show how our software can differentiate existing offerings of imaging companies."
Medicsight's software will be demonstrated at the exhibitor booths of Agfa, Vital Images, and Viatronix during the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The RSNA trade show opens Nov. 28 and runs through Dec. 3 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
"Integrating the Medicsight portfolio in our market leading solution fits into our strategy of offering best-of-breed solutions to the radiologist and clinician through intelligent strategic alliances," said Etienne Vanderstokker, head of Medical Imaging Technologies, Business Group Healthcare, Agfa. "It's a successful and award-winning strategy that has been fully appreciated by the market and has strengthened Agfa's capability to penetrate new markets and to remain on top of technological innovations."
Vital Images will be integrating Medicsight's Colon CAR(TM) software into its CT colon product InnerviewGI(TM). "We are excited about further enhancing our colon offering with Medicsight's CAR image-analysis technology," said Jay D. Miller, president and chief executive officer, Vital Images. "This partnership together further demonstrates our commitment to the oncology marketplace and more specifically to the application of virtual colonoscopy."
The letter of intent signed by Viatronix and Medicsight includes Medicsight's Lung CAR(TM) and Colon CAR(TM) software. "We believe computer assisted read (CAR) technology provides an important tool for the radiologist and greatly enhances their diagnostic capability," said Zaffar Hayat, CEO and president of Viatronix Incorporated. "The integration of Medicsight's Lung and Colon CAR software with our products will greatly complement our advanced medical imaging solutions."
The Medicsight products covered by these agreements are:
- Medicsight Colon CAR(TM), an image-analysis software tool designed to
be used with CT (computed tomography) colonography (virtual
colonoscopy) to assist radiologists in searching for and measuring
potential colorectal polyps. Colon CAR 1.2(TM), which uses
Medicsight's Computer Assisted Reader (CAR) technology to deploy a
series of filters against image data derived from CT colonographies,
received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in
October 2004. Colon CAR(TM) is the first joint-read software product
available for CT scans of the colon.
- Medicsight Lung CAR(TM) (Computer Assisted Reader), an image-analysis
software tool that assists radiologists in evaluating lesions or
nodules found during CT scans of the lung. Medicsight Lung CAR 1.1(TM)
received FDA clearance in August 2004. Lung CAR(TM) is the first joint-
read software product available for CT scans of the lung.
- Medicsight Heart Screen(TM), an update to the company's MedicHeart
1.0(TM) heart imaging software that features a newly designed user
interface. Medicsight Heart Screen is an image-analysis software tool
for CT scans that assists radiologists and cardiologists in identifying
and quantifying coronary artery calcification.Samuel said Medicsight would continue to pursue other distribution agreements as well. "We're looking for quality partners who share our vision of taking software beyond detection to diagnosis and patient management and who can help broaden our reach in the marketplace," he said. "We will also continue to focus on deepening our established relationships."
About Agfa
The Agfa-Gevaert Group is one of the world's leading imaging companies. Agfa develops, manufactures and markets analogue and digital systems, intended mainly for the graphics industry and the healthcare markets.
Agfa's headquarters are in Mortsel, Belgium. The company is active in 40 countries and has agents in another 100 countries throughout the world. Together they achieved a turnover of 4,215 million euros in 2003.
Product and company information can be found on Agfa's home page on the World Wide Web at: http://www.agfa.com.
Agfa, the Agfa rhombus, IMPAX and See More. Do More. are trademarks of Agfa-Gevaert N.V., Belgium or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
About Vital Images
Vital Images, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a leading provider of advanced medical imaging software for use in disease screening applications, clinical diagnosis and therapy planning. The company's technology utilizes high-speed volume visualization and analysis, as well as network communications based on DICOM and Internet protocols. Vital Images cost effectively brings advanced visualization and analysis into the day-to-day practice of medicine. Press releases, examples of advanced medical imaging and other corporate information are available on Vital Images' Web site at http://www.vitalimages.com.
About Viatronix, Inc.
Viatronix is a leading innovator and developer of diagnostic 3D imaging software, which enables physicians to interactively view patients' vital organs and anatomical structures. The Viatronix PACS-integratable V3D-Explorer has patent protected technology that enables 3D visualization of organs from patient data acquired by standard imaging equipment via minimally invasive or non-invasive methods. The Viatronix V3D-Colon allows physicians to interactively view the colon reconstructed from a CT scan, providing visualization of the inner surface of the colon, including polyps. The Viatronix V3D-Calcium Scoring aids physicians in determining the amount of calcium plaque accumulation in the coronary arteries. V3D-Vascular is the latest addition to the V3D System. In seconds, this breakthrough software permits rapid segmentation and visualization of complex arterial structures using 3D volume rendering, maximum intensity projection and simulated x-ray views. Viatronix, through application of its V3D technology, is developing additional innovative products that will be useful for earlier detection of diseases, treatment planning, and follow-up evaluation.
Viatronix, Inc. is located in Stony Brook, NY. For further information, call toll free +1-(866)-887-4636 or log on to http://www.viatronix.com.
About Medicsight
Medicsight is a software development business focused on the medical imaging market. The company is using its core technology to develop automatic detection and analytical tools for clinicians to improve their ability to diagnose and treat disease, initially focusing on three key clinical areas -- lung cancer, colon cancer, and coronary heart disease. Medicsight's software will enable earlier and more accurate detection and treatment of suspicious lesions, which can save lives and reduce healthcare costs. Headquartered in London, Medicsight employs more than 60 people and has offices in the U.K., United States, and China. Product and company information can be found on http://www.medicsight.com. Stock symbol: OTCBB:MSHT.
Web site: http://www.medicsight.com http://www.agfa.com http://www.vitalimages.com http://www.viatronix.com
Contact:
Cara Ramsay, Fleishman-Hillard, +1-314-982-7772, for Medicsight;
David Sumner, +44-20-7598-4080, Medicsight International Marketing
Director, or David Mason, +1-615-665-9007, Medicsight Investor
Relations