VIDAR Systems Corporation, the worldwide leader in medical film digitizer technology, today unveiled its full release of Clinical Express 3.0 software for mammography. Used with the VIDAR(R) CAD PRO(R) Advantage Film Digitizer, Clinical Express 3.0 allows prior film-based studies to be digitized and then reviewed alongside new studies on digital mammography workstations.

VIDAR's CAD PRO Advantage Digitizer features patented technological innovations that deliver superior image quality, exceptional consistency and repeatability, and increased speed. A study conducted by Johns Hopkins University supports the use of digitizing prior mammography studies for reference and review. According to the study, there were few differences in the ability of radiologists to read mammography films digitized by the CAD PRO Advantage compared with hard-copy originals. The study has been finalized and submitted for Peer Review.

Brian Beardslee, vice president of VIDAR's Medical Business, said the CAD PRO Advantage and Clinical Express 3.0 will play a key role in busy radiology departments as adoption of digital mammography rapidly increases, especially in light of the recent Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (DMIST) that found that digital mammography is more sensitive for some women. "We are committed to identifying and meeting customer needs, backed by clinical studies such as the Johns Hopkins study, which shows that the CAD PRO Advantage produces high-quality images equivalent to film," Beardslee said. "As use of digital mammography grows, so will the need to digitize prior film- based studies for comparison. Clinical Express 3.0 will increase efficiency and radiologists' productivity by providing a high-quality digitized image of prior studies, eliminating the need to compare new digital images on a workstation with the prior film-based studies on a light box."

According to the Johns Hopkins study, 120 mammography examinations were selected from the hospital's Radiology Department film library representing a range of patients who had screening or diagnostic procedures. Eight radiologists interpreted all 120 examinations, half as originals and half as digital images on a workstation. Receiver operator characteristic analysis was performed, with the results showing that there was no statistically significant difference between film and soft copy interpretations.

VIDAR's Advantage product platform features the company's proprietary high-definition CCD (HD-CCD(R)) technology and ADC(TM) (Automatic Digitizer Calibration), offering several key benefits for customers in a variety of specialty areas. The CAD PRO Advantage provides exceptional image quality and includes a film feeder designed for the highest reliability, productivity, and ease of use.

VIDAR Systems Corporation, headquartered in Herndon, Va., is a leader in medical imaging and the number one provider of medical film digitizers worldwide, with more than 12,000 units installed. VIDAR's digitizers are the choice of the leading systems solution providers, including Agfa HealthCare, FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA, Inc., GE Medical Systems, Kodak Health Imaging, PACSGEAR, Philips Medical Systems, R2 Technology, RIT, Scanditronix-Wellhofer, Siemens Medical Solutions, and Varian Medical Systems. VIDAR is a member of the Contex Holdings A/S group of companies based in Allerod, Denmark. For additional information, visit http://www.filmdigitizer.com.

Source: prnewswire