Agfa Announces New IMPAX For Orthopedics Image and Information Management Products for Orthopedics.

Health/Medical Writers

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.--(BW HealthWire)--Feb. 13, 2002

Agfa Corporation introduced IMPAX(R) for Orthopedics, its powerful Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) solution designed for orthopedic surgeons today at the annual meeting of the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons being held February 13-17 in Dallas, TX.

Continuing the strategy of creating beneficial impact through healthcare IT, Agfa's IMPAX for Orthopedics is a complete digital workflow solution that integrates Agfa's specialty display station, the IMPAX OT3000(TM), with other Agfa software and hardware to help orthopedic specialists manage their patients' images and medical information. The system enables orthopedic surgeons, working from the convenience of a dedicated workstation in their office or hospital department, to prepare for surgery and measure radiographic outcomes with unmatched power and flexibility. This powerful solution improves efficiency, workflow, and controls costs and delivers the right information at the right time presented the right way.

The components of IMPAX for Orthopedics consist of:

-- IMPAX OT3000, a specialty display station that allows the orthopedic surgeon
to select from a library of digital templates of prosthesis devices and
electronically overlay them on an image. Built-in software tools enable the
surgeon to calibrate images and match implant templates to the true size. As a
result, the process of pre-surgical planning and consultation is dramatically
improved. "Radiograph magnification inherently can give an incorrect impression
of anatomical size," stated Lenny Reznik, Agfa's Business Growth Manager,
Informatics, North America. "This may have a negative effect on the selection
of a prosthesis for the affected joint. Agfa is working with all the leading
orthopedec companies to obtain digital copies of templates," Reznik stated,
"and IMPAX for Orthopedics can correct for radiograph magnification, giving the
surgeon an unmagnified view of the patient and prosthesis components during
pre-surgical planning. It enables the surgeon to more precisely measure and
scale implants for joint replacement."

-- Agfa's ADC(TM) (Agfa Diagnostic Center) Computed Radiography, which
digitally captures images. It features unique image processing software and
functionality such as ADC Full Spine/Leg software that allows up to 5 x-ray
images to be "seamlessly" stitched together digitally (with pixel-to-pixel
image matching) to facilitate full body images. This enables the orthopedic
surgeon to make angle and distance measurements across image boundaries,
facilitating "Cobb angle" measurement for scoliosis analysis, for example.
Advantages are:

-- Single exposure

-- Geometric continuity of body parts

-- No taping or manual alignment of body part images

-- One single image for post-processing, PACS or printer

-- Accurate digital measurements and diagnosis on resulting image

-- Other Agfa software and hardware to facilitate management of images and
information of orthopedic patients, such as IMPAX WEB1000(TM) for intranet
distribution of images and pre-surgical plans.

-- Talk Station Voice Recognition system, a complete digital dictation system
that utilizes continuous speech recognition. This system lets users directly
control the entire reporting process, from image interpretation to the final
result, facilitating report turnaround times.

IMPAX for Orthopedics Improves Efficiency, Offers Total Digital Solution "With more than 600 PACS installations worldwide, Agfa is a market leader in digital networks for medical imaging," Reznik noted. "Agfa's acquisitions of global healthcare businesses such as Mitra, the leading developer of imaging and information management systems for the healthcare enterprise, further solidify its position as a worldwide market leader. Agfa's mission is to create positive customer impact through Healthcare IT by delivering the right information, at the right time, presented in the right way," Reznik continued. "Now, Agfa has brought this experience to IMPAX for Orthopedics, the total digital solution that allows the orthopedic surgeon to capture, display, distribute, archive and report images. What's more," he continued, "IMPAX for Orthopedics delivers valuable technical information to the orthopedic surgeon's desktop, enabling them to share images with colleagues and referring physicians and to work more efficiently," Reznik concluded. Other benefits include:

-- Increased patient satisfaction, from potentially faster

diagnosis through rapid transmission and universal

availability of images with remote consultation and

simultaneous review of images.

-- Higher physician efficiency, through in-house image

distribution, which enables orthopedists to view images almost

immediately after processing and provides the ability to call

up comparison images easily.

-- Greater departmental economy, by decreasing the lost film rate

and reducing the time staff spends locating lost films or

repeating exams.

About Agfa

Agfa Corporation is the U.S. subsidiary of the Agfa Group, which ranks among the world's leading imaging companies. Agfa develops, produces and markets analog and digital systems, primarily for the graphics industry, healthcare, non-destructive testing, micrographics, motion picture film, consumer imaging and photography markets. Worldwide sales for 2000 were 5.26 billion Euro. In the U.S., Agfa is headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, and employs nearly 4,000 people. Product and company information may be found at www.agfa.com.

AGFA, the Agfa-Rhombus, ADC, IMPAX, OT3000 and Web1000 are trademarks of Agfa Corporation or its affiliated companies. TalkStation is a trademark of Talk Technology, Inc. Copyright(c)2002, Agfa Corporation. All rights reserved.