VIDAR Debuts Next-Generation Film Digitizers At RSNA 2000 Meeting; Enhanced Digitizers Deliver Highest Image Quality & Superior Value.

Business Editors/Health and Medical Writers

CHICAGO--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 27, 2000

VIDAR Systems Corporation, the leading manufacturer of medical film digitizers, today introduced its new line of "plus" digitizers at the 2000 Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The next-generation digitizers feature the latest version of VIDAR's High Definition CCD (HD-CCD(TM)) technology and a new Automatic Digitizer Calibration (ADC(TM)) feature, and are designed to provide optimum performance by consistently delivering the highest quality images.

The product enhancements are featured in VIDAR's SIERRA(TM) "plus," DiagnosticPRO(TM) "plus," and MammographyPRO(TM) "plus" digitizers. The company's proprietary HD-CCD technology has been proven in clinical studies to provide image quality that is equal to or better than that of larger, more expensive laser digitizers. ADC is a new calibration feature that automatically recalibrates the digitizer every five seconds, resulting in superior consistency compared with competitive products.

According to Brian Beardslee, vice president of VIDAR's Medical Business, the product upgrades reflect VIDAR's ongoing commitment to exceptional quality. "Our customers will continue to experience the benefits they have come to expect from VIDAR digitizers," Beardslee said. "Our efforts have resulted in a line of next-generation digitizers that blend unsurpassed image quality with the highest reliability and lowest costs. When combined with the increased productivity associated with VIDAR digitizers, these enhanced systems represent superior value for healthcare providers."

Beardslee said that the company's goal is to make sure existing customers receive the latest in digitizer technology. As a result, all previously sold DiagnosticPRO, SIERRA, and MammographyPRO digitizers can be upgraded at no cost -- part of the company's LONGER (Limiting Obsolescence into the Next Generation by Extending Real Value) program. "As a testament to our commitment to customer service and product excellence, we are taking the unprecedented step of offering free 'plus' product upgrades for all VIDAR customers," he said.

The DiagnosticPRO "plus" was developed in response to clinical demands for a high quality, affordable x-ray film digitizer for PACS and remote primary diagnosis. It is priced at about half the cost of comparable laser digitizers, is much more reliable, and offers a significantly lower total cost of ownership. The DiagnosticPRO "plus" also features a higher resolution standard (44 micron) required for digitizing mammography films. Part of the "plus" enhancements, this previously was a $4,000 option.

The SIERRA "plus" is the first American College of Radiology-compliant digitizer priced under $10,000 (US). It weighs only 15 pounds and can be wall mounted, allowing it to be deployed in a variety of healthcare settings, including at the point of care.

The MammographyPRO "plus" is the first digitizer designed specifically for digitizing mammography films and for use in computer assisted diagnosis, providing superior optical density range and resolution compared with competitive products.

At the RSNA, VIDAR also will offer physicians an opportunity to conduct side-by-side comparisons of images digitized with VIDAR digitizers and more-expensive laser systems. The side-by-side comparisons follow VIDAR's preference study conducted at the 1999 RSNA meeting, where the results showed that in nearly 60 percent of the image pairs viewed, radiologists either preferred images scanned on the DiagnosticPRO or had no preference between CCD- and laser-scanned images. More than 2,800 image pairs were viewed by 170 radiologists of varying backgrounds and technical expertise levels.

VIDAR Systems Corporation, a privately held technology company headquartered in Herndon, Va., is the leading manufacturer of x-ray film digitizers and advanced solutions for medical markets. VIDAR's family of film digitizers serves the PACS, remote primary diagnosis, teleradiology, telemedicine, mammography, and oncology markets. VIDAR's digitizers are the choice of more than 100 systems solution providers. For additional information, visit VIDAR's Web site at www.filmdigitizer.com.

Note to Editors: The RSNA meeting will be held at McCormick Place in Chicago. VIDAR digitizers will be demonstrated at the company's booth, No. 8349, along with the side-by side image comparison. Exhibits are open November 26-30 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. CST. To schedule an interview with Brian Beardslee, please call Barbara Sullivan at 714/374-6174.