Full-Field Digital Mammography System

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved MAMMOMAT® Novation^DR, a full-field digital mammography system from Siemens Medical Solutions. MAMMOMAT Novation^DR provides digital screening, diagnosis and stereotactic biopsy capabilities-all in one system.

MAMMOMAT Novation^DR features an innovative flat panel detector based on amorphous Selenium (aSe) detector technology that enables a direct conversion of x-ray to digital information. With an image detector size of 25 x 29 cm, MAMMOMAT Novation^DR also enables imaging of a larger range of patient sizes and the system features a new paddle designed for easier and more comfortable patient positioning.

"The MAMMOMAT Novation^DR offers a comprehensive solution for modern mammography," said Holger Schmidt, president of the Siemens Medical Solutions Special Systems Division. "Thanks to the combination of proprietary detector technology and our unique x-ray tube, both image quality and dose exposure reduction achieve an optimum level."

Mammography Diagnostic Workstation

The FDA has also approved Agfa's IMPAX® Mammography Diagnostic Workstation.

Designed to enhance the way mammography images are retrieved, displayed, archived and distributed, IMPAX is a multi-modality workstation that delivers "one-stop" review and results distribution for digital breast-imaging studies, while also gaining access to other general imaging exams.

IMPAX incorporates ultra-high resolution and high contrast monitors for softcopy diagnosis of breast images.

"The FDA clearance of Agfa's IMPAX Mammography Diagnostic Workstation provides mammography departments a proven digital solution to streamline workflow, maximize their return on investment and improve the delivery of patient care," said Carrie Handley, global manager for women's care at Agfa. "For the more than 32 million American women who will receive a mammogram this year, this could mean improved access, faster results and an improved patient care continuum."

New Flat Panel Illuminator for Mammography

Broadwest's new LumiVue™ flat panel illuminator utilizes the latest and most effective features available in mammography viewing. Through a unique cold cathode fluorescent lamp, LumiVue provides a brightness of 8,000 cd/m² and a useful life that is several times longer than other fluorescent lamps.

LumiVue's backlight technology employs the highest daylight color temperature for improving contrast rendering and providing a uniformity greater than 90 percent.

Ultra-Compact Cameras Released

Princeton Instruments has unveiled its new PIXIS™ line of deep cooled spectroscopy and imaging CCD cameras. These ultra-compact cameras use cutting-edge technology to deliver -100°C cooling and read noise as low as 2.5 electrons root mean squared (e-rms).

The cameras can be used for a variety of low-light applications such as Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and semi-conductor research.

"PIXIS is a milestone in high performance spectroscopy and imaging technology," said Frank Mummolo, president of Princeton Instruments. "With compact single head design and USB 2.0 interface, the ease of use of this camera is unmatched in the industry."