Press Releases
TeraRecon, R2 technology to showcase
volumetric CAD for chest CT at RSNA
San Mateo, CA--November
25, 2001:
TeraRecon and R2 Technology
today announced a joint demonstration of R2 Technology's recent advances
in Volumetric Computer Aided Detection (CAD) for Chest CT, "LungCheck,"
on TeraRecon's Aquarius Workstation, here at the 86th Scientific Assembly
and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA),
November 25-29. LungCheck will become commercially available upon
successful completion of regulatory review.
R2 Technology is actively pursuing the use
of CAD technology to detect lung nodules on chest CT scans. The LungCheck
software is designed to help detect clinically significant abnormalities
in chest CT studies, particularly volumetric studies acquired with
modern multi-detector CT devices. Features include Lung CT CAD software
for the automatic detection and analysis of potential lung cancers;
a patented user interface for seamless navigation between 2D and 3D
information; and comprehensive reporting tools including nodule measurement,
editing, and the temporal comparison of information between current
and prior scans. The automatically generated report contains nodules
detected automatically by the CAD algorithms or manually selected
by the physician or by a combination of these techniques.
"The volume-centric design of TeraRecon's
Aquarius Workstation provides the ideal demonstration platform for
our next-generation CAD software," said Susan Wood, Ph.D., Director
of the CT Business Unit at R2 Technology. "With LungCheck, R2 Technology
has optimized CAD for multi-detector CT. With the advent of such high-resolution
and high-speed acquisitions, CT as a modality is becoming truly volumetric.
To efficiently review volumetric data, CAD is essential."
TeraRecon's Aquarius Workstation is a fully
real time 2D review and 3D post processing workstation designed with
the volumetric nature of modern radiology as its cornerstone. The
volume rendering engine of Aquarius is TeraRecon's patented VolumePro®
hardware for real time interactive 3D, which also powers TeraRecon's
AquariusNET 3D PACS server offering.
"TeraRecon's mandate is to bring a complete
range of advanced clinical applications and workflow solutions for
the ever-changing needs of radiologists," said Robert Taylor, Ph.D.,
Executive Vice President of TeraRecon. " CAD for CT is rapidly becoming
a key technology which will work in support of radiologists, and as
such, the software under development by R2 Technology is a welcome
complement to the image processing capability of the Aquarius Workstation.
We are now looking forward to extending the implementation to our
AquariusNET server, in order that R2's powerful CAD may be made available
enterprise-wide, as a shared resource.
"Both TeraRecon and R2 Technology see great
challenge and opportunity in the volumetric capability offered by
today's imaging modalities. The increased quantity and quality of
information will enable radiologists to offer more precise and effective
diagnoses, but only when tools are available which provide practical
and effective means to manipulate and manage the large data sets.
We are committed to providing these tools, for volumetric review,
visualization, and assisted detection."
One application for the use of CAD technology
with CT is for earlier detection of lung cancer, either as an incidental
finding on an exam performed for another reason or in lung cancer
screening programs. Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality
and can be difficult to detect in its early stages. The ACS reports
that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men
and women, and estimates that more than 150,000 Americans will die
of lung cancer annually. In 1995, the five-year survival rate for
all stages of lung cancer was 14 percent. If lung cancer is found
and treated while it is localized, however, the ACS reports that the
five-year survival rates increase to 42 percent. Unfortunately, the
ACS reports that only about 15 percent of lung cancers are currently
found in the early stages.
About R2
Technology
R2 Technology, Inc., headquartered in Los
Altos, Calif., U.S., is the recognized leader in the development and
commercialization of computer aided detection (CAD), an innovative
technology that assists radiologists in the early detection of breast
cancer and other cancer-related lesions. Recently, the FDA expanded
the indication for the ImageChecker CAD system, approving use of the
system with diagnostic mammograms in addition to routine screening
mammograms. R2's CAD software has been integrated with the ImageChecker
processing and visual display system, and is being successfully used
by hospitals and imaging centers as an aid to radiologists for more
accurate detection of breast cancer. To date, more than 230 ImageChecker
systems have been sold worldwide. As a medical software company, R2
is developing CAD systems for a variety of imaging modalities and
disease states, including lung cancer. For more information, please
visit www.r2tech.com.
About TeraRecon, Inc.
TeraRecon, Inc. is a technology-driven provider of advanced 3D imaging
systems for medical and other visualization applications, with solutions
based on its unique and patented image processing technologies. The
company has developed a leading portfolio of products that advance
the performance, quality, functionality, and integration of image
processing and 3D visualization systems. Founded in 1997, TeraRecon
has developed a unique family of powerful processors that are used
in its real-time diagnostic workstations, enterprise-wide 3D imaging
servers using thin-client PCs, color Doppler ultrasound systems, mini
gamma cameras, high performance reconstruction engines, and real-time
volume rendering hardware engines. TeraRecon is a fast growing, privately
held company with headquarters in San Mateo, CA, and branch offices
in Concord, MA; Tokyo, Japan; Osaka, Japan; and Trondheim, Norway.
Contact:
TeraRecon, Inc.
Robert Taylor, Ph.D.
COO & Executive VP
650.372.1100
taylor@terarecon.com
www.terarecon.com
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