VIDAR(R) Systems Corporation -- the leading manufacturer of high-quality film digitizers for a variety of medical applications -- today announced the introduction of its new VIDAR MammographyPro(TM) Film Digitizer at the Society of Breast Imaging meeting. The highest resolution medical film digitizer available, the MammographyPro is the first digitizer designed and engineered specifically for digitizing mammography films, and it is well suited for demanding remote primary diagnosis (RPD) and computer assisted diagnosis (CAD) applications. According to Brian Beardslee, director of VIDAR's Medical Business division, the MammographyPro meets the needs of radiologists for a high quality, clinically proven, reliable film digitizer for mammography studies. The MammographyPro incorporates VIDAR's leading-edge High Definition CCD (HD- CCD(TM)) technology, which allows a substantially superior optical density range that delivers diagnostic quality equal to or better than that of laser digitizers, at half the cost. "The MammographyPro, which features a spot size of 31 microns and an optical density (OD) range of 0.00 -- 3.65, exceeds the current American College of Radiology standards for digital mammography," Mr. Beardslee said. "It also surpasses other medical film digitizer capabilities, and commercial digital mammography systems on the market today -- for both spatial and contrast resolution." The MammographyPro addresses two important applications: digitization of screening exams for CAD and remote primary diagnosis. It was designed for use in the new CAD systems now being developed to enhance the diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity of mammography. A key to effective CAD systems is a high- quality digitized image, which can now be obtained using the MammographyPro. "In addition, the importance of remote primary diagnoses continues to grow. Remote primary diagnosis saves time for patients and doctors, and improves the efficiency and quality of patient care. VIDAR digitizers, specifically the MammographyPro, ensure the high-quality digitized images necessary for accurate remote diagnoses," explained Mr. Beardslee. The MammographyPro will be commercially available this summer for under $20,000. The first release of VIDAR's mammography product line is now available as an upgrade to VIDAR's DiagnosticPro(TM), expanding its high resolution capabilities to 44.5 micron for mammography films, while providing larger spot size options for digitizing general radiographic, CT, MR, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine. VIDAR's DiagnosticPro is priced at under $16,000, and the mammography upgrade is $4,000. VIDAR Systems Corporation, a privately-held technology company, has its headquarters in Herndon, Virginia, and is the leading manufacturer of x-ray film digitizers and advanced solutions for medical markets. For additional information about VIDAR Systems Corporation, visit its Web site at www.vidar.com or send an e-mail request to corporateinfo@vidar.com. ots Original Text Service: VIDAR Systems Corporation Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Barbara Sullivan of Sullivan & Associates, 714-374-6174, or Claire Fisher Stock of VIDAR Systems Corporation, 703-471-7070, or claire@vidar.com Web site: http://www.vidar.com