Sectra becomes partner in new Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization

Sectra becomes partner in new Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization A new research center - Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV) - is established in Linköping, Sweden. In a partnership between Linköping University, one of the world's leading universities in digital image sciences, the county of Östergötland and the Swedish IT and medical technology company Sectra, the new research center will further strengthen Linköpings position within the area of digital medical image science. The new center will be a part of Linköping University, and closely affiliated to the National Supercomputer Center within Linköping Institute of Technology as well as to the radiology department of Linköpings University Hospital. Digitization of radiology clinics (PACS) has until now mainly been about replacing film and thereby increasing the efficiency of hospitals in general and radiology departments in particular. However, the new technology has not been used up to its full potential and CMIV will, among other things, look deeper into how new methodologies can be developed with the help of this technology and with state-of-the-art digital imaging as a base. The center's research will focus on how digitization of radiology further can facilitate the work of clinicians and radiologists, when it comes to how to handle and navigate through the overwhelming amounts of data from a large number of modalities, that is becoming everyday life for radiologists and clinicians. "PACS (Picture, Archive and Communication Systems) is only the start in what can be done with digital imaging in radiology departments and hospitals", says Dr Torbjörn Kronander, President of Sectra Imtec AB. "CMIV will be very important for Sectra both in providing the region with new qualified Ph.Ds as well as for direct cooperation in advanced and future oriented research. There will be a revolution in image based diagnostics over the next 10 years and the new center will put Linköping, both University and companies, firmly on the road to this promising future". The Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization will be run by its director Dr Anders Persson, MD, Scandinavia's leading expert within medical visualization. He will work in close cooperation with Prof. Anders Ynnerman, professor of scientific visualization, Prof. Hans Knutsson, professor of medical informatics specialized in image science, Prof. Örjan Smedby, professor of diagnostic radiology and Bengt Wranne, professor of clinical physiology, all members of the faculty of Linköping University "In order to manage the increased pressure on healthcare and be prepared for the future it is necessary to make use of the fast development of image-rendering technologies" says Anders Persson, director of CMIV. "The development concerns large patient groups and makes it possible to implement new screening- and treatment methods for common diseases. CMIV is a unique possibility to combine Linköping's cutting-edge competencies in areas such as medical applications, image analysis and processing, visualization/ simulation et cetera, and realize a "Center of Excellence" within this important field." "Sectra sees substantial advantages in being located in a city where both the university and the county are so open to new ideas and proactive in their acting towards improving future health care", concludes Torbjörn Kronander. Sectra is one of today's major PACS providers with more than 200 PACS installations worldwide. The Swedish based company operates through partners in most of the world, but delivers directly to end customers in Northern Europe. The core business is to deliver top-of-the-line high- availability, robust enterprise PACS for 24/7 operation. In Sweden, which is currently the country with the largest penetration of PACS in the world, Sectra holds a dominant market leadership with more than 60% of all film free installations. The company has its largest number of installed systems in Sweden and the US (through partners), but has also an installed base in Germany, Norway, Finland, UK, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands and the Far East. For further information, please contact: Sectra Imtec AB, Torbjörn Kronander, President, +46 13 23 52 27, to-kro@sectra.se or Sectra AB, Jan-Olof Brüer, President and CEO, +46 13 23 52 09, job@sectra.se CMIV, Anders Person, Director, +46 705 83 38 42 Visit our website http://www.sectra.com Sectra's operations Sectra has its roots in Linköping Technical University and is one of Sweden's fastest growing high-tech companies in the IT area. Since the mid-1980s, Sectra has successfully conducted development and sales of high-technology medical IT and telecommunications products. Today, the business includes products in medical systems, secure communication systems and wireless information systems. Sectra's medical business is conducted in Sectra Imtec AB, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sectra AB. Internationally, Sectra PACS is marketed and sold through different partners. Business is conducted in six countries with a total of 195 employees. Sales for the fiscal year May 2000-April 2001 reached SEK 292 million. Since March 1999, Sectra's shares have been quoted on the O list of the OM Stockholm Exchange. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/10/17/20011017BIT00080/bit0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/10/17/20011017BIT00080/bit0001.pdf