Sectra takes stake in company that develops digital x-ray sensors

Sectra takes stake in company that develops digital x-ray sensors The Swedish IT- and medical Technology Company Sectra has acquired part of the recently formed company Mamea Imaging AB. The company develops a completely new kind of digital x-ray sensor, which makes it possible to combine very high image quality with a minimal dosage of x-rays for the patient. The sensors can, among other things, be used for mammography. Sectra becomes the exclusive sales channel for Mamea´s products which gives the company access to the world wide market. A group of researchers at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm has produced the new technique that makes it possible to develop x-ray sensors directly on silicon. The sensors give a very high image quality and require considerably lower x-ray doses than previously known sensors. The sensor also has the potential to become highly cost effective in the production. "We enter this partnership since this is a very interesting technique and there is great market potential for cost effective x-ray sensors with low x-ray doses, especially in the field of Mammography. We see this investment as a long term research project", says Torbjörn Kronander, Managing Director, Sectra Imtec AB. "It is important though to call attention to the fact that, as in all research projects, there is a risk with this project. However, as long as we meet no unexpected difficulties, we see a very promising market ahead." With this new technique we register, fundamentally, each separate x-ray photon, thus receiving more information than with film or with the sensor techniques that are known today.", says Mats Danielsson Ph.D., assisting Professor in particle physics at The Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and Managing Director of Mamea Imaging AB. "The new technique has its foundation in research within particle physics at CERN in Geneva, but has been further developed in Sweden." The sensor is working today and has been verified in a laboratory environment where a large number of x-ray images have been taken. The final product is currently under development. The technology is protected in all large markets in the form of several applications for patents. For further information, please contact: Torbjörn Kronander, President Sectra Imtec AB, ph: +46 (0)13 23 52 27, e-mail to-kro@sectra.se or Jan-Olof Brüer, President and CEO, Sectra AB, ph: +46 (0)13 23 52 09, e-mail: job@sectra.se Please visit our website: http://www.sectra.se About Sectra 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 imaging systems, secure communication systems and digital radio systems. The business within medical imaging systems is conducted in the wholly owned subsidiary Sectra Imtec AB. Sectra Imtec AB is one of the world's leading companies in software for digital radiology. Sectra AB is located in Mjärdevi Science Park in Linköping, Sweden, and evolved from research done at Linköping University. Business is conducted in five countries with a total of 160 employees. Sales for the fiscal year May 1998-April 1999 reached SEK 183 million. Since March 1999, Sectra's shares have been quoted on the O list of the OM Stockholm Exchange. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/01/25/20000125BIT00240/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/01/25/20000125BIT00240/bit0002.pdf