Kodak Shows CR Systems for Mammography, New Capabilities for Mammography CAD System at RSNA

Company Also Demos Enhanced CARESTREAM Radiology Solutions for Mammography

Chicago, Ill, November 28 -- Eastman Kodak Company showed digital image capture systems for mammography exams, announced new capabilities for its computer aided detection (CAD) system for mammography, and debuted enhancements to its radiology information system (RIS) and picture archiving and communications system (PACS) platforms for mammography at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

At RSNA, Kodak demonstrated:

* The KODAK DIRECTVIEW CR Mammography Feature for CR 850, CR 950 and CR 975 Systems is intended to offer the ability to produce mammography images using KODAK DIRECTVIEW CR Mammography Cassettes and new EHR-M screens. This optional feature can enable healthcare facilities to perform general radiography and mammography exams on the same computed radiography (CR) platform. The affordability and versatility of computed radiography offers a practical entry into digital mammography. Kodak has installed hundreds of CR systems with its mammography feature outside the United States. This feature is currently available in Europe, Greater Asia, Japan and Latin America. Clinical trials are underway and Kodak has begun the pre-market submission process with the Food & Drug Administration in the United States. Kodak also plans to seek regulatory approval from Health Canada.
* The KODAK Point-of-Care CR 300M System for Mammography—a works-in-progress—is a compact, dedicated tabletop CR system for mammography applications. The small size and cost-effective price point of this digital product will make it attractive for in-room applications at clinics, mammography imaging centers or specialty areas within a hospital.

New CAD Capabilities

Kodak showcased enhanced flexibility for its film-based mammography CAD system and announced that it is also developing digital CAD algorithms (currently a works-in-progress) for full-field digital mammography and CR systems for mammography.

Enhancements to Kodak’s film-based mammography CAD System include:

* New options for viewing CAD results in portrait or landscape mode that allows radiologists to configure the system to specific hanging preferences.
* Ability to save scanned mammograms as DICOM files so as films are digitized for CAD, they can also be sent to an archive or any vendor’s PACS system. This facilitates efficient digital access to the image files and is especially useful for facilities that anticipate transitioning to digital mammography since cases that are digitized for CAD will automatically be available as prior exams.
* Ability to save log files from the system and report the number of markers per film and per case.
* A works-in-progress solution that will enable Kodak’s mammography CAD hardware to also run bone mineral density tests. Using the same film and x-ray unit as a mammogram, an x-ray of a woman’s hand will be produced and scanned by the CAD digitizer. The software will automatically analyze the hand image to produce a report that will indicate the woman’s bone density. The ability to perform both types of exams on the same equipment and film will offer enhanced productivity and ease of use for healthcare facilities and a more comprehensive exam for patients.

New Features for CARESTREAM Radiology Solutions for Mammography

Kodak also demonstrated enhancements to its portfolio of information management solutions for mammography providers.

New mammography-specific features for Kodak’s CARESTREAM RIS platform include: automatic generation of patient letters and pending requests for annual recalls, and a mammography information drawing tool with annotation capability.

The KODAK CARESTREAM PACS now supports: storing of original images and a single secondary capture image containing CAD markers for some digital CAD systems; and support for additional mixed color and resolution monitor displays.

Kodak also showed as a works-in-progress automatic justification of different mammographic views; tissue inversion; and the integration of Confirma’s CADstream™ with Kodak’s CARESTREAM PACS platform. This integration will enhance radiologists’ productivity by providing the ability to view CAD results for breast MRI exams from diagnostic workstations.

Kodak also showcased its CARESTREAM Information Management Solutions, which accommodate archiving requirements specific to mammography. These solutions provide automatic, intelligent clinical information lifecycle management for the large data sets associated with mammography exams, and maintain quick access to prior exams necessary for comparisons. Storage of data in a patient-centric manner facilitates preservation and access to information. Cost-effective pricing structures, including a Kodak-hosted service offering, accommodate the financial needs of mammography centers.

“We offer an innovative portfolio of image capture, display and information management solutions for mammography,” L. Jeffrey Markin, General Manager, Output Systems and Mammography Solutions, and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. “Our CARESTREAM Radiology Solutions platforms offer productivity-enhancing, mammography-specific features and we also offer professional services that help mammography smoothly transition to a digital workflow.”

KODAK Services Help Improve Efficiency, Smooth Digital Transition

In addition to its comprehensive portfolio of imaging and information management solutions for mammography, Kodak offers a full range of services to help customers improve efficiency, increase productivity and transition to digital imaging solutions. Services include: workflow analysis and redesign, project management, change management and the development of new policies and procedures to help customers maintain compliance with governmental regulations.



About Kodak’s Health Group

Kodak’s Health Group, with 2004 revenues of $2.68 billion, supplies the medical and dental professions with traditional and digital imaging and information systems. Its portfolio includes picture archiving and communications systems (PACS), radiology information systems (RIS), IT solutions, clinical information solutions, computed and digital radiography systems, laser imagers, mammography and oncology systems, x-ray film systems, and dental imaging products. Its services portfolio includes everything from repair and maintenance, to professional services encompassing integration, storage and archiving, secure e-mail services – and much more.

Kodak’s other major businesses include: Graphic Communications – providing customers with a range of solutions for prepress, traditional and digital printing, and document scanning and multi-vendor IT services; Digital & Film Imaging Systems – providing consumers, professionals and cinematographers with digital and traditional products and services; and Display & Components – supplying original equipment manufacturers with imaging sensors as well as intellectual property and materials for the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and LCD display industries.
For more information about Kodak (NYSE:EK) contact your Kodak representative or visit www.kodak.com.
KODAK, CARESTREAM and DIRECTVIEW are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company 2005

Contact Information

John LaBella

Eastman Kodak Company

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