Viztek and Matakina Partner to Integrate Breast Density Assessment, Creating First Complete RIS/PACS Breast Imaging Software Suite

RALEIGH, NC--(Marketwired - Oct 24, 2013) - Viztek, the leading provider of complete digital software and hardware diagnostic imaging solutions, today announced a new partnership with Matakina to integrate the company's VolparaDensity software for analyzing digital mammography and tomosynthesis images and objectively assessing breast density with the Viztek Opal-PACS and Opal-wRIS for streamlined reporting and workflow. With 12 states having enacted legislation requiring patient notification and reporting of breast density, hospitals and imaging centers can now benefit from a streamlined workflow and integrated reporting to meet these mandates and streamline patient care.

"Our integration with VolparaDensity extends our capabilities and enables us to provide a more complete women's healthcare software suite," said Steve Deaton, vice president at Viztek. "With viewing, tracking, and now breast density software integration for RIS and PACS, Viztek has the first complete package for mammography and is enabling increased efficiency with the potential for better results."

Cleared by the FDA, HealthCanada, the TGA and CE-marked in Europe, VolparaDensity is in use at sites across the globe helping radiologists assess breast density more objectively and enabling them to better consider who might benefit from additional screening. Highly correlated to breast MR assessments, VolparaDensity generates an objective, automatic measurement of volumetric breast density and an FDA-cleared BI-RADS breast density category.

"Creating an objective, reproducible value within the RIS/PACS workflow is critical, not only for efficiency in practice, but for meeting the demands of new breast density legislation," explains David Mezzoprete, vice president of sales at Matakina. "Our partnership with Viztek establishes a new model for diagnosis and exam follow-up in this new era of regulated density reporting, and we are proud to play a role in enhancing patient care."

Studies have shown traditional FFDM is only 48% effective in women with dense breasts, who also happen to be more susceptible to cancer. The estimated 40% of women in the U.S. who have dense breasts may benefit from adjunctive imaging modalities, such as ultrasound, MRI or molecular breast imaging, which can provide a clearer view of potential "hidden" cancers.

With the Viztek and Matakina partnership, smooth RIS/PACS integration of density data provides a significant increase in efficiency and also will aid in objectivity. The VolparaDensity output is done via the secondary capture to the Viztek Opal-PACS and structured report to the Opal-wRIS. The RIS will then take the data and put it automatically into the patient "lay letter" for mammography reporting functionality and streamlined workflow for the facility.

"We're helping doctors make good decisions, and we're the first in the industry to include density determination as part of a comprehensive plan," says Deaton. "It's the future of breast care and Viztek is leading the way."

About Viztek

Viztek is a leading provider of complete digital software and hardware imaging solutions, backed by comprehensive training and support for the hospital and private practice markets. The company provides state-of-the-art, web-based Opal-RAD PACS and RIS, delivering advanced connectivity and functionality at an affordable price. The PACS and RIS solutions are complimented by Viztek's comprehensive line of CR and DR solutions, with DR panels that come in multiple configurations ranging from retrofit packages to complete new radiology rooms and mobile solutions. For more information, visit www.viztek.net.

About Matakina

Founded to enable radiologists to give women the most accurate information possible regarding their breast health, Matakina International Limited is the wholly owned sales and marketing arm of Matakina Technology Limited of New Zealand. Volpara's founders and Board of Directors includes John Hood, PhD, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford, UK; Ralph Highnam, PhD, former CEO of Mirada Solutions, one of the University of Oxford's most successful spin-outs of recent times and co-author of the seminal book Mammographic Image Analysis; and Professor Sir Michael Brady, a serial entrepreneur who recently retired from the University of Oxford where he was Professor of Information Technology for 25 years.