CompuMed Seeks Patent Protection for Use of OsteoGram(R) on Digital Mammography Equipment
24 Novembre 2004 - 7:08PM
PR Newswire (US)
CompuMed Seeks Patent Protection for Use of OsteoGram(R) on Digital
Mammography Equipment New Capability to be Debuted at RSNA LOS
ANGELES, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CompuMed, Inc.
(OTC:CMPD) (BULLETIN BOARD: CMPD) -- a developer of Computer Aided
Diagnostic (CAD) solutions for the healthcare industry -- today
announced that it has filed a provisional U.S. patent application
for the integration and use of its OsteoGram osteoporosis
screening/diagnostic software system on digital mammography
equipment. This latest application of the OsteoGram will use images
taken by digital mammography equipment to perform osteoporosis
testing at the same time women undergo routine mammograms.
Mammography equipment is used to screen millions of women worldwide
for breast cancer, and digital mammography platforms are a high
growth segment of the breast cancer screening field. "Integrating
the OsteoGram with digital mammography equipment will help solve
the myriad of public health problems caused by inadequate testing
and diagnosis of osteoporosis in its early stages," said Jerry
McLaughlin, CompuMed's CEO. "We are making it possible for women to
have their bone density tested at the same time they have their
routine mammograms." The OsteoGram is a medical image processing
system that enables healthcare providers to screen, diagnose and
monitor osteoporosis using digital images from filmless x-ray
equipment, or conventional, film-based hand x-rays. The
software-based imaging system is far less costly and cumbersome
than conventional bone mineral density (BMD) testing systems, which
require dedicated and expensive equipment, computers, office space
and staff. Osteoporosis is a silent disease that affects more than
44 million Americans and costs the nation's health care system in
excess of $17 billion annually. About half of all women over the
age of 50 will experience a bone fracture due to osteoporosis. Hip
fractures are by far the most devastating, accounting for 300,000
hospitalizations each year in the U.S. alone, and resulting in more
deaths than breast cancer. The new OsteoGram capability will be
introduced at the 90th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of
the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago
(November 29-December 3). The OsteoGram system will be on display
with Fujifilm Medical's (Div. Fuji Photo ADR; NASDAQ: FUJIY)
ClearView-CSm* CR digital mammography image reader at the Fuji
exhibit (McCormick Place North Building, booth # 7332). "Combining
low cost osteoporosis screening with digital mammography is a
concept whose time has come," added McLaughlin. About RSNA: The
Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) is an association of
more than 33,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists and related
scientists committed to promoting excellence in patient care. Its
Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting in Chicago (November
28-December 3) comprise the world's largest medical imaging
exhibition, featuring more than 600 leading manufacturers,
suppliers and developers of radiology products and services. Visit
RSNA at http://www.rsna.org/. About CompuMed: Founded in 1973,
CompuMed, Inc. (OTC:CMPD) (BULLETIN BOARD: CMPD) is a leading
provider of computer-aided telemedicine and diagnostics technology.
The company's core products are the OsteoGram and CardioGram
systems. The OsteoGram, which is cleared by the FDA for commercial
use, is an accurate and precise technology for low-cost
osteoporosis testing. The CardioGram system remotely interprets
electrocardiograms and is used by private practice, government and
corporate healthcare providers nationwide. The CardioGram has the
additional capability to automatically provide an over-read (i.e.,
follow- up review) by a cardiologist. CompuMed is headquartered in
Los Angeles. Visit CompuMed at http://www.compumed.net/. This news
release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals,
strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions
and other statements that are other than statements of historical
facts. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks
including, but not limited to, product and service demand and
acceptance, changes in technology, ability to raise capital, the
availability of appropriate acquisition candidates and/or business
partnerships, economic conditions, the impact of competition and
pricing, capacity and supply constraints or difficulties,
government regulation and other risks defined in this document. All
such forward-looking statements whether written or oral, and
whether made by or on behalf of the Company are expressly qualified
by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements
which may accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition,
the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof. *The ClearView -CSm requires FDA approval and is not
commercially available in the U.S. DATASOURCE: CompuMed, Inc.
CONTACT: Erik Deutsch of Tellem Worldwide, +1-310-479-6111, ext.
15, , for CompuMed, Inc. Web site: http://www.rsna.org/ Web site:
http://www.compumed.net/
Copyright