COMPUMED'S DICOM OSTEOGRAMŽ FEATURED IN COMBINATION WITH DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY AND RADIOGRAPHY AT RSNA KODAK, FUJI AND SWISSRAY INTERNATIONAL DEMO IMAGING SYSTEMS INTEGRATED WITH COMPUMED'S PIONEERING OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING SOFTWARE
LOS ANGELES, Dec 07, 2006 -- CompuMed, Inc. (CMPD.OB) -- a medical informatics company leading the development of advanced imaging technology for cost effective analysis and monitoring - demonstrated its DICOM OsteoGram in tandem with imaging systems from several major vendors during the 92nd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, held in Chicago November 26-30.
The OsteoGram system has applications across a broad spectrum of digital platforms, and was featured in conjunction with digital radiography (DR), computed radiography (CR) and digital mammography systems from CompuMed licensing partners including the Eastman Kodak Company, Fujifilm Medical Systems USA and Swissray International.
The DICOM OsteoGram represents the latest advancement to CompuMed's ground-breaking software-based imaging system for screening, diagnosing and monitoring osteoporosis. It uses a digital image derived from filmless x-ray equipment to enable clinicians to perform accurate and precise osteoporosis testing. DICOM (Digital Communications and Imaging in Medicine) is the information standard that allows the new generation of medical imaging equipment to interconnect. DICOM-based systems, such as filmless x-ray and digital mammography platforms, have become a high growth segment of the medical imaging market.
"Coupling the OsteoGram with digital mammography has the potential to be an especially winning combination," said CompuMed CEO Jerry McLaughlin. "Imagine that women could obtain a bone density test at the same time and on the same equipment as their mammogram."
Osteoporosis is a silent disease that affects more than 200 million people worldwide. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, the costs associated with treating the complications of osteoporosis exceed $17 billion in the United States alone. Medicare's HEDIS 2004 program directs health care plan providers to test for underlying bone disease when a woman shows up with a fragility fracture. Osteoporosis can often be controlled with calcium supplements and life-style changes if low bone density is detected in the early stages.
"We were pleased to participate with our partners at RSNA," added McLaughlin. "Computer aided detection (CAD) is a growing field, and we are proud to help pioneer the development and integration of applications that make life easier for busy radiologists and add convenience for patients. In the future, we intend to add other CAD applications, many of which will enable an ASP model with recurring revenues for CompuMed."
About RSNA:
The RSNA annual meeting is the premier international forum for radiologic science and technology. The scientific and educational program includes presentations in all radiologic subspecialties through scientific papers and posters, refresher courses, honored lectures, education exhibits, infoRAD exhibits, symposia and technical exhibits.
More than 62,000 people attend RSNA, making it the world's largest medical assembly. Attendees include radiology professionals, hospital and corporate-based healthcare executives and exhibitor personnel from greater than 700 exhibits.
About CompuMed:
Founded in 1973, CompuMed, Inc. (CMPD.OB) is leading the development of advanced imaging and medical informatics solutions that provide cost effective analysis and monitoring. CompuMed focuses on cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases, as well as other diseases associated with aging populations. Its unique expertise in telemonitoring, imaging and analysis facilitates the development of new solutions and services designed to improve healthcare provider workflow and patient care, while reducing costs. CompuMed's core products, the OsteoGram(R) and CardioGram(TM) systems, are cleared by the FDA and reimbursable by Medicare. The OsteoGram is an accurate and precise technology for osteoporosis testing. The underlying OsteoGram technology has significant cost advantages over other technologies and will be applied to a suite of value-added applications, such as following the progression of arthritic disease and diagnosing vertebral fractures and scoliosis. The CardioGram system is one of the first telecommunication networks designed to remotely interpret electrocardiograms and is used by private practice, as well as government and corporate healthcare providers nationwide. The CardioGram delivers online electrocardiogram interpretations within two minutes of receipt, and 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 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 CompuMed's plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions and other statements that are not statements of historical fact. 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 identified in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. In addition, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by law.
CONTACT: Susan Tellem - Tellem Worldwide, +1 (310) 479-6111 x.15, stellem@tellem.com