Vital Images Signs PACS Integration Agreement With Sectra
Vital Images Inc. (Nasdaq: VTAL), a medical imaging software company, has signed an integration agreement with Sectra, a Sweden-based leading provider of picture archive and communication systems (PACS) throughout the world. Under this agreement, Vital Images’ Vitrea(R) 2 software for advanced 3D visualization and analysis will be integrated with Sectra PACS solutions. All current and future Sectra PACS customers who have purchased Vitrea will have the ability to access the advanced visualization tools at their Sectra workstations. This partnership is effective immediately.
“Sectra is a global leader in PACS installations, and we look forward to a productive partnership,” said Phil Smith, Vital Images vice president of marketing and corporate development. “Bringing Vitrea to the PACS market is an important growth strategy for Vital Images, and this agreement represents the next step in our ongoing PACS integration strategy. Since all Sectra PACS customers will be able to operate Vitrea visualization tools easily from the Sectra workflow, this alliance opens a new customer base for our sales reps and distributors to approach about Vitrea. At the same time, we are continuing to work with McKesson Information Solutions, the company’s initial entree into the high-growth PACS arena.”
Martin Hakansson, manager for Sectra Clinical Solutions Network (CSN), commented, “Vital Images is a leader in advanced 3D visualization, and we are pleased to partner with them. Our customers increasingly rely on 3D images to diagnose conditions and plan therapies. Offering Vitrea is a way to provide a more complete system to physicians throughout the healthcare facility.”
Accessing Vitrea through a PACS network means more physicians — radiologists and referring physicians — can make use of 3D visualization and analysis solutions. The use of PACS by hospitals and clinics is growing rapidly; Vital Images expects PACS-related sales to ramp up in 2004 and reach significant levels in 2005. Enabling hospitals and clinics to acquire, distribute and archive medical images and diagnostic reports across the healthcare system, PACS solutions eliminate the need for film and can significantly improve productivity. Sectra has installations in Scandinavia and most other European countries, as well as the Far East and North America.
About Sectra
Sectra is one of today’s major diagnostic imaging providers with more than 450 installations worldwide. Sectra’s core business is to deliver top-of-the-line, high-availability, robust enterprise diagnostic imaging for 24/7 operation. In Scandinavia, Sectra is the market leader with more than 50 percent of all film-free installations. The company also has a large number of systems installed in most major countries in Europe, the Far East and North America, in cooperation with partners.
About Vital Images
Vital Images is a leading provider of advanced visualization software for use in disease screening applications, clinical diagnosis and therapy planning. The company’s technology utilizes high-speed volume visualization and analysis, as well as network communications based on DICOM and Internet protocols. Vital Images cost effectively brings 3D visualization and analysis into the day-to-day practice of medicine. Press releases, examples of 3D medical imaging and other corporate information are available on Vital Images’ Web site at www.vitalimages.com .
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties which could cause results to differ materially from those projected, including dependence on market growth, the timely availability and acceptance of new products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, dependence on major customers, fluctuations in quarterly results, third-party reimbursement, the availability of capital and other risks detailed from time to time in Vital Images’ SEC reports, including its most recent report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.
Vitrea(R) is a registered trademark of Vital Images Inc.
Vital Images disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.
