CHELMSFORD, Mass. and NUREMBERG, Germany, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. and Ziehm Imaging GmbH announced today the first results of their ongoing alliance to increase performance and quality in 3D image reconstruction and visualization for mobile C-arm X-ray systems. These systems are used for minimally invasive and interventional procedures in urology, neurology, orthopedics, and surgery.
Ziehm is leveraging Mercury VisageRT(TM) 3D imaging software and acceleration hardware to gain the full potential of their C-arm solutions, which deliver uncompromised clinical mobility through effortless movement and a unique single-lever rear-wheel steering and braking control. As a result, the newly available generation of Ziehm's Vario3D C-arm systems enables surgeons and physicians to obtain high-resolution, very high-quality images from only a small set of low-dose X-ray projections in a shorter time frame. The new systems accelerate the reconstruction process by a factor of more than 40X.
"The Vario3D system sets new standards in image quality and reconstruction speed for mobile C-arms," said Dr. Jorg Peter Strobel, managing director of Ziehm Imaging GmbH. "This solution effectively enhances physicians' productivity and reduces patient treatment time, and thus greatly improves clinical workflow for our customers."
Mercury offers a comprehensive portfolio of imaging solutions for life sciences OEMs, including embedded software and hardware components, turnkey applications, and acceleration platforms.
Besides impressive results in image quality and computational acceleration, Mercury's embedded solution enables Ziehm to bring this innovative technology to clinics and hospitals in a timely manner, and with greatly reduced engineering effort and risk.
"To achieve this impressive acceleration for the Ziehm system, we used our VisageRT embedded software in combination with a graphics processing unit (GPU)," said Malte Westerhoff, CTO of Life Sciences, Imaging and Visualization Solutions at Mercury Computer Systems. "Our customized software API abstracts from the GPU details, and thus helps to achieve optimal performance and at the same time seamless integration into the Ziehm framework. This powerful combination allowed Ziehm to leverage the impressive GPU performance with minimal effort and within a minimal time frame."
As a testament to both companies' commitment to continuous innovation and improvement, Ziehm and Mercury have begun development of the next generation of visualization solutions for 3D C-arm systems. Employing more of Mercury's scalable software and acceleration platforms, Ziehm's future systems are expected to provide even faster performance, and offer advanced visualization methods such as shaded color volume rendering, that will help physicians to better identify small detail and understand complex spatial relationships.
Both Mercury and Ziehm will hold demonstrations on their existing and new solutions at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), to be held November 28 to December 3 in Chicago, Illinois. Visit Mercury Computer Systems in the south building, hall A, booth #2775 (see http://www.mc.com/rsna for more information). Visit Ziehm Imaging in the north building, hall B, booth #8513.
About Ziehm Imaging GmbH
The mobile C-Arms of Ziehm Imaging GmbH are well-known for the fact to use state-of-the-art technologies for mobile X-ray image distribution systems. Based on competency and creativity as well as in close cooperation with hospitals, hospital personnel and suppliers the company developed solutions that offer a not-yet-seen level of 'functionality, mobility and network capabilities.'
Its worldwide presence with sites in Nuremberg (Germany), Riverside (USA), Reggio (Italy) and Singapore (Asia) guarantees competent and reliable service and fast customer support.
For more information please visit our homepage under http://www.ziehm.com/ About Mercury Computer Systems, Inc.
Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. is the leading provider of high-performance embedded, real-time digital signal and image processing solutions. Mercury's products play a critical role in a wide range of applications, transforming sensor data to information for analysis and interpretation. In military reconnaissance and surveillance platforms the Company's systems process real-time radar, sonar, and signals intelligence data. Mercury's systems are also used in state-of-the-art medical diagnostic imaging devices including MRI, CT, PET, and digital X-ray, and in semiconductor imaging applications including photomask generation and wafer inspection. Mercury provides advanced 3D image processing and visualization software and optimized systems to diverse end markets including life sciences, geosciences, and simulation. The Company also provides radio frequency (RF) products for enhanced communications capabilities in military and commercial applications.
Based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Mercury serves customers in North America, Europe and Asia through its direct sales force and a network of subsidiaries and distributors. Visit Mercury on the web at http://www.mc.com/.
Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those relating to Mercury's alliance with Ziehm and its medical imaging products and services. You can identify these statements by our use of the words "may," "will," "should," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, economic and technological cycles of the medical imaging markets, delays and risks regarding the integration of technologies, competition, changes in technology, delays in completing engineering and manufacturing programs, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, market acceptance of the Company's products, and products utilizing the Company's technologies, shortages in components, production delays due to performance quality issues with outsourced components, and changes in applicable health care laws and regulations or the administration of health care programs. These risks and uncertainties also include such additional risk factors as are discussed in the Company's recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.
Contact: Andreas Munkert Kathy Donahue Director Marketing Public Relations Manager Ziehm Imaging GmbH Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. Phone +49 911 642070 Phone 978 967 1126 Fax +49 911 6420739 Fax 978 256 0852 Email: andreas.munkert@ziehm-eu.com Email: kdonahue@mc.com
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030930/MERCURYCSLOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comMercury Computer Systems, Inc.CONTACT: Andreas Munkert, Director Marketing of Ziehm Imaging GmbH,+49 911 642070, andreas.munkert@ziehm-eu.com; or Kathy Donahue, PublicRelations Manager of Mercury Computer Systems, Inc., +1-978-967-1126,kdonahue@mc.com
Web site: http://www.mc.com/