Shimadzu, EDDA sign business deal

Nov 12 2009

Shimadzu Corporation (Kyoto Japan) and EDDA Technology Inc. (Princeton, NJ, USA) today announced that both parties have entered into a business partnership on X-ray chest CAD systems based on the Radiography System of Shimadzu featuring its direct conversion flat panel detector (FPD) and EDDA's CAD applications.

This partnership contains both distribution of EDDA's chest X-ray CAD applications with Shimadzu's DR system through Shimadzu's worldwide sales channel and the development of fully new applications integrating Shimadzu's state-of-the-art application for digital radiography together with EDDA's sophisticated technology in the field of chest CAD.

Chest X-ray CAD (Computer Aided Detection) is an advanced clinical application aiming the improvement of physician's detection accuracy of lung nodules by identifying possible nodules efficiently using computer image analysis technology, which will also help to overcome the challenge of workload of physicians in the diagnosis process. Chest X-ray is the most commonly performed radiographic exam accounting for nearly 50% of all imaging tests, and over 70 million chest X-rays are performed yearly in the US.

EDDA is a pioneer in the area of chest CAD application. Its IQQA®-Chest CAD product is already approved by FDA, EU CE and China SFDA, and is sold and used in USA, Europe, China and other countries. The first prospective study on chest X-ray CAD published in peer-reviewed journal showed positive results that suggest the interpretation of chest radiographs for lung nodules can be improved using IQQA®-Chest. Shimadzu will distribute this chest X-ray CAD application with its DR products in worldwide markets. Both companies are working together to prepare another innovative new chest CAD application which shall be introduced to worldwide markets in the upcoming years.

"According to the statistics such as those from WHO, ratio of death from cancer in the recent years tends to be decreasing. However, that from lung cancer is remarkably increasing, " said Mr. Kunimasa Itoh, general manager, marketing dept., medical systems division of Shimadzu Corporation. "Through the partnership with EDDA, who is expert of application development in this field, we will be able to contribute to improving clinical workflow and quality care of patients by providing advanced image diagnosis solutions to aid in early detection of lung lesions."

"Our partnership with Shimadzu Corporation reflects the increasingly important role that advanced computer application plays in enhancing clinical workflow to be faster, better and more cost-effective," said Dr. Jian-Zhong Qian, president and CEO of EDDA Technology. "We are pleased to partner with Shimadzu to offer new solutions to the diagnosis and management of potentially life-threatening lung diseases."

SOURCE Edda Technology, Inc.