Whole Breast Ultrasound Powered By Medipattern Shown As An Effective Method For Breast Screening In China

Main Category: MRI / PET / Ultrasound
Also Included In: Breast Cancer
Article Date: 04 Apr 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The Medipattern Corporation (TSX VENTURE:MKI), an award-winning developer of computer-aided detection (CAD) medical imaging software designed to aid physicians in making better informed biopsy decisions and to permit a higher standard of care for the millions of patients at risk of cancer, is pleased to announce that partner SonoCine Inc. ("SonoCine") successfully demonstrated automated whole breast ultrasound in breast screening applications in China. In direct comparison between a doctor performing breast scans via traditional 2D frozen frame imaging and automated whole breast ultrasound, the whole breast method found more pathology. Medipattern writes the software that powers the SonoCine viewer building 3D images of the breast and supplies its B-CAD(TM) computer aided detection product to the SonoCine product line.

"The traditional method of free hand scanning a patient allows for some variance in coverage as the physician scans. SonoCine takes the guess work out of scanning by automating the process and completely mapping each breast. A missed area of 5 mm in scanning by hand can result in missing a 5 mm cancer," says Dr. Kevin Kelly, President and founder of SonoCine. "Through Medipattern's software, we were able to identify correctly a rare case of male breast cancer which had previously been dismissed twice as benign."

"Breast cancer is one of the fastest rising threats to the people of China. We are convinced that the only way to combat breast cancer is through early detection. But we have been hampered by the very dense breast type common in the Chinese population. We know that ultrasound as a technology is capable of penetrating this dense tissue, but ultrasound is also known to be subject to operator variance," comments Dr. Tang, Director of Ultrasound at the People's Liberation Army (PLA) 301 hospital in China, China's largest hospital and research center. "The SonoCine technique packaged with the Medipattern whole breast viewing software and Medipattern's B-CAD computer aided detection provides a very compelling answer to the concerns raised by screening with breast ultrasound. B-CAD has been shown to increase the diagnostic accuracy of a single reader. SonoCine powered by Medipattern has been shown to fully capture all of the information required to make a decision. This is a very economically feasible answer to providing early detection for the population of China."

"Dr. Kelly is an experienced breast imaging radiologist who was concerned that ultrasound had been bypassed as a solution for screening dense breast tissue. He invented the procedure and created a company to tackle the problem. Ultrasound is cost effective, does not introduce the patient to radiation, and ultrasound provides great imaging especially in dense tissue," comments Jeff Collins, president and founder of The Medipattern Corporation. "Medipattern was pleased to introduce SonoCine to its partner reseller, Beijing Eastwide and researchers at the PLA301 in China to show them that ultrasound can be effective in screening for breast cancer. B-CAD has been submitted for SFDA in China and we expect sales of B-CAD to commence once final approval from China's State Food and Drug Administration is obtained."

The Medipattern Corporation

Medipattern develops computer-aided detection (CAD) solutions for medical imaging. These products enhance workflow while improving interpretive and diagnostic confidence. The Company's initial clinical applications are B-CAD(TM) for breast ultrasound and B-CADMRI(TM). Both have received awards for innovation in the industry. The B-CAD products, part of the Company's CADENZA(TM) platform, use pattern recognition technology to assist radiologists in their efforts to classify and characterize lesions in medical images. Please visit the company's website at: http://www.medipattern.com.

SonoCine

SonoCine, Inc. is a new, privately held medical technology company that has developed an innovative, patented, investigational imaging process, SonoCine. Early study data suggest that SonoCine may considerably enhance the physician's ability to diagnose disease and study tissues whose images have been generated by state-of-the-art medical scanners. The physician is thus able to provide patients with more definitive and reliable diagnoses from their imaging examinations. Breast, vascular and orthopedic ultrasound, echocardiography, MRI and CT are among some of the possible applications of SonoCine. SonoCine is currently under clinical trial in 6 sites in the USA. SonoCine, Inc. anticipates that upon FDA approval, there will be significant demand for its products and services, especially for SonoCine whole-breast ultrasound because breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death and illness in women worldwide. Please visit the company's website at: http://www.sonocine.com.

B-CAD(TM) and B-CADMRI(TM) are trademarks of The Medipattern Corporation.

Medipattern(R) is a registered mark of The Medipattern Corporation.

SonoCine is a trademark of SonoCine, Inc.

Forward-looking statements

This document contains forward-looking statements relating to Medipattern's performance, operations, or business environment. These statements are based on what we believe are reasonable assumptions given currently available information and our understanding of Medipattern's current activities. We have tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements using words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "potential", and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict or control. A number of factors could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. These factors include but are not limited to those set forth in the Company's corporate filings, (posted at http://www.sedar.com). In addition, these forward-looking statements relate to the date on which they are made. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason. Readers should not rely on forward-looking statements.

SonoCine