Internazionale Medico Scientifica (IMS)

Nov 9, 2004

Bologna, Italy-based Internazionale Medico Scientifica (IMS) and its partner Giotto USA will showcase Giotto Image, which in a departure from traditional mammography systems features a movable gantry that can be rotated in different positions around the patient.

Giotto Image enables face-to-face mammography positioning, which can reduce technologist strain and injury, allow for higher throughput, enable more breast tissue to be visualized, reduce patient anxiety and discomfort, and enable easy conversion to a stereotactic biopsy device, according to the company.

At the RSNA, IMS will display two new products: a full-field digital mammography (FFDM) version of Giotto Image and a full-field digital biopsy device. The work-in-progress Giotto Image SDL (large), boasts a 24 x 30-cm amorphous selenium detector, and can be combined with IMS' new biopsy unit, Biopsy Digit-S, to perform stereotactic biopsy in the prone position.

Biopsy Digit-S is an automatic, full-field digital device that also uses an amorphous selenium digital detector. It can be used in both upright and prone positions, and with either IMS' original FFDM system, Giotto Image SD, with its 18 x 24-cm detector, or with the new Giotto Image SDL. IMS began marketing Biopsy Digit-S outside the U.S. in September 2004, and expects to market Giotto Image SDL outside the U.S. in January 2005. IMS hopes both products will be available in the U.S. in June 2005.

In addition to developing new products, IMS has been forming new alliances: In August, the company signed a three-year, global licensing and distribution agreement with CAD developer iCAD of Nashua, NH. IMS will integrate iCAD's Second Look system into Giotto Image SD, and expects to begin distributing the integrated package next year.

By Kate Madden Yee
AuntMinnie.com staff writer
November 10, 2004