Imager Designed for Full-Field Digital Mammography Applications

A new mammography imager is a high-resolution thermal printing system and specially engineered blue thermal high-density film. The new printer is optimized for full-field digital mammography (FFDM) applications and designed to help facilities meet U.S. Mammography Quality Standard Act (MQSA) regulations.

Similar to other members of the Sony Electronics' (Tokyo, Japan) FilmStation range of systems, the UP-DF750 has been designed for digital printing and provides very fast speed, image quality, and flexibility in a compact footprint. The imager yields high-resolution, detailed images in 606 dpi (dots per inch) at an ultra-fast print time of approximately 90 sheets per hour.

The new film imager strengthens Sony's ongoing commitment to the women's imaging market. "When mammography sites go digital, the need for printing images still remains strong,” said Julie Holodak, radiology product marketing manager for Sony Electronics. "For consultations, second opinions, and treatment planning, mammography image sharing is frequently accomplished with hard copies. "However, since exams are typically read digitally, imaging sites are looking for printers that are cost-effective, compact, and easy to use and maintain, while delivering the high image quality that the modality requires. This new imager was specifically created to meet all these demands.”

The system meets a full range of general radiology printing needs. It features the FilmStation imager's unique, flexible configuration that enables both vertical and horizontal positioning and, if desired, will be able to stand upright conveniently alongside a personal computer (PC) under a desktop. The dry imager has a very compact footprint and weighs 50 pounds less than the smallest competing device. The ultra-fast one-minute warm-up time should be suitable for current digital mammography sites that often switch between soft and hard copy output.

Designed for ease of use, the new FilmStation imager has front-mounted controls, a built-in Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) 3.0 interface and accepts film in multiple sizes. Automatic calibration provides consistent image quality.

Sony Electronics announced in January 2009 U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510k clearance for its imager, for FFDM applications.

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