Siemens and U-Systems in Automated Breast Ultrasound Workstation Licensing Agreement

A new licensing agreement will allow clinicians to obtain a comprehensive three-dimensional (3D) view of the breast with the intuitive anatomic coronal plane, not available with traditional ultrasound systems. The agreement will facilitate the adoption of automated breast volume ultrasound technology.

Siemens Healthcare (Erlangen, Germany) and U-Systems, Inc. (Mountain View, CA, USA) announced a technology licensing agreement for U-Systems' somo•Viewer advanced workstation for automated breast ultrasound for use with Siemens' Acuson S2000 automated breast volume scanner (ABVS), which recently received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510 (k) clearance.

ABVS can make a significant contribution in diagnostic accuracy for women with dense breast tissue and inconclusive mammograms. The coronal view provided by the somo•Viewer workstation provides a more understandable representation of the global anatomy and architecture of the breast, which will ultimately improve patient care and increase clinical workflow.

The device is designated as a works-in-progress, and is indicated for use as an adjunct to mammography for B-mode ultrasonic imaging of a patient's breast when used with an automatic scanning linear array transducer. The device is not intended to be used as a replacement for screening mammography.

U-Systems is a venture-backed company with Siemens Venture Capital (SVC) as an investor. The company is a developer of dedicated breast ultrasound systems.

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