Aperio Unveils Spectrum Digital Pathology Information Management System; USCAP and HIMSS Provide First Look at Productivity-Enhancing Software

Business Wire, Feb 13, 2006

VISTA, Calif. -- Aperio Technologies, the leading provider of digital pathology systems to the Healthcare IT industry, today unveils Spectrum, a state-of-the-art web-based digital pathology information management system, at both the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP) annual meeting in Atlanta, GA, and at Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) annual conference in San Diego, CA.

"Spectrum provides the applications and IT infrastructure required for pathologists to realize the productivity benefits of their colleagues in radiology," said Dirk Soenksen, CEO of Aperio. "Spectrum is closely integrated with our ScanScope virtual microscopy systems and extends Aperio's existing suite of software into a powerful, scalable web-based solution. The goal of Spectrum is to provide pathologists with the contextual perspective necessary to enable slide-based interpretations in a digital domain, and thereby improve their work environment."

Spectrum delivers the decision support information a pathologist needs, anywhere, anytime, in a web environment. It displays information in context, with gross (macro) images, micro digital slide images, reports, case histories, and other associated documents and images cross-linked and concurrently viewable. Pathologists are able to work through an entire case without having to get up to track down case information, or to wait for glass slides to be delivered. They can work remotely, even interactively, directing sectioning on gross tissue in real time. They can remotely capture z-stacks, review digital slides through different fields of depth, and compare them side-by-side. They can initiate automated image analyses and view the results, all within Spectrum.

"Our ScanScope Systems have introduced diagnostic-quality virtual microscopy to scores of institutions," explained Soenksen. "Virtual microscopy -- the practice of converting entire glass microscope slides to high resolution digital slides that can be viewed, managed and analyzed -- is the key enabling technology for digital pathology. We've drawn on our rich experience in the field to develop an effective digital pathology information management system that captures the potential of integrated case-based information."

At USCAP, Aperio will feature Spectrum presented on a stunning four-monitor display that functions like a pathology cockpit with all information at the user's fingertips. "Spectrum is completely device independent and can be viewed on any monitor," said Ole Eichhorn, chief technology officer at Aperio. "But we found this 'supermonitor' to be an elegant interface that is extremely well-suited to a pathologist's needs."

About Digital Pathology and Virtual Microscopy

Digital pathology is a digital environment for slide-based diagnoses that delivers consistent and accurate results, faster than traditional methods. It consolidates macro (gross) and micro (slide) information with case histories, work lists, reports, associated images and documents, and also with automated entire-slide analysis and CAD (computer aided diagnosis). It facilitates immediate access to information contained in glass microscope slides, from anywhere, and provides powerful tools for the instant archival and intelligent retrieval of histo-pathological data. Virtual microscopy -- the practice of converting entire glass microscope slides to high resolution digital slides that can be viewed, managed and analyzed -- is the key technology that enables digital pathology. Digital pathology is compatible with PACS (picture archiving and communication systems) and supports the vision of an enterprise-wide healthcare IT solution aimed at the electronic medical record (EMR).

About Aperio Technologies, Inc.

With the largest installed base of virtual microscopy systems, Aperio Technologies is a worldwide leader in virtual microscopy and digital pathology. Our ScanScope(R) scanners and Digital Slide Information Management Software deliver integrated digital slide creation, viewing, management, and analysis capabilities to pathologists, and set the standard in digital pathology. Applications include tissue microarrays, toxicology pathology, image analysis, workflow systems (PACS), telepathology, frozen sections, hematopathology, and cytology. Our freely downloadable ImageScope(TM) viewer makes digital slides accessible anywhere, anytime. With headquarters in Vista, California, Aperio serves a global pathology market in clinical, research, and education. For more information and to view a gallery of digital slides created by ScanScope Systems, please visit www.aperio.com.

Spectrum, ScanScope and ImageScope are trademarks and registered trademarks of Aperio Technologies.