senior_doctorsoffice - usedHitachi Aloka Medical Ltd., of Tokyo, recently became the exclusive global distributor of Dallas-based iVu’ Imaging Corporation’s SOFIA system, an automated whole breast ultrasound scanner designed to enable the earlier detection of breast cancer in women with mammographically dense breasts.

The agreement serves as an expansion of a partnership based on the early success the companies have achieved together in North America.

“This agreement represents a dramatic acceleration of our ability to meet customer needs on a global basis and fills a need for both companies,” said Mark Stribling, CEO of iVu. “iVu gains an expanded sales channel and Hitachi Aloka Medical Ltd. adds a solution to address a market that I believe is poised for significant growth over the next several years.”

According to Stribling, the partners have found technological synergy that improves the performance of SOFIA.

“By integrating Hitachi Aloka Medical’s transducer technology into SOFIA, we have been able to overcome what is the single most limiting factor for the adoption of whole breast ultrasound: acquisition and interpretation times,” Stribling continued, adding that the product change allows the acquisition of an entire breast volume in 52 seconds and an average image interpretation time of less than two minutes per case.

“As part of our global strategy, we are continually looking for ways Hitachi Aloka Medical can respond rapidly to market needs in order to improve women’s healthcare,” said Yukitoshi Kiyomura, Hitachi Aloka Medical’s managing director. “The two companies have combined their technologies in order to deliver best-in-class solutions for breast radiologists and their patients.”

The collaboration will also look to develop innovative technologies for the earlier detection of breast cancer that will better meet the needs of women around the globe, Kiyomura continued.

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