Medipattern, Sentinelle Medical sign technology access and distribution agreement

The Medipattern Corporation (TSX VENTURE:MKI), a pioneer in the development of medical software solutions that help improve imaging workflow and productivity and Sentinelle Medical Inc., a leading manufacturer of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coils and advanced visualization software, have announced that they are entering a technology access and distribution agreement.

Medipattern pioneered breast ultrasound computer aided detection (CAD) and leveraged this experience towards the development of powerful breast lesion MRI morphological analysis technology. Under the agreement, Sentinelle would gain exclusive license to Medipattern's breast MRI morphological analysis technology.

"Breast MRI imaging is based on injecting the patient with a contrast agent and then taking successive images using MRI dynamics to watch the way the contrast is washed-in (uptake) and washed out. All of the major Breast MRI CAD products on the market today perform computer aided detection of the uptake and the washout of this contrast. One of the pieces that has been almost entirely overlooked is the actual physical structure or morphology of the tissue directly imaged by MRI. Medipattern's technology focuses on assisting the radiologist interpret the direct imaging or morphology," comments A. Thomas Stavros, MD radiologist at Sutter Women's Healthcare in Santa Rosa, CA. "Combining morphological analysis and Sentinelle's High Resolution coils is a win-win for physicians reading breast MRI. While breast MRI imaging has been found to be an important indicator, many of the workstations have been limited by just reviewing the dynamic element (wash-in and wash-out). Adding in the morphological analysis extends breast MRI analysis to an even greater and possibly even more vital role in breast cancer evaluation."

"As the field of breast MRI advances, we are entering an exciting time where the power of the contrast mechanisms of MRI can be used to classify lesions. Morphological analysis, lesion kenetics, diffusion contrast coupled with high quality breast MRI images produced by Sentinelle's line of MRI coils is leading to advancements in lesion detection and differentiation," says Cameron Piron, CEO of Sentinelle Medical. "Partnering with Medipattern allows us to launch a next-generation platform that will utilize these developments in an efficient, effective and adaptive manner. Streamlining morphology analysis is a challenging problem that requires a combination of Medipattern technology with Sentinelle MRI know-how. We are very excited about the potential impact this will have in the fight against breast cancer".

"Sentinelle is well positioned to make major advancements in Breast MRI technology. Medipattern is well served to partner with Sentinelle to deliver its Breast MRI CAD to the market," states Jeff Collins, Medipattern's President and CEO. "Medipattern was founded to help physicians in their pursuit of finding and identifying breast cancer earlier when it is more treatable. Sentinelle and Medipattern are perfectly aligned toward this great goal. We are pleased to work with Sentinelle."

Sentinelle products are used in leading breast cancer and imaging centers throughout North America including Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Centre, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Mountain Medical Physician Specialists, Radiology Ltd., Scripps Memorial Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University Health Network and Windsong Radiology Group.

2009 Upcoming Events:

• RSNA (Radiological Society of North America), November 29 to December 3, 2009, Chicago, IL 
• In the Medipattern booth 1009, PenRad Booth 4600, and the GE Healthcare Booth 4029