SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Varian Medical Systems,Inc. (NYSE: VAR) today announced that Sound Technologies, Inc. (a Division of VCA Antech (NASDAQ: WOOF)), a leading provider of digital radiography and PACS technology for the veterinary market, will purchase $5.5 million worth of Varian's PaxScan® flat-panel digital image detectors, for inclusion in Sound Technologies' state-of-the-art X-ray imaging and picture archiving systems for the North American veterinary marketplace. "The benefits of digital radiography, integrated imaging solutions, and the resulting workflow efficiencies are now moving into veterinary medicine," said Gary Okamoto, imaging products marketing manager for Varian Medical Systems. Varian's medical-grade PaxScan amorphous silicon flat-panel X-ray detectors are used instead of film, to obtain instant high-resolution X-ray images (radiographs) for display on computer monitors and for storage in electronic archives. PaxScan detectors make it possible to acquire, store, and transmit high-resolution images with unprecedented speed and cost efficiency. Using Sound Technologies' VetPACS™ and TruDR™ platforms with Varian's imaging technology, veterinarians are able to instantly obtain clear, high quality images in record time for quickly diagnosing and treating animals in their care. "We've taken one of our most popular digital radiographic panels, used in FDA-cleared diagnostic imaging systems for medical use, and customized it for Sound Technologies' TruDR digital radiography veterinary application," said Okamoto. "As the leading imaging and PACS provider in veterinary medicine, Sound Technologies represents an exciting partner for Varian's efforts in digital radiography." "Our TruDR digital radiography and VetPACS (Picture Archival and Communications Systems) are transforming the way veterinarians practice medicine," said Kevin Wilson, CEO, Sound Technologies, Inc. "With TruDR and VetPACS, veterinary specialists and general practitioners can significantly improve both animal care and profitability." The PaxScan-acquired images are captured as DICOM medical standard files, with Sound Technologies' VetPACS software, for manipulating, archiving and sharing digital images in-clinic or via the Internet. For retention, TruDR images are archived in the industry standard DICOM format, for easy transport to and display on any DICOM-compatible workstation. With over 25,000 annual telemedicine consultations, the Sound Technologies VetPACS network of radiology, medicine, and surgery specialists uses digital radiography technology to improve the quality of animal care. "Our high volume arrangement, long-term partnership, and Varian's long-standing leadership position in medical technology is allowing Sound Technologies and all veterinarians to take advantage of digital radiography and PACS at price points nearly 50 percent below other available technologies," said Lane Naffziger, Digital Client Services Manager, Sound Technologies. "With Varian's solid technology, R&D, integration, and support, we have been able to rapidly create our industry leading TruDR digital radiography products and bring them to market quickly, even while significantly reducing the overhead of this major project." Varian's PaxScan image detectors are available in a variety of sizes, and have been incorporated into cardiac, angiographic, dental, and neonatal medical imaging systems. Sound Technologies, Inc. of San Diego, California, is the veterinary industry's #1 Digital Imaging and PACS Company, with leadership positions in Ultrasound, Digital Radiography, Education, Mobile Specialist Imaging, Telemedicine, and PACS Solutions. Founded in 1996, Sound Technologies is a Division of VCA Antech, and is dedicated to the field of veterinary imaging and education. VCA Antech also owns, operates and manages the largest network of freestanding veterinary hospitals and veterinary-exclusive clinical laboratories in the country and employs approximately 4,800 professionals throughout North America. For more information, visit the Sound Technologies Web site at http://www.soundvet.com/ or http://www.vcaantech.com/. Varian Medical Systems, Inc. of Palo Alto, California, is the world's leading manufacturer of integrated cancer therapy systems as well as X-ray tubes and flat-panel sensors for imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 3,280 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America and Europe and in 55 sales and support offices around the world. The company's X-ray Products business unit is based in Salt Lake City. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com/. Contact: Meryl Ginsberg of Varian Medical Systems, +1-650-424-6444, or meryl.ginsberg@varian.com; or Kevin Wilson of Sound Technologies, Inc., +1-760-918-9626, option 1, or sales@soundvet.com. SOURCE: Varian Medical Systems, Inc. Web site: http://www.vcaantech.com/ Web site: http://www.soundvet.com/ Web site: http://www.varian.com/