Varian Medical Systems to Supply PaxScan® Flat-Panel X-Ray Image Detectors for Sound Technologies TruDR™ Veterinary Digital Radiography System | Varian

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Varian Medical Systems to Supply PaxScan® Flat-Panel X-Ray Image Detectors for Sound Technologies TruDR™ Veterinary Digital Radiography System

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/