November 28, 1998, Montreal, Canada - Matrox Imaging, a division of the Matrox Corporate Group and supplier of advanced PC vision hardware and software, and Image Connectivity Sweden AB (ICS), an expert developer and jointly-owned company of Helax AB and Precitron AB, today announced that the award-winning Matrox Genesis vision processor board was chosen for ICS' IMCON/ORION simulator workstation, a new device replacing the fluoroscopic monitors found on conventional commercial simulators used in radiotherapy treatment planning.

The IMCON/ORION workstation, thanks to the real-time digitization, processing and display functionality of the Matrox Genesis vision processor, is able to accurately digitize the video signal from the X-ray Image Intensifier of a simulator, while enhancing, geometrically correcting and displaying the resulting images in real time (25 frames or images per second). Working with live, digitally corrected and enhanced video images paves the way to more efficient treatment planning. Using conventional computer technology, it would take several seconds to correct the distortion found in a single frame or image. Other features enabled by Matrox Genesis include the ability to draw and make measurements directly on the patient digital images to be used later at the treatment stage.

"The Matrox Genesis vision processor was a critical component in our system that let us offer some unique features like real-time image distortion correction and enhancement", said Kjell Westerlund, President of ICS. "This single board was the only off-the-shelf product available that met our requirements for an imaging subsystem. Matrox's comprehensive software was also a key factor in bringing our workstation to market".

Helax and Precitron are marketing and selling the workstation under the name of Helax-IMCON and ORION respectively. Clinical units of the workstation are in operation today around the world.

Matrox is exhibiting a number of PC board-level solutions for the development of medical imaging systems at booth #9026 in the InfoRAD section at RSNA

Helax AB, established in 1986, is an independent expert company supplying the worldwide market with integrated workstations for diagnosis, virtual planning , verification and follow up of treatment of cancer patients with radiation therapy.

Helax products, recognized as Helax-TMS, Helax-VISIR and Helax IMCON, are in compliance with the international quality regulations according to GMP, ISO 9001 and MDD, and are installed in more than 300 cancer clinics all over the world.

Precitron AB is an independent corporation and has been dedicated to supplying high quality accessories for radiotherapy since 1986. Precitron is ISO 9001 and EN 46001 certified. The product range covers a very comprehensive range of tools for clinical in vitro/in vivo dosimetry and quality assurance like JANUS , ELEKTRA,HERMES, POSEIDON, PEGASUS and APOLLO. For improved patient handling Precitron also offers the unique free-standing radiotherapy treatment couch HERCULES and the equally unique treatment couch top ATLAS.

The introduction of the image workstation for simulators, the Helax-IMCON and the ORION, will expand the use and versatility of the conventional radiotherapy simulator quite significantly.

Both Helax and Precitron are represented by a worldwide network of own companies and distributors for sales and service of Helax-IMCON and ORION.

For more information, contact our Media Relations Team.