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(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO )
This agreement authorizes Siemens Healthcare to share the basicintellectual property of Prowess' patented Direct Aperture Optimization (DAO)planning software, allowing Siemens to incorporate Prowess' software into thetreatment planning tools for its linear accelerators. This, in turn, will helpusers to dramatically reduce the number of segments, monitor units, andoverall treatment times.
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"This partnership with Prowess will provide us the ability to deliver asolution that helps clinical teams treat patients more efficiently by reducingtreatment times, dosage, and exposure of healthy tissues," said HolgerSchmidt, Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Healthcare, Oncology Care Systems."The open system architecture will enable Siemens to offer users one of thebroadest selections of treatment planning tools on the market."
"Working closely with Siemens, we are developing a joint solution thatcombines Siemens' innovative oncology therapy solutions with ourmarket-leading treatment planning system," said John Nguyen, CEO of Prowess."We look forward to realizing the full potential of this partnership andcontinuing to drive innovation in the oncology field."
The Prowess DAO-based Plan-to-Patient tool* for Adaptive Radiation Therapy(ART) has been clinically evaluated and is planned to be available in thespring of 2008. The tool works with Siemens' unique CTVision(TM) System, aSOMATOM(R) CT Sliding Gantry on rails combined with an ARTISTE(TM) orONCOR(TM) Linear Accelerator. DAO enables users to make on-line plancorrections based on actual pre-treatment CT scans taken in the treatmentroom, while the patient is on the linear accelerator's treatment table.
Siemens is also working on the development of a highly-efficient singlearc radiation treatment called Cone Beam Therapy (CBT)*. The combination ofCBT with DAO-based planning software will help improve tumor control for manydisease sites, while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible.
About Siemens Healthcare
Siemens Healthcare is one of the world's largest suppliers to thehealthcare industry. The company is a renowned medical solutions provider withcore competence and innovative strength in diagnostic and therapeutictechnologies as well as in knowledge engineering, including informationtechnology and system integration. With its laboratory diagnosticsacquisitions, Siemens Healthcare will be the first fully integrateddiagnostics company, bringing together imaging and lab diagnostics, therapy,and healthcare information technology solutions, supplemented by consultingand support services. Siemens Healthcare delivers solutions across the entirecontinuum of care -- from prevention and early detection, to diagnosis,therapy and care. The company employs more than 49,000 people worldwide andoperates in 130 countries. In the fiscal year 2007 (Sept. 30), SiemensHealthcare reported sales of euro 9.85 billion (on a pro forma basis includingDade Behring roughly euro 11 billion), orders of euro 10.27 billion, and groupprofit of euro 1.32 billion. Further information can be found by visitinghttp://www.siemens.com/healthcare.
About Prowess Inc.
Prowess Inc. is an international radiation cancer treatment planningsoftware developer based in Chico, California. Under the direction andleadership of Mr. Nguyen, Prowess has con