Frost & Sullivan Applauds Improved Efficiencies of Agfa HealthCare's MUSICA® Image Processing Software for the Digital Radiography Market

MUSICA, which stands for Multi-Scale Image Contrast Amplification, is an image-processing algorithm that differentiates Agfa HealthCare's DR solutions from its peers. This software optimizes and quality-controls images automatically, while competitors' products require operators to manually adjust contrast, density, sharpness, and other elements to augment image quality.

"Now in its third generation, MUSICA is the engine that generates the crisp and detailed images produced by all of Agfa HealthCare's radiography equipment," said Frost & Sullivan Consultant Poornima Srinivasan. "The company offers standardized image quality, low dose imaging, and the best productivity across its imaging enterprise and radiography fleet."

Testing with board certified Radiologists has determined that Cesium Bromide (CR) and Cesium Iodide (DR) Detectors when used with MUSICA processing can provide dose reductions between 50 to 60% when compared to traditional Barium Fluoro Bromide CR systems. This claim has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the 510(k) pre-market process. Radiologists, administrators and technologists have been extremely satisfied with Agfa products' image quality, dose efficiency, and workflow productivity. Agfa HealthCare works closely with its customers so they can extract optimum clinical, operational, and financial benefits from the company's offerings. MUSICA algorithms have been developed with the help of dozens of radiologists reviewing thousands of clinical images. 

Agfa HealthCare's products support a wide range of radiography benefits, including fast procedure turnaround times, providing tools to support its customers' patient safety goals, and low retake rates. In addition to being extremely well positioned in the high-to-premium radiography market segments, Agfa HealthCare also promotes its high quality medical imaging technology among cost-sensitive customers. This strategy is rooted in the company's ability to deliver excellent return on investment through its consistent image quality, "right-the-first-time" imaging, and enhanced diagnostic insight.

Agfa HealthCare is among the top vendors globally, with 55,000 DR and computed radiography (CR) devices in operation as of 2015. Agfa's DR portfolio accounted for nearly 25 percent of the company's global healthcare revenue in 2015, with North America being one of the biggest contributors.

"Its in-house research and development capabilities, as well as its collaborations with research universities such as Oregon Health & Science University, have enabled Agfa HealthCare to sustain its value proposition," noted Srinivasan. "These relationships have made its DR systems one of the fastest-adopted products in North America, with more than 2,000 DR installations over the last three years."

Agfa HealthCare's DR solutions are proven to have a significant impact on radiology workflow, and enterprise imaging performance. As the company continues to strengthen its sales and service network, it is poised to make the most of the current buying behaviors in the North American DR market.

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About Agfa HealthCare

Agfa HealthCare, a member of the Agfa-Gevaert Group, is a leading global provider of diagnostic imaging and healthcare IT solutions. The company has nearly a century of healthcare experience and has been a pioneer on the healthcare IT market since the early 1990's. Today Agfa HealthCare designs, develops, and delivers state-of-the-art systems for capturing, managing, and processing diagnostic images and clinical/administrative information for hospitals and healthcare facilities, as well as contrast media solutions to enable effective medical imaging results.

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