Siemens Healthcare has announced the addition of a mammography digitizing system from Carestream Healthcare to its Accessory Solutions product portfolio. The digitizer is offered through Siemens to US health care providers.

Carestream Health's specialised digitizer enables mammography facilities to transition to digital imaging by converting prior film-based diagnostic and screening mammograms into a digital imaging format so they can be viewed in conjunction with digital mammography exams on a diagnostic workstation.

"With this high-performance digitizer, our customers can help mammography providers enhance their productivity and achieve the benefits of an all-digital workflow enabled by our digital mammography systems," said Anders Steiner, vice president, Special Systems, Siemens Healthcare.

"Facilities will now be able to transition from their current processes, which require them to retrieve, display and re-file prior film-based mammography exams."

The digitizer's automatic processing capability allows up to 50 film images to be scanned without operator intervention. The system also provides automatic identification and orientation of images, as well as automatic retrieval of patient data from radiology information systems.

Michael N Benol, director, business development, CAD Business, Carestream Health said, Fully-featured digitizer helps improve operator productivity by providing automatic functions that reduce the need for manual tasks, Health care facilities are reporting that this digitizer has played an influential role in helping their facilities establish a streamlined digital workflow for mammography imaging.