Digital Pathology Leader Receives Broad Patent for Novel Image Pattern Recognition Technology based on Vector Quantization Vista, CA – September 6, 2007 – Aperio Technologies, Inc., (Aperio), a global leader in digital pathology for the healthcare and life sciences industry, announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted the company patent No. 7,116,440 covering systems and methods for image pattern recognition using vector quantization A key challenge in pathology is that it is difficult for pathologists to examine an entire tissue specimen with manual microscopy at high resolution to find rare events or to exhaustively identify significant regions of a biopsy slide. An important benefit of digital pathology is that tissue specimens that are scanned to create digital slide images can be interrogated by computer software at full resolution, including for image pattern recognition. The image pattern recognition technology covered by Aperio’s patent is based on the novel application of vector quantization, a technique commonly used for the compression of data streams. “We believe that computer-based image pattern recognition, also referred to as CAD (computer aided detection) in related fields like radiology, will become increasingly important in digital pathology,” said Dirk Soenksen, CEO of Aperio. “The image pattern recognition technology covered by this patent is unique in that it does not rely on prior knowledge of image based features, but rather involves statistical comparisons to imagery data that exhibit characteristics of interest. Our results to date are quite encouraging.” In addition to providing an efficient way to find regions of a digital slide that are similar to previously characterized imagery data, vector quantization also allows searching for exceptions; regions of digital slides which are different from previously characterized images. Aperio’s patent portfolio includes more than 30 issued, licensed or pending patents covering the creation, viewing, analysis and management of digital slides. About Aperio Technologies Aperio is digitizing pathology. We provide systems and services for digital pathology, which is a digital environment for the management and interpretation of pathology information that originates with a digital slide. Aperio’s award-winning ScanScope slide scanning systems and Spectrum™ digital pathology information management software improve the efficiency and quality of pathology services for pathologists and other professionals. Applications include education, remote viewing, archival and retrieval, basic research, and image analysis. While Aperio is pursuing regulatory clearance to address the clinical market, Aperio’s products have not yet been cleared or approved by the FDA. For more information, please visit www.aperio.com
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