Kodak and IBM to deliver global storage infrastructure for medical imaging management

IBM recognizes the value of Kodak's technology and services for medical imaging and enterprise archiving applications and will supply storage infrastructure that powers Kodak's medical imaging systems to help manage and store large volumes of patient images and accompanying information.

"The challenge is storing and accessing images for radiologists and doctors with greater speed and reliability", stated Patrick Boyle, Medical Imaging Segment Executive, IBM Life Sciences. "With IBM's proven storage capabilities and Kodak's imaging expertise, Kodak's solution is providing doctors on-demand access to medical images which can ultimately improve the quality of patient care."

Kodak has worked collaboratively with IBM to certify and test IBM's TotalStorage Enterprise Storage Systems with its PACS as well as other health care information technology (IT) applications. Kodak can now also offer to integrate Kodak medical imaging products into a customer's existing infrastructure to help lower total cost of ownership and improve performance.

Kodak will integrate IBM's TotalStorage products with KODAK DIRECTVIEW Versatile Intelligent Patient Archive (VIParchive) software to provide enterprise-wide management of images and information across multiple storage devices and locations. The data management capabilities of the VIParchive extend Kodak's portfolio beyond radiology and into the health care IT market. With this solution, IT managers may be able to leverage shared storage systems across multiple applications ranging from radiology to cardiology, purchasing, inventory, payroll and other departmental functions.

Kodak's newest PACS platform, the KODAK DIRECTVIEW PACS System 5, is a Web-enabled, image-and-information management system that allows radiology departments to manage and store large volumes of patient medical images such as x-rays, CT scans and MRI images, and accompanying information. This open system also makes it possible to send medical images from one destination to another electronically, securely via the Internet, thus facilitating communications between radiologists and referring physicians.

Kodak's medical imaging solutions will interoperate with IBM's comprehensive storage technology, including IBM TotalStorage FAStT storage server and TotalStorage Enterprise Storage Server. In preparation for integrating with IBM storage products as part of a Kodak PACS solution, Kodak's sales specialists have received specialized training in IBM's storage products and systems.

Kodak's Health Imaging Group developes, manufactures, and markets intelligent imaging products from analogue to digital. Its portfolio includes computed radiography (CR) and digital radiography (DR) systems, laser imagers, picture archiving and communications systems (PACS), radiology information systems (RIS), traditional mammography and x-ray film systems, dental imaging products and various services offerings.