Digital Mammography System Awarded for its Medical Design Excellence

The Finnish imaging equipment manufacturer Planmed (Helsinki) and its full-field digital mammography system, Planmed Nuance, were selected as one of the winners in the 11th annual Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) competition.

Planmed Nuance received a silver recognition in the category of radiological and electromechanical devices. A total of 33 products were awarded in 2008. Since its inception in 1998, the Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) competition has been an important awards program for the medical technology community, recognizing both design achievements and health care contributions of medical product manufacturers. Organized and presented by Canon Communications LLC (Los Angeles, CA, USA), MDEA is an awards program that exclusively acknowledges contributions and advances in the field of medical product design.

Entries were evaluated on the basis of their design and engineering features. The evaluation consisted of criteria such as product innovation, design and engineering achievement, end-user benefit, and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing and healthcare delivery.

The awarded Planmed Nuance full-field digital mammography (FFDM) system was commended for its design concept that combines ultimate digital imaging performance with excellent design and user ergonomics. Planmed Nuance is a top of the line FFDM unit for both digital screening and diagnostic mammography. The unit design incorporates several novel innovations, such as MaxView breast positioning system and side access patient positioning. The design also improves mammography acceptance by lowering patient anxiety.

A comprehensive review of the entries was performed by an impartial, multidisciplinary panel of third-party jurors with expertise in biomedical engineering, human factors, industrial design, medicine, and diagnostics. The 2008 jury selected 33 winners in 10 medical product categories. The award ceremony was held in New York, NY, USA, on June 4, 2008.

Planmed Oy develops, manufactures, and markets advanced imaging equipment and accessories allowing early detection of breast cancer. The product range covers digital and analog mammography units, mobile mammography units, stereotactic biopsy devices, and breast positioning systems. Planmed Oy exports more than 98% of its mammography equipment to over 70 countries worldwide.


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Medical Design Excellence Awards