The move will help Agilent to provide pathologists with an advanced platform that can speed up diagnosis and enhance patient outcomes
Agilent announces distribution agreement for digital pathology scanner with Hamamatsu. (Credit: Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company/Wikimedia Commons)
US-based Agilent Technologies has announced a distribution agreement with Hamamatsu Photonics to integrate the latter’s NanoZoomer range into its end-to-end digital pathology solution.
The NanoZoomer Slide scanner system, which includes the S360MD Slide scanner system, converts glass slides into high-resolution digital data by high-speed scanning.
The addition of the NanoZoomer range is said to complete Agilent Technologies’ portfolio of an open and agnostic digital pathology workflow developed to speed up breakthroughs in precision medicine.
According to Agilent Technologies, the combination of Hamamatsu’s slide scanning capability with its digital pathology solution will provide pathologists with an advanced platform that may speed up diagnosis and enhance patient outcomes.
The digital pathology workflow is scalable and features scanners, an image management system, as well as digital pathology applications that are compatible with Agilent pathology solutions and other technology and laboratory information systems (LIS).
This enables forward-thinking labs to take advantage of flexible, future-proof technology that positions them for growth as requirements change, said Agilent Technologies.
Hamamatsu sales vice president Laura Pagano said: “Time is critical for patients and clinicians when awaiting a diagnosis. At Hamamatsu, our NanoZoomer Slide scanner digital pathology product line will help revolutionise the diagnostic process, enabling fast turnaround times, more efficient workflows, and more collaboration among pathologists worldwide.
“We are committed to facilitating the adoption of this transformative technology to help pathologists improve patient care and patient outcomes for every patient and, ultimately, anywhere in the world.”
Hamamatsu provides whole slide imaging systems and related technology like optical sensors, light sources, and complex instrument systems that use them.
Its NanoZoomer S360MD slide scanner system recently secured 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for primary diagnostic use in the US market.
Agilent Technologies vice president and pathology division general manager Lou Welebob said: “Increasing cancer cases and tests have driven pathology labs towards the implementation of digital pathology.
“This distribution agreement strengthens Agilent’s open and agnostic end-to-end digital pathology offering and demonstrates our commitment to providing superior digital pathology solutions for our customers.”