VIDA Diagnostics gains FDA approval for lung software

ICAD Client Obtains FDA Clearance for Sale

VIDA Diagnostics Inc. announced today that its primary product, Pulmonary Workstation 2.0 (PW2), has obtained FDA 510(k) clearance for sale.

PW2 is the first commercial release of lung image analysis software from VIDA and comprises a comprehensive approach to quantitative, repeatable lung measurements including the industry's first so-approved automatic lobe density and airway system measurement functions.

VIDA is a University of Iowa Research Foundation licensee and UI Technology Innovation Center business incubator tenant.

"We are privileged to be given the opportunity to make our leading PW2 application available to assist in the evaluation of millions of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema patients throughout the U.S.," said John Garber, VIDA CEO, in a press release. "Since these diseases often affect specific regions of the lung, the ability to individually and objectively measure each of the five lobes and 25 major airways should fast become an invaluable complement to existing systemic measures like pulmonary function tests."

VIDA's PW2 takes the complex information from a CT (computed tomography) scan of the lung and converts it into useful 3D images and measurements that are easily viewed by the practicing pulmonologist at the point of patient service, or by the radiologist in the radiology department. For the first time, airway, lung and lobe measurement tools are combined in the comprehensive PW2 software application.

VIDA Diagnostics was founded in 2004 by four UI faculty members: Eric Hoffman and Geoff McLennan; Joseph Reinhardt, associate professor of biomedical engineering; and Milan Sonka, professor of electrical and computer engineering.