Bacus Laboratories, Inc.  releases WebSlide Server 3 software
Web Server software designed specifically for virtual microscopy, 3rd generation software is released

Bacus Laboratories is pleased to unveil its latest generation of WebSlide Server software.  Almost a year in development and testing and built upon our rock solid foundation of previous versions, this is certainly our best release of WebSlide Server software yet.  The server engine is entirely re engineered and runs as a Windows service now, a highly requested feature.  The performance increases in the new server engine are amazing, both in throughput and load. 

WebSlide Server 3 is actually a suite of software, including a redesigned Server Administrator, the server itself now as a service, SlideTray with the new meta data editor,  database support with the new WebSlide Finder, and a new utility named WebSlide Optimizer.  The Optimizer program will automatically convert your existing WebSlide virtual slides into a newer version of the WebSlide format that improves delivery speed, especially in the lower magnifications.

WebSlide Finder is a new database / viewer technology that comes with WebSlide Server 3.  Easily search through large slide collections and rapidly find the slides you are looking for.  View multiple slides side by side, with our fastest single pane viewer yet.  The Slide Information tab is conveniently placed in the viewer window with the slide, all the slides meta data is only a click away. 

WebSlide Server 3 can also be configured for workflow solutions utilizing scanners with auto-slide loading.  Virtual slides can be routed to an incoming folder from the scanner(s), or a conversion program between a scanner we support, the slides will be optimized if necessary and automatically mounted on the server with no need to restart the server.  Several methods of new slide notification are supported, including RSS.

WebSlide Server 3 sports a redesigned web user interface utilizing our proven ActiveX and Java based WebSlide Viewers.  The servers home page can be easily configured with the Administrator software, and provides more information in the status window than previous versions, things that make a server administrators job easier.

About Bacus Laboratories Inc.

Bacus Laboratories Inc., located in the Chicago suburban area, pioneered virtual microscopy in the mid-1990's. The company, a leader and innovator in virtual microscopy, also has products for quantitative pathology and tissue microarray imaging. Bacus is a leading provider of virtual microscopy as a replacement for glass slides and microscopes in medical education and pathology. The company, founded in 1994 has 12 patents in Internet-based virtual microscopy and related digital imaging methods. Its WebSlide^® virtual slide format, server software, and viewing software, provide cost effective solutions for digital microscopy. For further information, contact Bacus Laboratories at (630) 424-9750 or visit http://www.bacuslabs.com.

Virtual Slide Technology to Increase Clinical Lab Efficiency and Enhance Patient Care

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., and LOMBARD, Ill. (July 17, 2006) - Olympus, a precision technology leader designing and delivering imaging solutions in healthcare, life science and photography, today announced it acquired privately-held Bacus Laboratories Inc. (BLI) of Lombard, Ill., opening the door for future technology that could one day allow millions of medical opinions now formulated by doctors using traditional optical microscopes to be facilitated by digital imaging. 

The acquisition brings together Olympus, the dominant microscope hardware provider in the American clinical laboratory market, and BLI, the leader in virtual microscope slide technology and in microscope software for clinical laboratory applications.  By securing BLI's patents and software capabilities as part of the transaction, Olympus has gained access to two key technologies, virtual microscope slide and telemedicine, enabling the company to offer the first and only comprehensive, one-stop solution for laboratories seeking a comprehensive virtual microscope slide system.

Virtual microscope slides allow professionals to review biopsies and other pathology images without handling traditional glass slides.  Through telemedicine doctors can share highly detailed microscope images over the Internet for long-distance consultation.  While both technologies are widely anticipated among healthcare professionals, neither has been used much up to now due to limited resources.

"The combination of Olympus microscope systems and BLI software could potentially bring pathology into the next century. This is a watershed moment in which a giant industry turns a corner and moves toward a new way of operating," said Dr. Stephen S. Tang, group vice president and general manager, Life Science, Olympus America. "Being able to digitize slides, share analysis, and attach images to a patient's medical file is the next step we have been waiting for.  It paves the way for more informed decisions by physicians, better-served patients, and enhanced teaching and training."

More than $6.5 billion in pathology testing was performed in the U.S. in 2003 (1), and the market continues to grow as testing increases and the population ages.  Medical testing now informs more than 60% of the professional decisions that doctors make (2).

Medical slides contain so much high-resolution information that it can take thousands of typical digital pictures to reproduce all the data in one image, and powerful computers to store the data.  Combining Olympus and BLI technologies in one solution can help streamline the process, improve speed of reporting, save substantial expense, and enhance patient care.  Virtual microscope slide technology also will aid hospitals in fulfilling the President's mandate to have comprehensive patient Electronic Medical Record systems in place by the year 2014 (3).
 
 "This exciting acquisition is the first of its kind for Olympus America, putting us into the lead in virtual slide and clinical digital microscopy," said F. Mark Gumz, president and chief operating officer, Olympus America Inc.  "It is the latest in a series of acquisitions and investments that Olympus has made globally over the past few years as part of our worldwide strategy to develop, ally with, or acquire technologies that the company believes will be vitally important in how healthcare is delivered in the future."

BLI becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Olympus America, retaining its name.  The company's integration into the operations of Olympus' Scientific Equipment Group (SEG), part of Olympus Life Science, will start immediately.  All BLI employees will retain their positions and continue to report to BLI management.  Dr. James Bacus, president of BLI, and James Bacus, Jr., vice president of BLI, will report to Olympus management.  BLI's licenses and other business relationships will remain mostly unaffected. 

"It has long been my goal to partner with a company that has the strategic vision to help our country reach the potential of a new era in medicine.  Olympus is that visionary company," said Dr. Bacus.  "Virtual microscopy, telemedicine and other digital technologies are the future of medical care in this country.  Now, we are the only company in the world that has the hardware, software and expertise to help bring digital pathology imaging to its full potential to benefit human health."

Among the products to be sold by the combined company is the comprehensive BLISS system, designed for a single workstation, which combines an Olympus microscope, service and training with BLI software.  BLI is also the leading provider of virtual microscope slides and Internet server software in medical education. These products are available immediately.  Future products may include systems to help larger laboratories digitize their entire pathology suite. 

ABOUT OLYMPUS
Olympus is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering imaging solutions in healthcare, life science and photography.

Olympus works collaboratively with its customers and its parent company, Tokyo-based Olympus Corporation, to leverage R&D investment in precision technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines. 

These include:
* Gastrointestinal endoscopes, accessories, and minimally invasive surgical products;
* Advanced clinical and research microscopes;
* Lab automation systems, chemistry-immuno and blood bank analyzers and reagents;
* Digital and film cameras and digital voice recorders.

In the U.S. and Canada, Olympus America serves healthcare and commercial laboratory markets with integrated product solutions and financial, educational and consulting services that help customers efficiently, reliably, safely, and easily achieve superior results.  Olympus is the leader in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes.  The company's consumer products business spans North and South America.  For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.

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Footnotes:
(1) Presentation by Christopher Jahnle, ASA, Managing Director, Haverford Health Partners, to the American Pathology Foundation, March 8, 2003
(2) J.P. Morgan 24th Annual Healthcare Conference, January 9-12, 2006
(3) Transforming Health Care: The President's Health Information Technology Plan, http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/technology/economic_policy200404/chap3.html

Bacus Laboratories, Inc.  releases SVS converter software
SVS Converter software automatically converts Aperio virtual slides into the industry standard WebSlide virtual slide format

Bacus Laboratories is pleased to announce its new SVS Converter software.  "SVS Converter software can be driven manually to convert one slide at a time, or a folder of slides at a time.   It can also be used in concert with our workflow software to automatically convert the virtual slide files as they are saved from the scanner, and automatically be placed on our WebSlide Server for immediate view with any of our viewers."

"We have broad experience working with different microscopes and slide scanners.  The WebSlide virtual slide format was designed from the beginning to be flexible enough to work with a wide variety of hardware.  The WebSlide virtual slide format is currently working with four different types of scanners from four different manufacturers, Aperio will be our fifth.  After being converted to the WebSlide format, Aperio virtual slides are actually smaller in size and delivered faster over a network." stated James V. Bacus, vice president of Bacus Labs.

"What this offers to education and research organizations is the ability to leverage existing virtual slide collections and use them with our very popular WebSlide Server, database, annotation and viewer software.  This also is a tool in our workflow software suite that allows customers to integrate solutions that use a variety of scanners with unique capabilities and utilize a standard, proven virtual slide format."

About Bacus Laboratories Inc.

Bacus Laboratories Inc., located in the Chicago suburban area, pioneered virtual microscopy in the mid-1990's. The company, a leader and innovator in virtual microscopy, also has products for quantitative pathology and tissue microarray imaging. Bacus is a leading provider of virtual microscopy as a replacement for glass slides and microscopes in medical education and pathology. The company, founded in 1994 has 12 patents in Internet-based virtual microscopy and related digital imaging methods. Its WebSlide^® virtual slide format, server software, and viewing software, provide cost effective solutions for digital microscopy. For further information, contact Bacus Laboratories at (630) 424-9750 or visit http://www.bacuslabs.com.

Lippincott, Williams & Wilkin's in collaboration with Bacus Laboratories, Inc has published a collection of over 100 virtual slides for Rubin's Pathology 4^th Edition.  The collection of virtual slides were selected and expertly annotated by Dr. Emanuel Rubin, MD, and scanned by Bacus Labs.  Rubin's Pathology adopters will appreciate this enhanced learning tool, while non adopters and pathology educators interested in Virtual Microscopy will benefit from a beautiful, detailed, and fully annotated collection.  The collections are available via individual DVD sets, or with a server software package for hosting and delivery of the virtual slides via the Internet to large groups of students.  Packages can be acquired through your Lippincott or Bacus Labs representative.

Scientific Symposiums International is a premier and accredited provider of continuing education courses for pathologists, dermatologists, hematologists, oncologists, clinical pathologists, lab directors and lab managers.  SSI, together with Bacus Laboratories, introduces Virtual Slide case studies for all SSI registered attendees.  Attendees will have the tools to prepare for their lectures with slides and information provided by internationally recognized experts.  This process will enhance the overall learning and increase interaction of attendees while at the meeting. In addition, after the meeting PowerPoint presentations will be provided on the web site so that attendees can archive, review and save information on what they have learned.  To learn more or register to attend a Scientific Symposiums International meeting, visit. www.scientificsymposiums.com.

Everyday our customers put virtual microscopy to work.  The George Washington University Medical Center has recently adopted virtual microscopy in the classroom and here is a link to their experience.

Bacus Laboratories is featured in the April 2006 virtual microscopy feature issue of Biophotonics International.  "Virtual Microscopy Slides into Place" by Hank Hogan, Contributing Editor.

Bacus Laboratories, Inc. is still looking to fill a new Software Engineer position and a new Education Sales Specialist position for immediate full time hire.  Please see our Careers page.

Version 3.99 of WebSlide Browser is available for download.  This version fixes a problem with logging off certain WebSlide Server configurations.

More...

Bacus Laboratories, Inc. was awarded its twelfth patent, Canadian Patent 2,436,043.  Focusable Virtual Microscopy Apparatus and Method.