Sigmascreening

Sigmascreening, established in 2007 as a spin-off from the Academic Medical Center (AMC) in Amsterdam, is a medical device company focused on digital mammography and breast cancer screening. The company was founded by Ard den Heeten, a professor of Radiology, and Kees Grimbergen, a professor of Medical Technology. Their collaboration began after Grimbergen questioned why mammography machines measured force rather than pressure, which is what the patient actually feels, leading them to identify a fundamental flaw in the conventional procedure.

The core of Sigmascreening's business is the development and commercialization of the Sensitive Sigma Paddle, a compression plate for mammography equipment. This product addresses a long-standing issue in mammography: the pain and discomfort caused by excessive breast compression, a factor that can deter women from undergoing regular screenings. The Sensitive Sigma Paddle distinguishes itself by measuring pressure instead of force, personalizing the compression for each breast based on its size and tissue stiffness. LED light indicators provide real-time visual feedback to the technician until an optimal and standardized pressure is reached, aiming to reduce pain without compromising image quality.

Studies have indicated that applying the right amount of pressure can significantly increase the sensitivity of mammograms, potentially improving cancer detection rates. By standardizing the pressure, the procedure becomes more reproducible, leading to more consistent imaging results. The company's business model revolves around selling this patented technology to hospitals and breast screening centers. By 2022, the technology was already in use in 22 hospitals across Europe. In November 2022, Sigmascreening's patents and intellectual property portfolio were acquired by Teledyne DALSA, a company specializing in image sensing technology. This acquisition is intended to make the pressure-sensitive compression technology available globally and integrate it with Teledyne's CMOS X-Ray detectors for mammography.

Keywords: medical device, mammography, breast cancer screening, diagnostic equipment, pressure-based compression, Sensitive Sigma Paddle, MedTech, radiology, cancer detection, patient comfort, medical imaging, digital mammography, X-Ray imaging, breast compression, image quality, Teledyne DALSA, Ard den Heeten, Kees Grimbergen, AMC spin-off, breast imaging technology