Elekta and MDS Nordion announce a global marketing agreement for the Oncentra suite of integrated oncology management so

Elekta and MDS Nordion announce a global marketing agreement for the Oncentra suite of integrated oncology management solutionsThe non-exclusive agreement provides Elekta with access to the complete suite of software tools from MDS Nordion including billing and scheduling modules that interface directly with the Elekta Desktop control and patient management system. With this agreement Elekta can offer all or any of the Oncentra software suite in combination with Elekta's own software solutions to provide a comprehensive information management solution."Elekta is delighted to extend to its customers both the current Elekta portfolio of solutions and now the MDS Nordion Oncentra suite", said Dee Mathieson Vice President, Product Management at Elekta. "Workflow management is a key issue to ensure efficient use of hospital resources. By integrating Elekta tools with the Oncentra suite we can assist oncology clinics to better manage the most critical resource, trained professional staff by accumulating, centrally storing and providing decentralized access to information".Oncentra® is MDS Nordion's suite of information management solutions with integrated treatment planning tools that encompass the entire treatment process from image-capture to planning to long-term data archiving and includes complete systems integration and project management services. Oncentra is the world's first truly open and integrated information management system designed specifically for oncology.Desktop is Elekta's integrated control and patient management system, combining the control of Precise Treatment System®, delivery of advance clinical techniques such as IMRT and management of patient data. Desktop is at the heart of Elekta's program to integrate all radiotherapy functions within a unified system and utilizes international standards and Elekta published protocols to manage a range of connectivity options to other modalities within and beyond radiation oncology. ***** ELEKTA is the world's 2nd largest supplier of radiation oncology and radiosurgery solutions for precise radiotherapy and neurosurgery. Elekta Precise Solutions includes a comprehensive range of non-invasive cancer care and minimally invasive neurosurgery systems including radiosurgery and stereotaxy, backed by a global network of clinical, technical and financial support services. MDS Nordion is part of MDS Inc., (NYSE: MDZ; TSX: MDS) an international health and life sciences company. MDS is focused on advancing health through science. It does this by providing: laboratory testing, imaging agents for nuclear medicine testing, sterilization systems for medical and consumer products, research services to speed discovery and development of new drugs, therapy systems for planning and delivery of cancer treatment, analytical instruments to assist in the development of new drugs, and medical/surgical supplies. For more information on MDS Inc., visit www.mdsintl.com.For further information, please contact: Outside North America: Andrew Davies Tel: +44 (0) 1293 654660, Fax: +44 (0) 1293 654118, Email: andrew.davies@elekta.com North America:Michelle Lee, Tel: +1 770-300-9725 x 277, Fax: +1 770-448-6338, e-mail michelle.lee@elekta.com Or visit www.elekta.com------------------------------------------------------------This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.netThe following files are available for download:http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/11/04/20040827BIT20540/wkr0001.pdf