Medical imaging developers can speed time to market, improve performance, and lower...

Medical imaging developers can speed time to market, improve performance, and
lower development costs with TI's new embedded processor software toolkit

New ultrasound development kit enables manufacturers to deliver clearer
images, more accurate diagnoses and cost-effective healthcare directly to
patients

DALLAS, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Delivering on its promise to offer a
portfolio of highly customizable DSP (digital signal processor) and high
performance analog products to meet the needs of medical imaging
manufacturers, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today announced
the availability of an embedded processor software toolkit developed for
medical diagnostic ultrasound manufacturers. The first in a family of
products, TI's toolkit helps manufacturers quickly and easily develop
ultrasound applications on the improved processing power of TI's C64x+(TM) DSP
platforms, enabling clinics and practitioners to deliver faster, more accurate
results to their patients. For more information visit:
www.ti.com/medicalimaging.

TI's new Embedded Processor Software Toolkit (STK) for medical diagnostic
ultrasound leverages the performance and power consumption of TI's C64x+
architecture to shorten the development time of an ultrasound system by
providing optimized implementations of commonly used processing blocks. TI is
also offering the TMS320C6455 DSP Starter Kit (DSK) for medical imaging, a
low-cost development platform which provides manufacturers with an easy-to-use
solution for evaluating and harnessing the power of highly programmable DSP
algorithms, affording a head start in medical imaging product development
time.

Key Features & Benefits
-- Optimized C64x+ software modules of common ultrasound processing
blocks
allows manufacturers to get to market faster while improving coding
efficiency, yielding higher performance systems at lower cost and
lower
power.
-- Complete source code for all modules affords developers full
visibility
and enables module customization and differentiation.
-- Well defined APIs simplify development by abstracting modules and
enabling easy integration into existing systems.
-- Complete benchmarks allow for quick and easy evaluation of module
implementation and comparisons to other architectures.
-- Full test benches provide assurance of module functionality while
aiding
in evaluation and development. Custom test vectors can easily be
added
to check functional and cycle performance for any input.
-- Full documentation of each optimized module provides coding
illustrations on computational optimization methods for the C64x+ core
which can be used as a model to optimize other code modules.
-- One year of support and release patches include up-to-date releases
and
support by TI's applications team over the next 12 months.

"Over the next few years, we anticipate a significant shift in medical imaging
applications from traditional imaging modalities limited to basic diagnostic
functions to a new ecosystem comprised of small form factor, highly accurate
portable devices, " said Susie Inouye, research director and president,
Databeans. "It is clear that manufacturers seeking to design more flexible,
affordable and portable ultrasound equipment can benefit from the low power,
high-performance and flexible programmability of TI's digital signal
processors."

Pricing & Availability
An evaluation version of the software toolkit, designed to give developers a
chance to evaluate the product, is free for a period of 90 days. The software
toolkit and DSP starter kit are available from TI today.

Find out more about TI's medical imaging portfolio by visiting the links
below:
-- Medical imaging evaluation modules and samples:
www.ti.com/ultrasoundstk
and www.ti.com/ultrasounddsk
-- TI's complete portfolio of embedded processors and high-performance
analog products for medical imaging: www.ti.com/medicalimaging
-- Medical imaging media gallery:
http://focus.ti.com/general/docs/gencontent.tsp?contentId=51459
-- TI eStore: www.ti.com/estore

-- Follow TI on Twitter: www.twitter.com/txinstruments

About medical components from Texas Instruments
TI is helping shape technology to improve the quality and accessibility of
medical equipment to revolutionize healthcare in the 21st century and beyond.
With its full range of analog and DSP products, from building blocks to
complete semiconductor solutions, plus systems insight, global support
infrastructure, advanced process technology and medical industry involvement,
TI is helping make innovative medical electronics more flexible, affordable
and accessible. TI's experience in diverse markets, such as wireless
communications, consumer electronics, automotive and aerospace, enables
engineers to meet increasing needs for higher speeds, higher precision, lower
power and smaller equipment, while maintaining the high standards for quality
and reliability that the medical market demands. For more information, please
visit www.ti.com/medical.

About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) helps customers solve problems and develop new
electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and more
fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through design, sales and
manufacturing operations in more than 30 countries. For more information, go
to www.ti.com.

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All registered trademarks and other trademarks belong to their respective
owners.

SOURCE Texas Instruments

Debbie Shemony of Texas Instruments, +1-301-515-6643, dshemony@ti.com; or Alex
Tan of GolinHarris, +1-972-341-2533, atan@golinharris.com, for Texas
Instruments. Please do not publish these numbers or e-mail addresses.