ADAC Laboratories
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ADAC Laboratories[1][2] was a Silicon Valley medical device company specialising in nuclear medicine gamma camera manufacturing and associated nuclear medicine processing computers and software. It was originally located at 10300 Bubb Road, Cupertino, California, 95014, then as the company expanded moved in turn to the following locations. 4747 Hellyer Avenue, San Jose, CA 951,[3] then 255 San Geronimo Way, Sunnyvale, CA,[4] then from ~1993,[5] 540 Alder Drive Milpitas, CA 95035. Although most people called the company ADAC or adaclabs, the name ADAC was an acronym of Analytical Development Associates Corporation.[6] It was incorporated in California on October 14, 1970.[7]
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Industry | Medical Devices |
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Founded | 1970 |
Defunct | 2000 |
Fate | Acquired by Philips |
Headquarters | United States |
Number of employees | 720 |










In the early years ADAC developed both small nuclear medicine related hardware and software products but between 1975 and the 1980s, become better known for their computer systems such as the CDS and DPS acquisition and processing systems. In 1987–88 ADAC maintained Philips ARC gamma camera installed base under licence and In ~1991 Philips exited the nuclear medicine market. At that time, the Dutch vendor licensed its nuclear technology to both ADAC and Digital Design of France".[8] The 1990s were the dominant decade for ADAC in terms of gamma camera production, manufacturing the Argus, Genesys, Polaris, Thyrus, Transcam, Vertex, Forte and Skylight gamma cameras as well as the EPIC detector and molecular coincidence detection (MCD) option, along with the Pegasys nuclear medicine processing workstation and radiation treatment planning systems (RTP). In 1993 it was sued by Elscint for patent infringement and in 1994 purchased Philips' nuclear medicine patent portfolio, consisting of 13 U.S. patents and 56 foreign patents and patent applications.[8] "ADAC announced it had filed a patent infringement claim against Elscint in U.S. District Court in San Jose, California, charging Elscint with violating the Philips patents. ADAC filed the lawsuit in direct response to the Elscint litigation".[8] In 1996, ADAC was the recipient of a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award[9][10] and during that year employed 720 people worldwide.[11]
ADAC Laboratories was acquired by Philips in 2000 for $426 million, and incorporated into Philips Medical Systems (later Philips Healthcare).[12] ADAC continued to operate from the Milpitas location until around 2006 and was submitting FDA pre-market filings under the company name ADAC Laboratories, Milpitas, until 2006, where upon the 540 Alder Drive, Milpitas operation was closed and ADAC become fully integrated into the Philips organisation.
Products
Summarize
Perspective
Network based Nuclear Medicine Analysis and early products
Year | Product | Description | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1972 | Mednet[6] | Network based Nuclear Medicine Analysis (off site) | |
1972 | Patient Positioning Chair for Mednet System[6] | ||
1974 | RP/ED (Renal Perfusion/Excretion Determination)[13] | Software based feature for Mednet product | |
1974[14] | AW 1450 automatic well counter[14] | Isotometer well counter[14] | |
- | Gamma Probes | Such as model PA-6[15] | |
- | Interface Instrumentation | ||
1975[15] | ADAC MUS 10[15] | Mobile uptake system, thyroid uptake, cardiac output, clearance studies such as kidney & liver. Includes Spectrometer/scaler model SS-101, single probe stand on wheels, model SPS-4 and a gamma probe, model PA-6. Optional teleprinter on mobile cart, model ASR-33, ADAC Lister, model ADL-150[15] |
Nuclear Medicine Acquisition/Processing and Processing Only Workstations
Year | Product | Description | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | Clinical Data System I (CDS I)[16][17] | ADAC first advertised computer for less than $30,000 with 32K memory (Dec 1975)[16] | Hardware unknown but probably DEC based. |
1976[18] | Clinical Data System II (CDS II)[18] | Similar to ADAC's clinical Data System I but with an increase in memory to 40K x 16, dual 7" and 9" displays instead of a single display, 64 shades of gray, 512x512 image matrix, light pen with eight regions of interest (ROI's), dual 8" floppy disc drives. High speed 110 characters/sec printer, clinical software packages, in vivo & in vitro data analysis, optional extras: third disk drive which allows simultaneous processing while acquiring data, 64k x 16 memory, 8" x 10" film camera, Polaroid camera, FORTRAN IV compiler, paper tape reader for input of RIA, high speed disk drive for list mode and mass storage, remote dual displays, color display, image transmission via telephone, Microdot (Serale TM) interface.[18] | |
1980 | System I, II, III and IV[19] | Nuclear Medicine Acquisition and Processing Workstation | Based on DEC hardware. |
1985 | DPS 3300 Micro[20] | Nuclear Medicine Acquisition and Processing Workstation, Ethernet (10BASE5) can be used to connect multiple DPS 3300 micros together. Includes one 5.25" floppy disc drive. | Based on DEC 11/23 hardware with RT11 O.S. |
- | DPS 33000[21] | Nuclear Medicine Processing Workstation | Based on DEC hardware with RT11 O.S. |
1988 | Viewpoint[22] | Remote viewing station | MicroVAX system? |
1988 | Centor[21] | - | MicroVax system |
1989 | PegasysX[23] | Nuclear Medicine Processing Workstation | Based on Sun Solaris |
1995 | Pegasys Ultra 1 | Nuclear Medicine Processing Workstation | Based on Sun Solaris |
1997 | Pegasys Ultra 60 | Nuclear Medicine Processing Workstation | Based on Sun Solaris |
1998 | Pegasys Ultra 10 | Nuclear Medicine Processing Workstation | Based on Sun Solaris |
- | Pegasys HD | Nuclear Medicine Processing Workstation | Based on Sun Solaris |
2001 | Pegasys Blade 150 | Nuclear Medicine Processing Workstation | Based on Sun Solaris |
2004 | Jetstream Workspace (2004)[24] | PC, Windows O.S. | Post Philips acquisition but FDA pre-market filings as ADAC Laboratories, Alder Dr., Milpitas. |
Digital Radiography Systems
Year | Product | Description | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1982 | DPS 2800[25][3] | Digital Processing System | 510(k) premarket notification, decision 07/Feb/1982[[26] Applicant: ADAC Laboratories, Jellingvej 5, 92320 Svenstrup, Denmark, DK[26] |
1982 | DPS 4050[27] | Digital Radiography System[28] | 510(k) premarket notification, decision 06/Sep/1982[28] Applicant: ADAC Laboratories, Jellingvej 5, 92320 Svenstrup, Denmark, DK[28] |
1982 | DPS 6100[29] | Multi Modality Digital Processing System | 510(k) premarket Notification, Decision 07/Sep/1982[29] Applicant: ADAC Laboratories, Jellingvej 5, 92320 Svenstrup, Denmark, DK[29] |
1983 | PDX-4800[30] | Electronic Image Processing and Recording Apparatus which Converts Conventional X-Rays to a Digital Format[31] | 510(k) premarket notification, decision 03/Jan/1983[30] Applicant: ADAC Laboratories, Jellingvej 5, 92320 Svenstrup, Denmark, DK[30] |
1984 | DPS 7100 | Digital Radiography System[32] | 510(k) premarket notification, decision 10/Jan/1984[32] Applicant: ADAC Laboratories, 803 N. Front St. Suite 3, Mchenry, IL 60050[32] |
1985 | DPS 4070[33] | Digital Radiography System[34] | 510(k) premarket notification, decision 16/Apr/1985[34] Applicant: ADAC Laboratories, 4747 Hellyer Avenue, San Jose, CA 95138.[34] |
1988 | DTV-4114[35] | Fluoroscopic Television Camera[35] | 510(k) premarket notification, decision 18/May/1988[35] Applicant: ADAC Laboratories, 540 Alder Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035. |
Gamma Cameras
Year | Product | Description | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
- | ARC 3000[3] | Single detector. | |
1987 | ARC 5000[36][37] | Single detector. | 510(k) premarket notification, decision 30/Oct/1987[37] Applicant: ADAC Laboratories, 540 Alder Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035. |
1988 | Genesys SH[38] | Single rectangular detector, dual ring gantry design. | |
1990 | Genesys DH[39] | Dual rectangular detectors, dual ring gantry design. | |
1991 | Cirrus[40] | Single detector | 510(k) premarket notification, decision 23/Oct/1991[40] Applicant: ADAC Laboratories, 540 Alder Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035. |
1993 | Argus analogue detector | Single rectangular detector 20"x15".[41] | |
1993 | Polaris[42] | Single circular detector. | Produced by the company's Danish subsidiary, ADAC A/S |
1993 | Thyrus | 510(k) premarket notification, decision 21/Jun/1993[43] ADAC Laboratories 540 Alder Dr. Milpitas, CA 95035. Manufactured by the company's Danish subsidiary, ADAC A/S | |
1994 | EPIC Detector | The EPIC detector was introduced in 1994 and replaces the analogue rectangular detector.[7] | |
- | Transcam | Single round detector, mobile | Manufactured by the company's Danish subsidiary, ADAC A/S |
1994 | Vantage | Simultaneous transmission/emission attenuation correction | ADAC plans to file for FDA 510(k) clearance for Vantage Jun 1994[44] |
- | Argus EPIC detector | Single rectangular detector. | |
1995[45] | Vertex Classic | Dual rectangular detector, 180/90° user selectable geometry, dual ring gantry design, automatic collimator exchange | |
1995[46] | Vertex Cardio EPIC | Dual rectangular detector, 90° fixed geometry, dual ring gantry design. | |
1995[46] | Vertex Solus EPIC | Dual rectangular detector, 180° fixed geometry, dual ring gantry design. | |
- | Vertex PLUS | Dual rectangular detector, 180/90° user selectable geometry, dual ring gantry design. | |
- | Vertex Amazon V60 | Dual rectangular detector, 180/90° user selectable geometry, dual ring gantry design. | |
1995 | MCD Technology | Molecular Coincidence Detection (MCD) was introduced in Jun 1995[7] | |
1995[47] | Vertex with MCD | Dual rectangular detector, 180/90° user selectable geometry, dual ring gantry design, with Molecular Coincidence Detection (MCD) | |
1998[48] | Forte Classic | Dual rectangular detector, 180/90° user selectable geometry, single ring gantry design. | The Forte gantry was a design by DDD, manufactured by ADAC Laboratories. |
- | Forte Power Pack | Dual rectangular detector, 180/90° user selectable geometry, single ring gantry design. | |
- | Forte with MCD | Dual rectangular detector, 180/90° user selectable geometry, single ring gantry design. | |
1999[49] | Skylight EPIC | Dual rectangular detectors, 19=80/90 user selectable geometry, overhead gantry with suspended detectors. With EPIC detectors |

Products post Philips acquisition but issuing FDA pre-market filings as ADAC Laboratories, 540 Alder Dr., Milpitas, CA 95035.
Year | Product | Description | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | Gemini[50] | ||
2001 | Skylight (modification) | Option added: "to acquire a single head acquisition studies on two separate but simultaneous planar patients" | |
- | Skylight (modification) | EPIC detectors replaced with AZ detectors. | Although the name ADAC Laboratories had been replaced with Philips in regards to the main brand labels on the Skylight, there were still references to ADAC on the serial number labels as late as 2008. See photo.[51] |
2005 | Precedence[52] | SPECT/CT imaging system | |
2006 | Apollo[53] | Larger bore Forte with 3/4" rather the 5/8" crystals, not sold under the name Apollo. | From FDA information this product was sold under the name Philips Brightview |
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Year | Product | Description | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | C-PET | ||
- | C-PET Plus | ||
2001 | Allegro | ||
Radiation Treatment Planning Systems
Healthcare Information Systems (ADAC Laboratories, Milpitas and HCIS a subsidiary of ADAC Laboratories )
ADAC Laboratories were once the US domestic market leaders[2] and as of 2021 are still in clinical use around the world[61][62][63] and are also used for commercial & educational use[64]
Corporate Affairs
Company Acquisitions
- 1993 SD&G Healthcare Systems, Inc., specializing in radiology information systems.[65]
- 1995 Community Health Computing (CHC), Inc., specializing in laboratory and radiology information systems[65]
- 1997 Cortet, Inc., a developer of integrated computer systems for use in cardiac catheterization laboratories[65]
Patent Acquisitions
- ADAC purchases Philips' nuclear medicine patent portfolio, consisting of 13 U.S. patents and 56 foreign patents and patent applications. (1994)[8]
Litigation
- Elscint sues ADAC for patent infringement, ADAC counter sues. (1993)[8]
Corporate Officers
- Lowe, David L (CEO/Director)
- Eckert, R Andrew (CEO/Director)
- Starr, Robert A (Director)
- Simone Phillip A (Treasurer)
- Czerwinski, Stanley D (CEO/Director)
- King, Graham O. (Director)
- Masterson, Karen L (Corporate Secretary)
Related Entities with reference to 540 Alder Drive, Milpitas
ADAC International Subsidiaries
- ADAC Laboratories (Australia)[48]
- ADAC Laboartories (Brazil)[48]
- ADAC Laboratories (Canada)[48]
- ADAC Laboratories (Denmark)[48] (Jellingvej 5 9230 Svenstrup, Denmark, DK)
- ADAC Laboratories (France)[48]
- ADAC Laboratories (Germany)[48]
- ADAC Laboratories (Italy)[48]
- ADAC Laboratoires (Japan)[48]
- ADAC Laboratories (Latin America)[48]
- ADAC Laboratories (Netherlands) (European H.Q.)[48]
- ADAC Laboratories (Pacific)[48]
- ADAC Laboratories (United Kingdom)[48] Thame, Oxfordshire.
References
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