Enhanced Ultrasound
Guided Visualization
The first platform technology acquired by the Company consists of patented methods and devices for making minimally invasive medical instruments show up brightly under use of Doppler Ultrasound, permitting real-time visualization during any soft-tissue medical procedure.
The Company licensed, and then purchased, from its developer, EchoCath, Inc., this intellectual property, consisting of sixteen issued U.S. and European patents and a 510(k) approval. EchoCath reportedly invested $10 million in the development of this technology prior to its acquisition by the Company.
While tissues, such as tumors and palpable cysts, are amenable to visualization by ultrasound, minimally invasive medical instruments such as fine needles, probes, or catheters can be difficult to see, especially in cases of steep angles of insertion and/or tissues located at greater depth. Competitors’ efforts to enhance their visibility, for example, by roughening the surface to increase their echogenicity, have met with limited success.
The Company’s patented technology solves this problem by causing the instrument to oscillate in an orbital motion over a range of sonic frequencies, making the needle shaft and tip visible to an ultrasound imaging Doppler system. The needle creates a clear and bright image on the screen, all the time, in real time, during a procedure.
The Company’s enhanced Ultrasound Guided Visualization (UGV™) can make the acquisition and assessment of the specific position of a minimally invasive instrument/needle, significantly easier during clinical procedures.
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