Axsun Technologies, A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Volcano Corporation,
Announces Breakthrough Integrated Light Source Architecture for Optical
Coherence Tomography (OCT) Imaging
--
200kHz High Definition Swept Source (“HDSS”) Expected
To Enable Rapid Proliferation of Ultra-High Speed, High Definition
Medical Imaging Across a Range of Clinical Applications
Billerica, MA – (December 4, 2009) – Axsun Technologies,
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volcano Corporation (NASDAQ: VOLC),
today announced the initial development and successful testing of
a novel integrated light source architecture for OCT imaging. Axsun
believes this proprietary optical engine design raises the bar on
imaging speed and overcomes fundamental limitations of laser-based
designs for swept source OCT light sources. This approach to optical
engines builds on over 10 years of Axsun’s core integrated
light source technology and is protected by a number of issued patents.
The core technology is based on a non-laser source of photons and
is called the High Definition Swept Source (or “HDSS™”)
because it is expected to enable high resolution at unprecedented
speeds in medical imaging systems. Axsun’s HDSS has been tested
at breakthrough speeds of 200kHz – approximately 4 to 10 times
faster than commercially available OCT imaging systems – all
while maintaining the extraordinarily compact size, ultra-high reliability
and low-cost volume manufacturability that Axsun is known for.
Caption: (L) The HDSS light source is designed to operate in a
modified version of Axsun’s standard “mil-spec”,
hermetically sealed package – essentially the same integrated
packaging utilized for over 25,000 Axsun devices in use today in
telecommunications and industrial installations worldwide. (R)
Sample image of an ex vivo human coronary artery captured with
Axsun’s HDSS light source.
“Axsun is a leading developer and supplier of tunable lasers
for OCT imaging, offering the highest speed integrated optical products
on the market today,” explained Dale Flanders, President of
Axsun. “We are thrilled to further advance the speed and performance
of OCT imaging with HDSS, and are very excited by the performance
potential of this unique non-laser architecture. The HDSS light source
will be made available to our parent company Volcano in the vascular
imaging field, where we expect HDSS will enable unprecedented imaging
speed, resolution and 3D image detail in Volcano’s future multi-modality
imaging systems. Furthermore, the imaging speed, resolution, size,
weight and durability enabled by the HDSS should open up vast areas
of imaging in OCT and spectroscopy applications. We will work with
Volcano to examine various partnership and vertical market opportunities
for this very exciting new addition to the Axsun product portfolio.”
“We acquired Axsun for their significant expertise spanning
a broad range of disciplines within optics and photonics – including
the design and manufacture of MEMs-based optical and mechanical components,
optical fiber design, manipulation and assembly, light sources used
in optical imaging and spectroscopy, and sophisticated electronics
and electro-mechanical systems needed to support complete solutions.
This latest development – the HDSS light source – is
yet another example of the world-class engineering capabilities at
Axsun,” added Scott Huennekens, CEO of Volcano Corp. “We
are confident that the HDSS will provide Volcano OCT imaging products
with a sustainable competitive advantage in this exciting growth
market. In addition to driving our planned OCT system for vascular
imaging, we expect that this new light source will also support future
offerings in spectroscopy and spectral imaging. Furthermore, given
the extraordinary breadth of opportunities that we see for OCT and
spectroscopy in other areas of medicine and life sciences, we also
welcome partnership discussions with other vertical market medical
device, diagnostic and drug development companies and researchers
who are interested in exploring OEM, integration and/or collaborative
research projects related to the HDSS engine.”
“The benefits of light source scanning speed in many OCT imaging
applications cannot be overstated. As higher and higher speeds are
attained, true three dimensional structures can be easily imaged
in seconds, and field clearance/flushing can be minimized and motion
artifacts reduced or eliminated. Such improvements make devices more
user friendly for the operator, and allow for easier interpretation
of the images. For example, at 200kHz speeds we expect to be able
to scan the proximal 2/3rds of a human coronary artery in as little
as one second – literally in a single beat of the heart. This
should allow an OCT scan to be performed during any conventional
manual flush procedure, which are routine and frequent during angiograms
and percutaneous interventions. This should mean no extended flushing,
no repeated or special flushing steps or protocols,” added
Vince Burgess, President of Advanced Imaging Systems at Volcano Corp. “High
precision minimally invasive imaging holds the promise of higher
quality of care while reducing unnecessary procedures due to imprecise
diagnosis and imperfect therapy delivery in many, many areas of medicine – not
just interventional cardiology. As healthcare reform ushers in a
new era of attention to cost-effective care – at the same or
higher levels of quality and availability – we believe that
the capabilities of OCT and spectroscopy-based imaging will gain
greater and greater attention.”
About Axsun Technologies
Axsun Technologies, Inc., a Volcano subsidiary, established in 1998,
develops and manufactures MEMS-based optical engines for industrial
spectroscopy, optical telecommunications and medical imaging, applications.
Through its expertise in micro-optics, packaging and precision
engineering, Axsun has pioneered an entirely new class of high-performance,
miniaturized instruments and devices enabling a dramatic shift
from lab based measurements to on-line, at-line and in-vivo measurements,
without compromising performance. Axsun was acquired by Volcano
in December 2008.
About Volcano Corporation
Volcano Corporation (NASDAQ: VOLC) offers a broad suite of devices
designed to facilitate endovascular procedures, enhance the diagnosis
of vascular and structural heart disease and guide optimal therapies.
The company's intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) product line includes
ultrasound consoles that can be integrated directly into virtually
any modern cath lab. Volcano IVUS offers unique features, including
both single-use phased array and rotational IVUS imaging catheters,
and advanced functionality options, such as VH(R) IVUS tissue characterization
and ChromaFlo(R). Volcano also provides functional measurement
(FM) consoles and single-use pressure and flow guide wires and
is developing a line of ultra-high resolution Optical Coherence
Tomography (OCT) and Forward-Looking IVUS systems and catheters.
Currently, more than 4,700 Volcano IVUS and FM systems are installed
worldwide, and more than half of Volcano's revenues are derived
from outside the United States. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary,
Axsun Technologies, Volcano also develops and manufactures optical
monitors, lasers and optical engines used in telecommunications,
spectroscopy and other industrial applications. These products
are sold to a variety of customers, including Nokia Siemens, Ericsson,
Alcatel-Lucent and Huawei Technologies. For more information, visit
the company's website at http://www.volcanocorp.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Any statements in this release regarding Volcano's or Axsun’s
business that are not historical facts may be considered "forward-looking
statements," including statements regarding the features,
application and potential benefits of the HDSS light source and
related technologies described above and of Volcano or Axsun’s
products, and market adoption of the related technology. Forward-looking
statements are based on management's current preliminary expectations
and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause Volcano's
results to differ materially and adversely from the statements
contained herein. Some of the potential risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted
are detailed in the company's annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q and other filings made with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Undue reliance should not be placed on
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they
are made. Volcano undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances
after the date they are made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events.
Contact:
Dale Flanders
Axsun Technologies, Inc., a Volcano company
-- or –
Diane Flynn
Business Development
Volcano Corp.
1 Fortune Drive
Billerica MA 01821
Tel 978.262.0049
Fax 978.262.0035
www.axsun.com
www.volcanocorp.com
© AXSUN Technologies
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