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| NinePoint Medical's NvisionVLE device |
NinePoint Medical, a 2012 Fierce 15 winner, has launched its NvisionVLE imaging system in the U.S., all part of the company's plan to get profitable and expand its technology.
The FDA-cleared device provides organ images at a depth and resolution unavailable in vivo, all in real time, the company said, allowing Nvision to do for organ imaging what is otherwise only possible through surgical removal. The commercial rollout is initially focused on esophageal tissue, targeting the cancer precursor Barrett's esophagus.
Beyond its high-res, high-depth imaging, Nvision offers a great opportunity for cost savings, CEO Charles Carignan said. The technology is better suited for guiding biopsies than anything else on the market, according to the company, giving it a chance to slash the rate of repeat procedures for patients who may have cancer.
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| Charles Carignan, CEO of NinePoint Medical |
"As the only volumetric, optical coherence tomography device for endoscopic and esophageal tissue imaging commercially available in the U.S., the introduction of the NvisionVLE Imaging System represents a significant addition to the current imaging landscape," Carignan said in a statement. "We are pleased to offer clinicians across the country a new approach to evaluate esophageal tissue microstructure with faster imaging speed and improved image resolution, potentially leading to better biopsy targeting, reduced costs and improved patient outcomes."
NinePoint is still operating off of a $33 million funding round from 2010, led by Third Rock Ventures, and Carignan has said the company will likely raise more cash now that Nvision is on the market.
Next, the company is exploring pulmonary tissue and lung imaging applications for Nvision, and NinePoint has a long-term goal of pairing its technology with ablation, eventually allowing physicians to image, diagnose and treat patients in the same procedure.
- read the announcement
Special Reports: NinePoint Medical – 2012 Fierce 15