Volcano Corporation (NASDAQ:VOLC), San Diego, Calif., a
manufacturer and developer of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS),
functional measurement (FM) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
products designed to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of coronary and
peripheral vascular disease, has announced the U.S. and European launch
of the s5-Revo and s5-FFR (fractional flow reserve) options for the s5i
integrated Imaging platform. These two new product options now enable
rotational IVUS and FFR to operate on the same integrated Volcano s5i
Integrated Imaging System as Volcano's previous line of phased
array IVUS catheters and functionality. For the first time, physicians
can choose among three powerful diagnostic tools -- all on the same
integrated IVUS platform.
Scott Huennekens, president and chief executive officer of Volcano,
commented, "By adding high resolution rotational IVUS and
pressure-based FFR to our already highly successful phased array s5
imaging platform, we will be providing a level of technology, clinical
utility and convenience that is un-matched in the intravascular imaging
field. No other company provides a system that integrates this level of
functionality and convenience in a single platform. Our message now is
simple: Volcano offers physicians all three technologies on one system
-- you can choose which technology is best for your patient and clinical
team."
Earlier generation consoles included only one of the three
technologies now available on the s5i. If a hospital wanted to equip a
new lab with all three technologies, they would have to acquire three
separate consoles, each with a different measurement modality, training
requirements and data storage protocols. The Volcano s5i can now
accommodate the three primary intravascular diagnostic tools in regular
use by cardiologists today (high frequency rotational IVUS, fast and
simple phased array IVUS, and pressure-based FFR guidewires) on a single
platform, making modern day imaging consoles more flexible than ever
before.
Joe Burnett, associate vice president of marketing for Volcano,
said, "We believe that IVUS is one of the fastest growing market
segments in interventional cardiology today. Our internal market model
suggests that worldwide IVUS revenue grew approximately 15% in 2007.
More and more physicians are augmenting their daily interpretation of
angiography with this more exacting, precise technology. IVUS and FFR
can provide objective measurements of lesion severity and stent
expansion, thus removing some of the inherent guess work surrounding 2D
x-ray images. We believe that having these modalities available on a
single integrated system can only further adoption of these important
therapy guidance tools."
Training and Education
As part of the s5-Revo and s5-FFR market introduction, Volcano is
also launching Volcano TLC, a comprehensive on-site education program
available to current and future Volcano customers, targeted to increase
IVUS and FFR awareness and build staff proficiency with these new
integrated systems. Volcano TLC (Training and Learning Clinics) offers a
combination of keynote speaker presentations, physician proctorships,
hands-on system training, guided proficiency tools and workflow
troubleshooting, all designed to leverage modern-day IVUS and FFR
technology, and to allow physicians to acquire these precise diagnostic
measurements in less time than ever before.
To kick-off the Volcano TLC program, John McB. Hodgson, M.D., FSCAI
will begin an 18 city speaking tour in the US and Canada. Dr. Hodgson
will deliver a 90-minute presentation and case review highlighting the
essential role of IVUS and FFR in determining lesion severity and
guiding proper stent placement and expansion entitled "IVUS and
FFR: More Important than Ever. A Guide to Optimal PCI on the Eve of
Second Generation DES".
Dr. Hodgson commented, "IVUS and FFR play an invaluable role
in modern-day PCI. As practitioners, we are routinely misled by using
angiography alone to assess lesion severity and confirm proper stent
placement. Although IVUS and FFR have long been available to augment
angiography, legacy systems were cumbersome, and access to these systems
was too limited to drive broader acceptance."
Dr. Hodgson continued, "The combination of more complex target
lesions, concerns about late stent thrombosis, the launch of new faster,
integrated IVUS and FFR technologies, and the growing awareness that
angiography does not tell the whole story, has driven IVUS use
dramatically higher in recent years. It is no wonder that the use of
IVUS has increased so rapidly."
The Volcano TLC speaker program with Dr. John Hodgson will visit
the following cities over the next three months; New York City,
Framingham, Buckhead, Miami, Baltimore, Nashville, Pittsburgh,
Cleveland, Rosemont, Milwaukee, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, Las Vegas, San
Francisco, Fresno, Montreal and Toronto. For specific dates, times and
locations, please refer to the Volcano website at
http://www.volcanocorp.com.
Availability
Volcano will highlight the new s5i integrated systems at the
American College of Cardiology ACC Symposium in Chicago, March 29th to
April 2nd. Volcano will have these new systems on display at Booth
number #18093 for live demonstrations, as well as transmitting cases
from ACC live broadcast sites. The Volcano s5-Revo and s5-FFR options
complement the existing s5 functionality, including ChromaFlo(R) for
stent apposition assessment, and VH(TM) IVUS plaque composition
analysis.
Volcano IVUS will also be highlighted in GE Healthcare's
booth. GE's "Innova(R) IVUS" is based on Volcano's
s5i, and offers clinicians a deeper level of integration. With Innova
IVUS, patient data transfers automatically between Innova and the s5i,
and IVUS commands are integrated directly into Innova Central, GE's
bedside control device. Additionally, when the case is complete, IVUS
and angio can be archived in the same "patient jacket", making
future data retrieval faster and easier.
The Volcano s5i Imaging System has been tested in cooperation with
GE, Philips, Siemens and Toshiba for safety and compatibility when used
with their current lines of x-ray systems and equipment. The Volcano s5i
has also been tested for compatibility with eleven different DICOM
providers. The Volcano s5i will also be on display at the Phillips,
Siemens and Toshiba booths at the ACC.
bAbout 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 diseases 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(TM) tissue characterization
and ChromaFlo(R). Internal DICOM networking provided by DICOM by Merge.
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 Coherent Tomography systems and catheters.
Currently, more than 3,200 Volcano IVUS and FM systems are installed
worldwide, with approximately half of its revenues coming from outside
the United States.
For more information, visit http://www.volcanocorp.com or call
916/952-2133.
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