VH(TM) IVUS Technology Launched for the Assessment of Atherosclerotic Plaques
May 20, 2005 - 6:09:00 PM
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"This impressive technology will assist us in interpreting our ultrasound results and is expected to provide important new information to guide the management of our patients. We are aggressively studying this new technology and assessing its optimal role in the cath lab."
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By Volcano Corporation,
[RxPG] Volcano Corporation announced the commercial launch of its patented VH(TM) IVUS system -- the first technology to enable real time (in the cardiac catheterization lab)
compositional assessment of atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries.
The VH(TM) IVUS technology is now available on new VOLCANO systems or as an upgrade to VOLCANO's installed base of Intravascular Ultrasound ("IVUS") systems in medical centers throughout the world.
An Important Advance in Diagnostic Imaging
Previously, assessment of atherosclerotic disease was limited to 2D views of symptom-causing narrowing of the coronary arteries by way of contrast agent-enhanced X-Ray imaging. More recently, grayscale IVUS allowed for
quantification of atherosclerotic plaque build-up, in addition to providing precise measurements of vessel anatomy to guide optimal angioplasty or stent-based treatment.
Volcano's new VH IVUS technology uses advanced spectral analysis techniques to allow simplified interpretation of ultrasound images and provide detailed information on the composition of each patient's atherosclerotic plaques.
The colorized VH images show four plaque component types: fibrous, fibro-fatty, dense calcium, and necrotic core. VH IVUS images are created using VOLCANO's imaging console along with the Eagle Eye Gold IVUS imaging catheter.
Images are displayed live, in the cath lab for easy review by the interventional cardiologist and his or her staff while the patient remains on the table. No changes to standard clinical practice are required to employ VH IVUS.
This novel technology provides automated measurement tools to simplify image interpretation and employs a pre-determined color key to display plaque composition at a specific point in the artery or across a region of interest.
"We are thrilled to bring this groundbreaking product to market," commented Scott Huennekens, President & CEO, Volcano Corp. He continued, "VH IVUS is the culmination of over 10 years of research and development at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Volcano. By simplifying IVUS use and by providing important new information to the interventional cardiologist, we are confident that VH IVUS will improve the treatment of patients and help to further expand IVUS use in percutaneous coronary interventions."
Comments from Early Collaborators
"VH(TM) IVUS is the first IVUS system capable of providing information in the cardiac catheterization laboratory about the plaque composition," said Martin B. Leon, MD Chairman of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation(R) and the Associate Director of the Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy (CIVT) at Columbia University Medical Center, New York City.
Dr. Leon continued, "This impressive technology will assist us in interpreting our ultrasound results and is expected to provide important new information to guide the management of our patients. We are aggressively studying this new technology and assessing its optimal role in the cath lab."
Professor Patrick W. Serruys, Thoraxcentre, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands commented: "The use of IVUS today is generally focused on providing geometric measurements of the vessel and lumen. Due to IVUS' inability to display plaques other than as grayscale renderings, interventionalists have had difficulty drawing conclusions about the plaque type or disease type seen in individual patients. Plaque imaging using VH IVUS will provide key information and may shift the paradigm of how we
diagnose and manage patients with cardiovascular disease."
About Heart Disease
Heart disease and stroke, the principal manifestations of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, is the #1 killer of men and women in the Westernworld. Half of all men will develop heart disease. Atherosclerosis is the underlying mechanism for coronary artery disease, ischemic strokes, and
peripheral vascular disease. VH IVUS has the potential to revolutionize the management of coronary artery disease by providing more information about atherosclerosis in the form of arterial plaque composition assessment.
Information on the basic composition of coronary plaques has previously been unavailable to clinicians -- except at autopsy.
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Additional information about the news article
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Please visit http://www.volcanocorp.com/vhivus/ for more detailed information on the technique and product.
About Volcano Corporation
Volcano Corp. is a privately held medical device company founded in 2001. With over 400 worldwide employees, Volcano is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of products for the detection and treatment of atherosclerosis and vulnerable plaques in the coronary and peripheral vascular systems. Volcano products include Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) systems and catheters, as well as physiology guide wires. With global
distribution, VOLCANO is a leading provider of innovative diagnostic and therapy-guiding technologies to the interventional cardiology and peripheral vascular fields. For more information, please visit http://www.volcanocorp.com
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