 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Press Releases |
| Portfolio News |
| JGV in the News |
|
|
||
|
UltraGuide patents free-hand image guidance system Lakewood, Colorado (July 2, 2001) -- UltraGuide Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of image guidance systems for medical applications, announced it has patented its core technology for free-hand guidance of surgical instruments. The company's guidance systems are used in interventional and minimally invasive procedures performed under ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), MRI, and X-ray imaging. UltraGuide was granted U.S. patent 6,216,029 B1 entitled "Free-Hand Aiming of a Needle Guide" in April for technology developed by Dr. Yoav Paltieli, the founder of UltraGuide. The patent discloses a method and apparatus for free hand directing a surgical tool towards a target shown by a medical imaging device. The system displays the path of an interventional or surgical tool on single or multiple images, lending itself to a variety of real or virtual real-time applications. The display is overlaid automatically on the image produced by the imaging device without requiring any interaction from the operator. The patent covers ultrasound, CT, MRI and X-ray applications, as well as features related to computerized image-assisted medical interventions such as biopsies. All imaging modalities acquire images in a two-dimensional plane like a slice of bread. Typically, physicians must perform minimally invasive and interventional procedures within the same plane to see both the surgical tool and the target area at the same time. Using UltraGuide's patented guidance technology, physicians may access target areas safely and efficiently using an out-of-plane approach, crossing multiple image slices in route to the area of interest. This is important for accessing difficult to reach regions of the body where bone or vital organs lay in the path of the surgical instrument. UltraGuide's technology allows physicians to carefully plan their approach by seeing the future path of the surgical instrument before ever touching the patient for both in-plane and out-of-plane techniques. This capability can reduce the number of re-insertions of the tool (number of attempts before successful access to the target area is achieved). It also reduces the time of the procedure and the risk of damage to surrounding organs. There is a rapidly growing trend in health care to adopt less costly, less invasive techniques. "UltraGuide's flexible imaging guidance systems are enabling technologies which will unlock the full potential of minimally invasive and interventional procedures, making them available to more patients across a wider range of procedures in lower cost-of-care settings," said John Hesemann, UltraGuide's president and CEO. "This technology benefits physician, patients, and third party payers." UltraGuide recently succeeded in closing a $15 million round of financing. New investors included Canaan Partners, Jerusalem Global Ventures, Invesco Funds, and Satellite Healthcare. Existing shareholders also contributed to the round, including Three Arch Partners, Israel Infinity, Veritas Venture Partners, General Electric Pension Trust managed by GE Asset Management and Defta Partners. The strong health care focus of these investors will provide medical expertise and industry contacts beyond financial support. UltraGuide's products include the Ultrasound-Guide, CT-Guide?, and a hybrid with the capabilities of the Ultrasound-Guide and the CT-Guide in the same system. Works in progress include the MR-Guide and OR-Guide. UltraGuide, incorporated in 1996, makes its world headquarters in Lakewood, Colorado, with research, development and production facilities in Israel. The Web site is www.ultraguideinc.com. Back to Press Releases |
|