Additionally, GE Healthcare and Volcano Announce the Successful Implementation of Pre-Cabling Program, Enabling All New Innova Labs to Be Now IVUS-ready
WAUKESHA, Wis. and RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. — GE Healthcare (NYSE:GE) and Volcano Corporation (NASDAQ:VOLC) have successfully implemented, at multiple sites, Innova IVUS, the world’s only fully Integrated IVUS and Cath Lab system. An exclusive collaboration between Volcano Corporation and GE Healthcare made implementation of the fully integrated intravascular ultrasound system for the cath lab and interventional suite possible. GE Healthcare’s full integration of IVUS was highlighted in GE’s booth at the 2007 American College of Cardiology meeting in New Orleans.
Innova IVUS combines GE’s best-in-class Innova all-digital X-ray cath lab imaging system with Volcano’s revolutionary s5i IVUS imaging system. Innova IVUS further optimizes clinical workflow beyond the benefits of the s5i by offering IVUS controls positioned on the Innova Central tableside touchscreen. IVUS is always on and always ready for a physician to use when appropriate at any point in a case. In addition, Innova IVUS allows for the seamless and automatic data exchange between the IVUS system and Innova allowing for simplified patient data transfer and advanced archiving, integrating the IVUS case into the patient’s cath case. This is an exclusive feature offered from Innova IVUS.
Additionally, GE Healthcare and Volcano Corporation have also announced the successful implementation of an exclusive initiative to include Volcano’s IVUS cabling in all new Innova labs. GE Healthcare’s decision to include IVUS cabling as a component of every standard Innova installation in the U.S. was announced in late 2006, and was a direct result of the collaboration agreement between GE and Volcano announced earlier in the year.
By including IVUS cables in every Innova installation, the infrastructure is installed during the lab’s build-out to allow full integration of IVUS into the interventional lab, should a customer choose to purchase the Innova IVUS system from GE Healthcare.
Innova IVUS is based on Volcano’s new s5i PC-based platform that reduces the size, weight and noise of the older-generation IVUS consoles. This allows the unit’s placement in the control room, outside of the daily traffic pattern of the cath lab. With the integration that Innova IVUS offers, clinicians have the ability to further control the IVUS system through a variety of control devices located near the patient, from the control room, or both. Clinicians also enjoy the flexibility to view IVUS images on the monitor bank and/or on a monitor in the control room.
“We have older generation IVUS consoles as well as an Innova IVUS system in our lab, so we understand first-hand the significant improvement in workflow,” commented Michael Foster, MD, of Providence Heart Institute in Columbia, S.C. Dr. Foster continued, “Before, we had to locate the IVUS system, roll it into the lab, and wait for the system to boot-up before I could begin imaging. Since the Innova IVUS system is integrated into the lab and is always there and always on, I simply call for an IVUS catheter and begin imaging immediately. Integrated IVUS has reduced my imaging time by at least 50%.”
“We have been very pleased with both customer feedback on Innova IVUS, as well as the overall sales success of the program,” said Joel McComb, President of GE Healthcare’s Interventional Cardiology business. Innova IVUS provides clinicians with an advanced, real-time imaging tool that is more completely integrated into their Innova system, resulting in improved workflow and reduced procedure time.”
Scott Huennekens, President and CEO of Volcano Corporation, added, “GE’s commitment to IVUS, as demonstrated in their pre-cabling decision, will continue the trend of IVUS becoming an essential tool for diagnostic and interventional planning-including the placement optimization of drug-eluting stents and bare metal stents. I’m very proud of what the Volcano and GE teams have been able to accomplish since announcing our collaboration last year.”
Innova IVUS is currently available for sale to new and existing GE Healthcare customers in the United States, Europe, certain markets in Asia and other world markets. GE continues to collaborate with Volcano to provide unparalleled cath lab design, installation and field repair/service of this system. Customers contract with one vendor, GE, for their purchasing, installation and field service needs.
