Infraredx and Philips have announced they have signed a joint development and collaboration agreement that is focused on integrating Infraredx’s true vessel characterisation (TVC) Imaging System with Philips’ Allura Xper catheterisation (cath) lab imaging systems. This collaboration is intended to enable seamless access to the TVC Imaging System with Philips’ Allura X-ray systems.
The joint product development is intended to provide physicians with tableside control of the TVC Imaging System from within the sterile cath lab environment using Allura’s table-mounted Xper module. The TVC composite image can be viewed on the Philips’ cath lab monitors, enabling physicians to view the Chemogram and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images alongside the coronary angiogram. This will allow for better visualisation of lipid core plaques (LCPs) in a patient’s coronary artery. The automatic sharing and integration of patient demographics and imaging study information between the Allura system and the TVC system will improve workflow efficiency and provide quicker retrieval and review of information.
“Philips is the premier provider of X-ray imaging technology for interventional cardiologists and we are pleased to partner with them on developing this integrated solution,” said Don Southard, president and chief executive officer of Infraredx. “Our goal is to offer physicians easier access to the TVC Imaging System’s near-infrared spectroscopy and intravascular ultrasound technology for use in determining the true extent of cardiovascular disease, especially the presence of LCPs. The TVC Imaging System is experiencing accelerated adoption in the USA and Europe. We believe this growth is the result of mounting clinical evidence around the role of LCP and continuous system enhancements.”
“As the global market leader in cath lab imaging technology, we strive to offer advanced clinical applications that enable interventional procedures to be performed more effectively,” said Bert van Meurs, senior vice president and general manager, Interventional X-ray, Philips Healthcare. “The collaboration with Infraredx supports our commitment to continuously improve the integrated functioning of our cath labs and further enhance the user experience.”
About The TVC Imaging System
The TVC Imaging System provides information that is critical for evaluating vessel structure and composition, also known as true vessel characterization, helping interventional cardiologists identify which patients are prone to complications during stenting. The device enables cardiologists to predict peri-procedural heart attacks by assessing not only the degree of stenosis, but also the presence and extent of lipid core plaques of interest.
The device is the only multimodality imaging system to combine both intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Through IVUS technology, the TVC Imaging System provides clear and relevant information about vessel structure, in real time. The system’s enhanced IVUS image provides a clear view of the vessel and plaque, providing more reliable vessel interpretation and assessment. The system’s NIRS technology enables interventional cardiologists to reliably visualise the presence of LCP and predict the risk of peri-stenting myocardial infarction. The multimodality images are obtained simultaneously and require no post-processing or image manipulation. The TVC Imaging System is the only device available in both the USA and Europe for the detection of LCPs.
