GE Healthcare And Hansen Medical Announce Collaboration to Promote Use of Fluoroscopic Imaging Systems and Robotic Catheter System for Electrophysiology Procedures
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--May 7, 2009 -- GE Healthcare and Hansen Medical, Inc. (NasdaqGM:HNSN - News) today announced that they have entered into a collaboration to promote the use of GE Healthcare's imaging technologies and Hansen Medical's robotic catheter technologies for electrophysiology (EP) procedures. In addition, the companies expect to pursue integrated product offerings in connection with their collaboration.
The partnership enables the companies to promote the compatibility of the GE Innova X-ray imaging platform with Hansen Medical's Sensei® Robotic Catheter System. The companies seek to further augment the capabilities of electrophysiologists to perform EP procedures.
"GE Healthcare is committed to the success of leading technologies including the Hansen flexible robotics platform," said Jayant Saha, general manager, Interventional Marketing, GE Healthcare. "We are committed to improving the clinical experience of the electrophysiologist and see this strategic collaboration as a key component of reaching that goal. We believe that this partnership is a key strategic choice for our imaging and electrophysiology businesses."
"We strongly believe in the synergistic importance of integrating imaging and robotics technology and have entered into this collaboration to bring this clinical value to our electrophysiologists and their patients," said Frederic Moll, M.D., CEO of Hansen Medical. "We are pleased to collaborate with GE Healthcare, a global leader in medical imaging, in this important collaboration."
The Sensei system allows physicians to instinctively position robotic catheters in difficult anatomical locations within the heart in a stable and controlled manner.
The GE Healthcare Innova imaging system affords clinicians the opportunity to perform angiographic studies efficiently, accurately and reliably during EP and interventional procedures.
About Hansen Medical, Inc.
Hansen Medical, Inc., based in Mountain View, Calif., develops products and technology using robotics for the accurate positioning, manipulation and control of catheters and catheter-based technologies. Its first product, the Sensei Robotic Catheter system, is a robotic navigation system that enables clinicians to place mapping catheters in hard-to-reach anatomical locations within the heart easily, accurately and with stability during complex cardiac arrhythmia procedures. The Sensei system is compatible with fluoroscopy, ultrasound, 3D surface map and patient electrocardiogram data and was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2007 for manipulation and control of certain mapping catheters in Electrophysiology (EP) procedures. The safety and effectiveness of the Sensei system for use with cardiac ablation catheters in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation (AF), have not been established. The Sensei system is CE Marked for use during EP procedures, such as guiding catheters in the treatment of AF. Additional information can be found at www.hansenmedical.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, statements relating to expectations, goals, plans, objectives and future events. Hansen Medical intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 21E of the Exchange Act and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of such statements include statements about the creation of integrated products and the resulting benefits of such products. These statements are based on the current estimates and assumptions of Hansen Medical management as of the date of this press release and are subject to risks, uncertainties, changes in circumstances, assumptions and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, among others, the risks and uncertainties inherent in Hansen Medical's business, including potential safety and regulatory issues that could slow or suspend its sales; its ability to effectively sell, service and support its products; the scope and validity of intellectual property rights applicable to its products; its ability to successfully integrate its products and technologies with those of GE; and its ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations. These and other risks are described in greater detail under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in Hansen Medical's periodic SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 16, 2009. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Hansen Medical undertakes no obligation to revise or update information herein to reflect events or circumstances in the future, even if new information becomes available. Sensei, IntelliSense, Hansen Medical and Heart Logo and Hansen Medical Heart Logo are registered trademarks and Artisan and CoHesion are trademarks of Hansen Medical, Inc. in the United States and other countries.