SAN DIEGO, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Volcano Corporation , a leading manufacturer of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and functional measurement (FM) technology, announced today activities planned for the 2007 Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference that will take place from October 20th to October 25th in Washington D.C.
Live Case Examples
TCT’s live cases will highlight advanced practices in stenting as performed by leading interventionalists worldwide. The use of IVUS in bare metal and drug eluting stent procedures is increasing as the importance of accurate stent placement and proper stent expansion has attracted renewed attention in recent months. Volcano’s phased array and new rotational IVUS systems are expected to be incorporated into many TCT live case procedures. Among the systems expected to be demonstrated is Volcano’s new fully integrated IVUS system, the s5i, which can offer significant workflow and efficiency improvements.
Studies
New and current studies designed to clarify the role of IVUS in helping to improve stenting outcomes will be highlighted at TCT 2007. Volcano will announce sponsorship of a major study designed to examine the role of IVUS in accurate stent placement and improving patient outcomes. This 3,000 patient IVUS sub-study is part of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation’s (CRF) ADAPT-DES study (Assessment of Dual AntiPlatelet Therapy with Drug-Eluting Stents), a prospective, multi-center registry of 11,000 (and up to 15,000) patients with coronary artery disease undergoing stent-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using drug-eluting stents (DES). The study’s main objectives are to determine the frequency, timing and correlation (clinical, angiographic and IVUS) of DES thrombosis and the relationship of aspirin and/or clopidogrel hyporesponsiveness, and general platelet reactivity to early and late DES thrombosis.
A number of studies have identified improper stent placement as a leading contributor to DES thrombosis. Dr. Antonio Colombo and his associates, for example, have demonstrated that while stents often appeared to be implanted successfully via angiography, IVUS later detected that certain of the stents that appeared to be implanted successfully via angiography were actually under-expanded or incompletely apposed to the vessel wall. The ADAPT IVUS sub-study is expected to further examine such findings and assess the utility of IVUS in reducing complications and improving patient outcomes. Furthermore, a privately-funded study by the Washington Hospital Center found that, in some cases, a lack of IVUS guidance was an independent and statistically significant predictor of stent thrombosis.
Symposia
Volcano is sponsoring a concurrent breakfast symposium on Wednesday, October 24th at 7:00 AM in Room 149AB titled “CTA Guided PCI with Confirmatory IVUS: A New Interventional Paradigm.” This symposium will review how IVUS, fractional flow reserve (FFR) and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) can work together to better triage patients for appropriate therapy.
Exhibition Hall Hands-On Demonstrations in Multiple Partner Booths
Volcano’s IVUS consoles will be functionally displayed in the company’s own booth (TCT Booth #2013 Level 2), as well as in the booths of several industry partners, including fixed imaging companies and stent manufacturers. GE Healthcare will exhibit their Innova IVUS integrated system live at the GE booth, and the other major fixed imaging companies including Philips, Siemens and Toshiba will all display the Volcano s5i at their respective displays to offer hands-on demonstrations and product training of this flexible IVUS system. Volcano will also participate in the CRF-sponsored “Cath lab of the Future” pavilion located at the center of the exhibit hall floor.
Comment from Management
“The rate of PCI’s has dropped more than 10% over the past year in the US, yet Volcano’s has seen a 28% increase in IVUS disposable revenues in the 3rd quarter of 2007 versus the same period in 2006. We believe that this indicates that interventional cardiologists may be looking to IVUS to provide more complete diagnoses and to prevent placement-related complications that are believed to contribute to stent thrombosis,” said Scott Huennekens, President & CEO, of Volcano. “We expect that the ADAPT IVUS sub-study will confirm the findings of past studies, emphasizing the importance of IVUS in providing information to reduce procedural-related complications, including stent thrombosis.”
About Volcano Corporation
Volcano Corporation offers a broad suite of devices that facilitate endovascular procedures, enhance the diagnosis of vascular and structural heart diseases and guide optimal therapies. The company’s intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) product line includes ultrasound consoles that can be integrated directly into virtually any modern cath lab and single-use phased array and rotational IVUS imaging catheters. Volcano also has unique advanced functionality options like VHTM IVUS tissue characterization. Volcano also provides functional measurement (FM) consoles and single-use pressure and flow guide wires. Currently, more than 2,700 Volcano IVUS and FM systems are installed worldwide, with approximately half of its revenues coming from outside the United States. For more information, visit the company’s website at http://www.volcanocorp.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements in this press release regarding Volcano’s business that are not historical facts may be considered “forward-looking statements,” including statements regarding or relating to expected clinical study results, the integration of Volcano’s products into new or existing cath labs, the results and implications of on-going and future third party studies, and their market penetration, conditions and expectations. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current, preliminary expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause Volcano’s results to differ materially and adversely from the statements contained herein. Some of the potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted are detailed in Volcano’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Volcano undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
CONTACT: Sandra Mercer, Associate Director of Marketing Communications of
Volcano Corporation, +1-916-952-2133, smercer@volcanocorp.com; or Shalon
Roth of Ricochet Public Relations, +1-212-679-3300, ext. 127,
sroth@ricochetpr.com, for Volcano Corporation
Web site: http://www.volcanocorp.com/
