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VisualSonics to Sell Mauna Kea Technologies' Cellvizio(R) LAB on a Worldwide Basis to Animal Imaging Market

Posted on: Tuesday, 31 March 2009, 07:00 CDT

PARIS and TORONTO, March 31 /PRNewswire/ - Mauna Kea Technologies and VisualSonics today announced that they have entered an exclusive distribution agreement through which VisualSonics will market and sell Cellvizio LAB high resolution in vivo imaging systems to pre-clinical researchers on a worldwide basis.

Cellvizio LAB provides researchers with a new way to understand physiological phenomena at the cellular and sub-cellular levels in situ in animal subjects. For the first time, pre-clinical researchers are able to easily capture, analyze and compare smooth-motion video sequences of a wide array of cellular level characteristics and events, in real-time, without disturbing the natural environment in which they take place.

Cellvizio LAB is currently used by world-leading neuroscience research institutions in various applications including neurological research of the deep brain and peripheral nerves, especially in the research of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, where it offers a unique capability to couple in vivo and in situ observations of neuronal activity on freely moving animals with behavioral studies. The minimal invasiveness of Cellvizio LAB and its adaptability to longitudinal studies make it also a key-element for research fields such as cancer, stem cell and gene delivery research. As a new molecular imaging technique, Cellvizio LAB can help monitor the interactions and effects of new molecules and new potential drug vectors non-invasively. Cellvizio LAB can also be used as high-throughput screening technique for mutant line maintenance.

"VisualSonics has a great track record in introducing ground-breaking imaging solutions to the animal imaging market and is thus an ideal partner to bring Cellvizio LAB to top researchers working to continue to unlock physiological discoveries that have a strong impact on science and medicine," said Sacha Loiseau, President, CEO and Founder of Mauna Kea Technologies. "We're confident VisualSonics will greatly develop and expand the Cellvizio footprint in the field of animal imaging, while we continue to focus our efforts on making Cellvizio an indispensable tool for clinical gastroenterology procedures."

"With the Cellvizio system, we can offer researchers more in vivo imaging platforms: our existing family of high frequency ultrasound and now the Cellvizio optical microscopy" said Tom Little, CEO of VisualSonics. "The ability to see and monitor an animal's internal physiological processes at the cellular level helps researchers gain new understanding of the root causes of disease and disorders. Cellvizio LAB's real-time, microscopic, imaging of living cells truly compliments our flagship Vevo(R) high-resolution, ultrasound-based imaging platform. The Vevo(R) can also provide accurate in vivo image guidance of the Cellvizio LAB optical miniprobes making this combination unique to explore life sciences at multiple scales.

About VisualSonics

VisualSonics is the world's leading developer of high-resolution, ultrasound-based, in vivo micro-imaging systems designed specifically for non-invasive preclinical research. The company's enabling technology allows researchers at the world's most prestigious pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, hospitals and universities to conduct research in cardiovascular, cancer, and developmental biology areas. The technology supports applications that include genetic research, phenotypic studies and drug development. VisualSonics platforms combine high-resolution, real time in vivo imaging at reasonable cost with ease-of-use and quantifiable results. More information on VisualSonics can be found at www.visualsonics.com.

About Mauna Kea Technologies

Mauna Kea Technologies, a French company with a multi-disciplinary scientific approach, has developed Cellvizio, a probe-based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy (pCLE) system that makes dynamic imaging of life at the cellular level a reality. The cellvizio.net scientific knowledge interactive database is enabling an international community of leading scientists and physicians to share their ground-breaking work based on Cellvizio in gastroenterology and various fields of science and medicine. Mauna Kea Technologies is backed by leading life science investors which include The Psilos Group, Seventure and Creadev. For more information about Mauna Kea Technologies, visit www.maunakeatech.com.

SOURCE VisualSonics

Source: PR Newswire

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