Novadaq Data Presented At 2008 Society Of Thoracic Surgeons Meeting
The invitation-only event included comprehensive presentations and open discussions by cardiac and thoracic surgeons highlighting the latest medical therapies and technologies. Novadaq's products, the SPY Intra-operative Imaging System and the PINPOINT Autofluorescence Endoscopic Imaging System, were featured in two of the five key presentations:
- Autofluorescence Brochoscopy and Photodynamic Therapy: A Thoracic Surgeon's Perspective by Patrick Ross Jr., M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of Thoracic Surgery at Ohio State University and Director of Thoracic Oncology at the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital in Columbus, Ohio
- SPY Intra-Operative Imaging in Graft Assessment by David Paul Taggart, M.D., Ph.D., FRCS, Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery for the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, UK
Dr. Patrick Ross stressed the clinical importance of using autofluorescence imaging to provide guidance during endoluminal and traditional surgical treatments for lung cancer. Dr. Ross reported the use of real-time autofluorescence bronchoscopy, compared to the gold standard white light bronchoscopy, provides for a more detailed assessment of the patient's anatomy before pulmonary resection, a more accurate assessment for the presence of early lung cancers and the ability to more precisely perform endoluminal therapies such as Photodynamic Therapy. Dr. Ross also reminded the cardiothoracic surgeon audience that autofluorescence bronchoscopy is now recommended in the 2008 American College of Chest Physicians Evidence Based Practice Guidelines for use in detecting cancerous lesions and for guiding surgical treatments in patients with lung cancer.
Professor Taggart reported his clinical experience using the SPY Intra-operative Imaging System to optimize the clinical outcomes of his coronary artery bypass procedures, which have been previously published in the literature and confirm the need for intra-operative graft assessment. Professor Taggart's presented clinical results of studies he has performed using SPY. Data reported by others indicating that as many as 30% of all vein grafts may be closed at 1 year post bypass were also included. Professor Taggart stressed that coronary artery disease has become more complex, making coronary artery bypass surgery more technically demanding, which further increases the need for real-time assessment of graft quality. Professor Taggart reported on studies of the clinical utility of available technologies for graft assessment, including a report by Nimesh Desai, MD., et.al, published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in 2006. The randomized study compared SPY and the Transit Time Flow Meter, the two most commonly used tools, to the gold standard x-ray angiography. In the study of 139 bypass grafts, SPY was found to result in 83% sensitivity and 100% specificity compared to 25% and 94% respectively for the Transit Time Flow Meter.
"Our presence at STS 2008 represents the progress our company has made over the past 12 months. Last year at STS we had only our SPY System to offer and we had just hired our first few direct sales representatives," said Dr. Arun Menawat, President and Chief Executive Officer of Novadaq Technologies Inc. "Today we have expanded our offerings to include the Heart Laser(TM) System for TMR and our PINPOINT Endoscopic Imaging System and have a fully engaged sales organization covering the entire US. The feedback from our surgeon customers like Drs. Ross and Taggart continues to confirm that our products contribute to the overall technical success of their procedures and that image guidance ultimately does facilitate optimal treatment strategies and improve clinical outcomes for patients."
About Novadaq Technologies
Novadaq Technologies Inc. (TSX: NDQ) develops and commercializes medical imaging systems and real-time image guided therapies for use in the operating room. Novadaq's proprietary ICG imaging systems can be used to visualize blood vessels, nerves and the lymphatic system during a variety of surgical procedures. Novadaq's SPY Imaging System, commercially available worldwide, enables cardiac surgeons to visually assess coronary vasculature and bypass graft functionality during the course of heart bypass surgery. The SPY System is expandable to include upgrade kits for use during other surgeries such as other cardiovascular, plastic, reconstructive and organ transplant surgery allowing surgeons to evaluate blood flow and tissue and organ perfusion. In addition, SPY is ideal for use during urological procedures enabling surgeons to visualize vessels, tumors, the lymphatic system and potentially nerve bundles. Novadaq's OPTTX(R) System is aimed at the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) by using the same core imaging technology that is used in the SPY Imaging System. Novadaq also offers the FDA approved PINPOINT endoscopic system for visualizing native tissue fluorescence which allows surgeons to differentiate between healthy and cancerous tissue in the lung during thoracic surgery. Novadaq is also the exclusive United States distributor of PLC Medical's CO2 HEART LASER(TM) System for TMR (Trans-Myocardial Revascularization). For more information, please visit the company's website at http://www.novadaq.com.
Forward looking Statements
Certain statements included in this press release may be considered forward-looking. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on Novadaq's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Novadaq and relate to, among other things, results of future clinical tests of PINPOINT and the SPY System, anticipated financial performance, business prospects, strategies, regulatory developments, market acceptance and future commitments. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by Novadaq in its public securities filings actual events may differ materially from current expectations. Novadaq disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Novadaq Technologies Inc.
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