Philips and Infraredx sign agreement for resale of TVC imaging system

The Netherlands-based Royal Philips and medical device company Infraredx have announced a non-exclusive resale agreement for Infraredx's TVC imaging system.

Under the terms of the agreement, Philips will sell Infraredx’s TVC imaging system alongside its Allura interventional X-ray systems in North America and Europe, expanding its interventional cardiology portfolio of advanced live image guidance solutions, clinical informatics and interventional tools.

The TVC imaging system is an intravascular imaging system that integrates near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) lipid core plaque (LCP) detection technology, and enhanced intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging to visualize the presence of plaques, quantify the degree of vessel stenosis (narrowing) and identify plaques prone to rupturing and causing dangerous blockages.

Infraredx president and CEO Don Southard noted the company is pleased to partner with Philips to expand access to Infraredx’s TVC imaging system among Philips’ broad and established customer base in North America and Europe.

"This resale agreement advances our global commercialization strategy by increasing our product’s penetration in the cardiac imaging market," Southard added.

In March 2013, Infraredx and Philips already launched a software solution to enable the integration of the TVC imaging system with Philips’ Allura Xper and AlluraClarity interventional X-ray systems.

The software enables an easy and quick setup of the TVC imaging system in conjunction with Philips’ Allura systems, and it allows clinicians tableside control of the TVC imaging system using the Allura system controls.

Clinicians can view a TVC composite image, which shows both the near infrared spectroscopy image and the IVUS image, alongside the coronary angiogram (a contrast-enhanced X-ray image of the coronary arteries) on the Philips Allura monitors.

The TVC composite image allows for better visualization of lipid core plaques, which are known to cause complications in PCI procedures and suspected of being the principal cause of most heart attacks.