French ultrasound technology developer SuperSonic Imagine has inked an exclusive agreement with Konica Minolta Medical Imaging to distribute its Aixplorer in Japan.
Japan is the third largest ultrasound market in the world and is a key part of SuperSonic Imagine's global expansion strategy, the company said. "We are very pleased to include SuperSonic Imagine's Aixplorer ultrasound system in our portfolio of medical imaging solutions," said Keijiro Asayama, general manager of Konica's Ultrasound Business unit. "Its technology is in alignment with our own company mission to provide innovative, high-quality products to our customers."
SuperSonic Imagine's Aixplorer features a software platform (UltraFast) that can acquire images 200 times quicker than conventional ultrasound systems, the firm noted in a news release. The speed of the UltraFast platform enables SuperSonic Imagine's proprietary ShearWave Elastography technology to assess and quantify tissue stiffness in real time; tissue stiffness is used by doctors to help identify potentially malignant or other diseased tissue.
"SuperSonic Imagine is very proud to be working with Konica Minolta, an ideal partner for expanding the use of our ultrasound technology in Japan," SuperSonic Founder/CEO Jacques Souquet said. "Our technology provides detailed, real-time information important to the Japanese general imaging marketplace and can be used in a broad range of applications such as breast, thyroid, liver and musculoskeletal exams."
Founded in 2005 and based in Aix-en-Provence, France, SuperSonic Imagine designs, develops and markets the Aixplorer ultrasound system. The company has been supported by Auriga Partners, Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners, Bpifrance, Omnes Capital and NBGI.