Positron buys gamma camera firm IS2

Jun 5, 2006

PET vendor Positron of Houston has purchased Canadian gamma camera developer IS2 Medical Systems in a move designed to give Positron better access to the cardiologist office market.

Positron completed the acquisition over the weekend, and showed an IS2 gamma camera at this week's Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) meeting in San Diego. IS2 has 25 employees and annual sales of about $8 million.

IS2 was founded in the mid-1990s by gamma camera pioneer Iain Stark. The firm has specialized in economical gamma cameras with an emphasis on high intrinsic spatial resolution, in the range of 2.8-3.0 mm. The company's main product is its Pulse CDC fixed 90° dual-head gamma camera, which features a compact design that makes it well-suited for installation in physician offices.

Positron plans to use IS2's expertise in the cardiology office market when the company completes work on a new generation of low-cost dedicated cardiac PET cameras, according to Positron president Joseph Oliviero. Positron plans to sell the systems at a price point comparable to SPECT units, he said.

Positron will be able to access IS2's cardiologist customer accounts to pitch them on the benefits of upgrading from cardiac SPECT to rubidium-based PET technology. Positron also wins IS2's sales and service organization, and gains access to a product line to sell now while work on the PET cameras is completed. The company is targeting a product launch in early 2007 for the new PET line, Oliviero said.

Positron also has the possibility of using IS2's manufacturing facilities in Ottawa. Currently, Positron cameras are manufactured in China through a joint-venture relationship with Chinese medical imaging firm Neusoft Medical Systems.

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
June 6, 2006

Positron adds PET cardiology software, April 12, 2006

Positron gets Health Canada nod, March 22, 2006

Positron opens Chinese joint venture, February 13, 2006

Positron taps new president, December 29, 2005

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