Philips to acquire company specializing in AI-powered intravascular imaging
Royal Philips is set to acquire a medtech company that specializes in artificial intelligence-enabled advanced vascular imaging.
On Monday, Philips announced its agreement to add Massachusetts-based SpectraWAVE Inc., which touts an impressive portfolio of intravascular imaging and physiological assessment technologies. Founded by cardiologists in 2017, SpectraWAVE has achieved key advancements in coronary artery disease diagnostics, including its HyperVue Imaging System with Enhanced Vascular Imaging, which includes both optical coherence tomography and near-infrared spectroscopy capabilities.
The company's technology simultaneously enables coronary intravascular imaging and physiological assessment using just a single angiogram, from which it can calculate fractional flow reserve (FFR). It also uses AI to provide rapid, detailed assessments of patients’ coronary health.
SpectraWAVE’s X1-FFR software was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October. It can be used alongside the HyperVue Imaging System to measure FFR in real-time.
Philips is hopeful that combining this technology with its own Azurion image-guided therapy platform will improve outcomes for cardiac patients. Leaders there are optimistic about how the new agreement could further advance its capabilities in image-guided coronary interventions.
“We are doubling down on image-guided therapy and expanding our portfolio in the coronary intervention segment with the addition of SpectraWAVE’s AI-powered innovations in high-definition intravascular imaging and angio-based physiological assessment, enabling us to deliver better care for more people,” Roy Jakobs, CEO Philips, said in the announcement.
“Philips shares our deep conviction that the convergence of intravascular imaging, coronary physiology and AI can fundamentally improve how every patient with coronary disease is treated. This partnership allows us to integrate and scale HyperVue and X1-FFR into the world’s leading image-guided therapy ecosystem, expanding choice for clinicians and supporting more consistent, high-quality care for the millions of patients who depend on coronary intervention each year,” added Eman Namati, PhD, CEO of SpectraWAVE.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.