Thermimage Inc has developed and commercialized a new proprietary platform technology called MicroSense, which will provide safe and comfortable noninvasive measurement of tissue temperature 5-7 centimeters deep within the body. The firm has developed two devices incorporating this technology, both of which can passively detect minute amounts of microwave energy generated by body heat and convert the signals into temperature measurements. Thermimage has chosen to commercialize two devices using this technology. The first device is the AccuCor Deep Tissue Monitoring System (DTMS), designed to monitor brain tissue temperature in cardiac surgery patients and patients in neurological intensive care units. This system is expected to gain rapid acceptance for monitoring and managing patients placed on a heart-lung machine for cardiac surgery, patients undergoing induced hypothermia for any reason, patients in neurological ICUs, patients in pediatric and neonatal ICUs, patients presenting in emergency departments, and many patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. The company estimates the total worldwide market potential for this application to be in excess of $3.5 billion. The second device is the Thermaflux Scanner, a safe and non-invasive means of diagnosing pediatric Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR), a condition in which bladder urine flows back up into the kidneys, exposing them to infection and potential lifelong health problems. Using the most conservative published VUR incidence rate of one percent, there are more than 840,000 new cases of VUR diagnosed annually. The company estimates the total worldwide market potential for this application to be in excess of $1.0 billion.
