EMVision Medical Devices inks VNA supply deal with Keysight Technologies
EMVision and Keysight have been collaborating for the past three years to develop personalised, healthcare-focused vector network analyser (VNA) solutions.
Medical imaging technology company EMVision Medical Devices (ASX: EMV) has revealed it has secured a strategic deal with New York-listed Keysight Technologies (NYSE: KEYS) for the exclusive supply of “fast sweep” feature vector network analysers (VNA) to use in the field of neuroimaging.
EMVision emerged from a trading halt today to announce the original equipment manufacturer agreement, which follows a three-year collaboration between the pair in which a personalised and miniaturised healthcare-focused VNA solution was developed.
Keysight, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange with a market cap of $26 billion, is considered a world leader in radiofrequency test and measurement technology and claims to have the strongest portfolio of VNA, which are core to the sensors being used inside EMVision’s portable brain scanner.
Since being spun out of the Silicon Valley-based Agilent, Keysight has focused on wireless data technology such as 5G/6G, and recently rolled out solutions for autonomous vehicles. This agreement represents a strategic push by Keysight into EMVision’s imaging sector.
VNA use in neuroimaging
The VNA is a high performance, lower component count, miniaturised module responsible for accurate signal measurement.
EMVision expects the exclusivity of the deal to be a “substantial” competitive advantage for the company, as the “fast sweep” VNA enables high fidelity imaging, and due to the speed of data capture, the measurement of cerebral blood flow via EMVision’s proprietary “pulsatility” technique under development.
“The VNA has enabled the EMVision device to be further miniaturised, making it ideal for environments — like ICUs and, in the future, ambulances — where space is at a premium,” the company stated.
“The integrated VNA not only enables a further reduction in size, it also eliminates the need for expensive cabling and lowers the component count which further optimises product margins whilst improving performance and ease of use.”
As part of the agreement, EMVision is granted exclusivity in the field of neuroimaging for the supply of Keysight’s ‘fast sweep’ feature in the Vector Network Analysers.
Keysight senior vice president and president of Keysight’s Electronic Industrial Solutions Group, Huei Sin Ee, said the company’s test and measurement expertise and “best-in-class” solutions combined with EMVision’s clinical product development expertise is “expected to revolutionise emergency stroke diagnosis and treatment”.
“We are pleased to partner with EMVision to contribute to the development of the new generation of portable brain scanners that will help transform point-of-care services,” Keysight vice president and general manager of General Electronics Measurement Solutions, Boon Juan Tan added.
“This world’s first portable brain imaging solution is enabled by the game-changing ‘fast sweep’ technology, which provides real-time diagnosis within the golden hour to save lives.”
Deal terms
The terms of the original equipment manufacturer agreement will see EMVision receive exclusive supply of the “fast sweep” fully validated VNA during an initial 12-month term with the possibility of renewal.
The exclusivity is subject to EMVision fulfilling annual product volume forecast commitments.
EMVision chief executive officer Dr Ron Weinberger said the agreement with Keysight recognises the roles both parties played in the development of the bespoke VNA over a period of three years.
“I would like to thank the Keysight team for their concerted work in developing a best-in-class solution for EMVision and look forward to the commercial phase of our relationship,” he said.