DENVILLE, N.J., July 22, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Lantis Laser Inc.'s (Pink Sheets:LLSR) (www.lantislaser.com) OCT Dental Imaging System, a diagnostic aid for the early detection of decay and microstructural defects, deploys optical coherence tomography (OCT), a novel light-based, high-resolution, diagnostic imaging technology.
According to Optical Coherence Tomography - Technology, Markets, and Applications: 2008-2012, the first market research report to quantify this rapidly expanding field, the global market for OCT systems is currently around $200 million and growing at an annual rate of 34%. This trend is expected to continue for the next several years, with revenues topping $800 million by 2012.(1)
OCT is fast becoming the most successful optics technology to be applied in the medical field. As it a light-based technology, unlike x-ray, there is no radiation. It is generally considered to be the sixth major diagnostic imaging technology after x-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI and PET scan. The significance of OCT technology is evidenced by the number of bio-medical applications under research and development and the large increase in the number of OCT publications over the last several years.
The increasing interest in OCT in the medical field, of which dentistry is the largest sub-group comprising 140,000 dentists practicing in 100,000 offices and clinics in the U.S. alone, has grown significantly over the last few years as is evidenced by the number of research publications. OCT applications research and publications are occurring over a wide area of medical disciplines, including ophthalmology, cardiovascular imaging, dermatology, optical biopsies, cancer detection, urology, and ear, nose and throat.
OCT was first discovered and researched in the early 1990s at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and commercialized in ophthalmology, where it has been widely embraced, by Carl Zeiss Meditec. In a press release in November 2006 Carl Zeiss announced that they had sold 6000 Stratus( systems since its introduction in 2002. Cardiovascular imaging and dentistry are expected to be the next major clinical applications of OCT technology.
Dr Craig Gimbel, Vice-President Clinical Affairs at Lantis, commented that, "OCT is ideally suited for use in dentistry as it provides high-resolution, chairside diagnostic imaging, in real time. Lantis' small handpiece scanner which employs patented state-of-the art MEMS technology, allows easy access to all parts of the oral cavity and ensures a user friendly interface with the OCT System." Dr. Gimbel went on to say that he envisages that the many clinical applications of OCT in dentistry augurs well for OCT to be successfully embraced by the dental profession. Market introduction of Lantis' OCT Dental Imaging System is projected for the first quarter of 2009. The OCT System enables dentists to detect decay and microstructural defects at an early stage and to deploy minimally invasive treatment.
(1) G. Smolka, Optical Coherence Tomograph: Technology, Markets, and Applications 2008-2012, PennWell Corp., www.BioOpticsWorld.com/resourcecenter/OCTreport.html
About Lantis Laser
Lantis was formed to commercialize the application of novel technologies in the dental industry. The criteria for selected products include competitive edge, exclusivity and large market potential. Lantis is currently in Phase 2 and Phase 3 development, moving through beta systems, product development and application for FDA clearance and plans to launch the OCT Dental Imaging System(TM) in the first quarter of 2009. Lantis has exclusive rights to the application of OCT technology in the field of dentistry under its license Agreements with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (exclusive); Lightlab Imaging (non-exclusive) and AXSUN (exclusive). To find out more about Lantis Laser (LLSR: PK), visit www.lantislaser.com
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