The Siemens Healthcare Sector is planning to strengthen its position in the field of computer-assisted surgery with the acquisition of CAS innovations AG. The corresponding agreement is now concluded between the two companies. The antitrust authorities still have to approve the transaction. It was agreed not to reveal the purchase price. CAS innovations manufactures surgical navigation systems which improve planning for operations while at the same time making them faster and safer. The primary focus is on systems for trauma surgery and orthopedics, e.g. for hip, knee and spine operations, as well as on interventional radiology. Headquartered in Erlangen, Germany, the company has 27 employees.
"Through more intensive integration between our imaging systems and the navigation technology from CAS innovations in the future, we will make the work of physicians easier and open up new possibilities in the area of minimally invasive interventions," says Dr. Jochen Dick, CEO of the Special Systems (SP) Business Unit at Siemens Healthcare. "Workflows will be optimized from planning to therapy control, allowing us to improve the quality of medical care while simultaneously reducing the costs."
Even today many operations are planned and performed with the aid of imaging systems such as mobile X-ray units. These systems provide the doctor with accurate insight into the patient's anatomy. Thanks to surgical navigation systems the surgeon can additionally work out on the computer what approximate path needs to be taken before the operation, e.g. to optimally reach deep-lying organs that are difficult to access. During the intervention the system shows the surgeon the position of the operating instruments directly on-screen as well as possible deviations from the previously defined route in the body.
"We've been following the strategy of innovative imaging combined with navigation technology for quite a while," comments Dr. Ralf Petzold, President of CAS innovations. "Jointly with Siemens Healthcare we will open up new markets and offer the customer solutions that are tailored to the needs of the daily clinical routine."
About Siemens Healthcare
Siemens Healthcare is one of the world's largest healthcare solution providers. The corporation is a medical solutions provider with core competencies and innovative power in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as well as in knowledge processing, including information technology and system integration. With its acquisitions in laboratory diagnostics, Siemens Healthcare becomes the first fully integrated diagnostics company that combines imaging and lab diagnostics, therapy solutions and medical information technology and also supplements these with consultation and services. Siemens Healthcare provides solutions for the entire supply chain under one umbrella from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, therapy, and finally, aftercare. The company currently has roughly 49,000 employees worldwide and is represented in more than 130 countries. In fiscal year 2007 (ending September 30) Siemens Healthcare achieved a total sales volume of 9.85 billion and incoming orders totaling 10.27 billion. The Group earnings amounted to 1.32 billion. For further information, go to www.siemens.com/healthcare.
About CAS innovations AG
CAS innovations AG was founded in 2001 in Erlangen. The company develops and sells systems for navigation in the operating room. The systems are used in orthopaedics and emergency surgery, ear, nose and throat medicine and interventional radiology. With its innovative developments, CAS innovations is one of the world's leading suppliers of technology for computer-assisted surgery. The company currently employs 27 persons at its Erlangen headquarters. Further information under www.cas-informations.de.