Dornier forms surgical products division

Dornier launched a new business this month to take advantage ofthe fast-growing surgical market. Called Dornier Surgical Products(DSPI), the business will focus on non- and minimally invasivetreatments for breast and prostate disease and will help bringmany of Dornier's R&D projects to market, according to thecompany.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Dornier Medical Systems, DSPIwill include Dornier's microwave therapy development programsat Dornier's Kennesaw, GA, office. Also included under DSPI isAcoustic Imaging's ultrasound instrument division, which willremain in Phoenix.

Dornier said the new company has several projects in its R&Dpipeline, including a technology to monitor breast and prostatetherapy that the company claims will allow clinicians to visualizetissue changes not visible with existing imaging technology. DSPIplans to make an announcement on the technology this year.

The new business appears to reflect Acoustic Imaging's shiftaway from its historical role as a dedicated ultrasound manufacturer.Acoustic Imaging did not have its own booth at the RadiologicalSociety of North America meeting, instead exhibiting as part ofFischer Imaging's booth, where AI's Performa scanner was shownin a breast imaging capacity (SCAN 12/18/96).

Although Dornier flirted with the idea of dropping the AcousticImaging name in 1996, that move was later scrapped after consultationwith customers. Earlier in 1996, Singapore Technologies acquireda majority interest in Dornier (SCAN 2/28/96).

In an interview following the RSNA meeting, Dornier MedicalSystems president and CEO Karl Jonietz said the company has beenrepositioned to focus largely on the imaging of breast disease,in both the radiology and surgical markets. Dornier officialswere unavailable for comment at press time on the DSPI launch.