Norland signs new densitometer deal

After terminating a two-year alliance with Canadian firm IMRO, bone densitometry vendor Norland has found a new partner for an ultrasound densitometer unit. The White Plains, NY, company in June acquired rights to distribute and service an ultrasound bone measurement system developed by U.K. firm McCue.

The June 17 agreement gives Norland the right to distribute McCue’s CubaClinical system in Canada, parts of Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific Rim. The company will distribute and service the system in the U.S. once it has received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration, which McCue expects later this year. CubaClinical is a dry system and boasts a large clinical database, according to Norland executives.

Norland signed a deal with IMRO in 1997 for rights to distribute IMRO’s existing ultrasound bone measurement system, which Norland called Paris (SCAN 2/18/98 and 9/17/97). Norland began shipping Paris to European and Pacific Rim clients last year, but when Paris didn’t receive PMA clearance in the U.S. as Norland had expected, the company ended its alliance with IMRO.