Veran Medical Technologies Announces Initial Shipment of SPiN DriveÂ® Platform to Customers LOUIS, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Veran Medical Technologies announced today that the Company has started initial shipments of its SPiN Drive® electromagnetic navigation platform, an advanced solution that biopsies peripheral Solitary Pulmonary Nodules (SPNs) for the potential early diagnosis of lung cancer. The SPiN Drive system design may improve efficiency and enhance workflow by allowing the physician to never lose or remove navigation at the time of biopsy with the Always-On Tip Tracked™ instruments. The platform is the first in electromagnetic navigation to provide optimal facility flexibility by requiring no unique bed or room calibration. Additionally, the ability to view airways during procedures may provide a significant advantage toward targeting SPNs. Targets are viewed on high-resolution CT images using a patient-specific view, without any radiation being delivered to the patient, physician or staff. In addition, the SPiN Drive technology includes bi-planar virtual fluoroscopy view used to navigate multiple planes simultaneously. This advancement is the first of its kind in pulmonology, enabling physicians to view the location of the Always-On Tip Tracked instrument. "The SPiN Drive platform is ground-breaking technology in electromagnetic navigation," said Gregg Smith, vice president of sales and marketing at Veran Medical Technologies. The SPiN Drive system has generated tremendous market excitement since its introduction. As expected, hospitals looking to provide the most advanced electromagnetic navigation technology for early diagnosis of lung cancer are seeking the SPiN Drive platform. We are excited about the interest in SPiN Drive and believe we are strongly positioned for growth in 2012. Lung cancer is a deadly disease that mortally claims 85 percent of patients within five years. According to the recent NLST (National Lung Screen Trial) study, there is a 21 percent reduction in mortality for patients screened for lung cancer. Many SPNs in the peripheral lung are inaccessible with today's techniques and technologies, leaving patients on "watchful waiting" protocols of repeat CT scanning causing significant patient anxiety and unproductive costs added to the U.S. Healthcare System. Veran's SPiN Drive product acts as a GPS-like system to enable pulmonologists and surgeons to access SPNs, aid in obtaining biopsy tissue for diagnosis and end watchful waiting. About Veran Medical Technologies, Inc. Veran Medical Technologies is a privately held company led by a team of innovators focused on developing the next standard of care for minimally invasive delivery of interventional oncology therapies. Veran has built several clinical products upon its ig4™ platform technology, which uses proprietary 4D registration capabilities for targeting lesions within the human body. The company believes that by enabling minimally invasive early stage diagnosis, it can increase patient survival and lower healthcare costs significantly. Veran Medical Technologies is headquartered in St. Louis, MO. SOURCE Veran Medical Technologies, Inc.