Philips buys rights to Hansen robotics tech, $29M

Hansen Medical has signed an agreement with Philips Healthcare, granting the latter exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Hansen’s Fiber Optic Shape Sensing and Localization (FOSSL) technology.

FOSSL, which is being developed by Hansen Medical and Luna Innovations, employs a fiber optic sensor to allow physicians to identify the position and shape of catheters and other interventional radiology devices, and would enable 3D visualization as well as control and tracking of flexible tools. Philips, based in Andover, Mass., has agreed to pay Hansen $29 million upfront and up to $78 million in the future as part of the patent and technology license, sublicense and purchase agreements.

Hansen Medical, based in Mountain View, Calif., develops robotic medical devices for positioning and control of catheter-based technologies.

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