Astron Clinica Receives Frost & Sullivan European Technology Innovation of the Year Award for Pioneering SIAscopy

Astron Clinica Receives Frost & Sullivan European Technology Innovation of the Year Award for Pioneering SIAscopy

December 05, 2006

    LONDON, Dec. 5 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The 2006 Frost
& Sullivan European Technology Innovation of the Year
Award is conferred on Astron Clinica Ltd. of the United
Kingdom in recognition of its novel skin imaging technology
-- Spectrophotometric Intracutaneous Analysis (SIAscopy).
This technology has pioneered the measurement and
non-invasive visualisation of the major dermatological
constituents -- blood, melanin and collagen -- of the
skin.

    "Astron Clinica's SIAscopy utilises both visible
and infrared (IR) light to examine skin components such as
blood, melanin, dermal melanin and collagen to a depth of 2
mm below the skin's surface, and provides gross living
pathological data on skin lesions," notes Frost &
Sullivan Research Analyst Sangeetha Prabakar. "This
eliminates the need for other more laborious clinical
examination and laboratory analysis procedures."

    Using sophisticated mathematical models and software
programmes, SIAscopy generates images called SIAscans,
which can then either be displayed on PCs, viewed
separately or overlaid, to demonstrate how skin features
relate to one another. This allows physicians to know the
exact size of a lesion and make more precise incisions.

    "SIAscopy is a safe, non-invasive and painless
technique that is ideal for analysing and monitoring
various skin conditions such as skin cancers or melanomas,
psoriasis, acne, eczema, skin de-pigmentation, skin aging,
and scars," observes Ms. Prabakar.
"High-resolution scans provide five different views of
the lesion under examination and enable skincare specialists
to visualise the skin's structure, vascular composition, and
reticular pigment networks in unmatched detail and
clarity."

    While contact SIAscopy provides very high-resolution
SIAscans for all types of cells and structures, giving the
maximum amount of information about a specific area of skin
or a lesion, non-contact SIAscopy allows a larger area (such
as an entire back or face) to be imaged and provides details
about the concentration of haemoglobin and melanin levels.
It is particularly helpful in monitoring large numbers of
moles on a person, observing moles that are changing and is
also useful for imaging haemoglobin.

    "One of SIAscopy's greatest advantages is in
reducing the need for biopsy," says Ms. Prabakar.
"This, in turn, reduces expenses, decreases scarring
as well as the time lag between identification and
diagnosis. Furthermore, SIAscanning is quick and easy, and
requires only minimal training of staff." 

    The SIAscopy-based DERMETRICS product suite includes
products for skin cancer, skin conditions, skin health,
skin cosmetics, and skin pharmaceuticals. SIAscopy shows
strong potential for adoption by medical and cosmetic
industries. For instance, Proctor & Gamble has
announced the introduction of a skin tone analysis system
to be powered by SIAscopy. Beau Visage, a MediSpa client
consultation and management system, uses non-contact
SIAscopy to examine the entire facial haemoglobin and
melanin structure and measure skin age and sun damage.

    Frost & Sullivan's Technology Innovation Award is
bestowed upon a company (or individual) that has carried
out new research, which has resulted in innovation(s) that
have or are expected to bring significant contributions to
the industry in terms of adoption, change, and competitive
posture.

    Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognise
companies in a variety of regional and global markets for
demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior
performance in areas such as leadership, technological
innovation, customer service, and strategic product
development. Industry analysts compare market participants
and measure performance through in-depth interviews,
analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to
identify best practices in the industry.

    About Astron Clinica

    Astron Clinica, based in Cambridge UK, designs,
develops and brings to market its skin imaging products
that incorporates its proprietary skin imaging technology
SIAscopy. SIAscopy uniquely enables medical, pharmaceutical
and cosmetics industry professionals to visualise up to 2mm
beneath the surface of the skin using both a proprietary
hand held scanner and an off-the-shelf digital camera. 
Awarded Frost & Sullivan's 2006 European Technology
Innovation of the Year Award, Astron Clinica's products use
SIAscopy to allow the measurement and non-invasive
visualisation of the major dermatological constituents of
skin -- blood, melanin and collagen -- in vivo for the
first time. Astron Clinica's customers include
dermatologists, plastic surgeons, GPs and aesthetic
medicine practitioners.  

    Further information is available at
http://www.astronclinica.com .

    About Frost & Sullivan

    Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting
company, has been partnering with clients to support the
development of innovative strategies for more than 40
years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth
consulting, growth partnership services and corporate
management training to identify and develop opportunities.
Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that
includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the
investment community by providing comprehensive industry
coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and
combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies,
econometrics, and demographics. 

    For more information, visit http://www.frost.com .

    For further information, please contact: 
   
     Lucy Saunders
     Press Contact Astron Clinica
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Sandra Holze
     Promotions Co-ordinator, Best Practices
     Frost & Sullivan
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

SOURCE  Frost & Sullivan