Opsens Spins Off Industrial Fiber Sensors Division

Fiber optic sensors developer Opsens Inc. is separating its medical and industrial divisions.

Opsens itself will continue to develop and market sensors used to diagnose and guide treatment of coronary heart disease. The newly created Opsens Solutions Inc., meanwhile, will concentrate on industrial applications, including in the oil and gas industry.

Gaétan Duplain will serve as president of Opsens Solutions. The company recently partnered with Precise Downhole Services Ltd. to carry out installation of its optical sensors in the oil and gas market in Alberta, Canada.

"This reorganization will cluster the medical activities exclusively within the parent company Opsens Inc.," said President and CEO Louis Laflamme. "This new structure will contribute to the expansion of our medical activities by concentrating our growth and development activities while allowing financial markets to better assess the performance of our business units to create value for our shareholders."

Opsens' OptoWire, a nitinol-based optical guidewire, provides intracoronary blood pressure, or fractional flow reserve (FFR), measurements. It is immune to adverse effects related to blood contact, enabling extended use. The technology is also designed to provide cardiologists with a guidewire that safely navigates coronary arteries and crosses blockages. The FFR market represented more than $300 million in sales in 2014 and is expected to reach $1 billion in the medium term, the company said.

For more information, visit www.opsens.com.