Fujikura Ltd. and Micro-Imaging Solutions (MIS) will jointly co-market nanosized, disposable CMOS-based endoscopes for minimally invasive medical diagnostics under a licensing agreement the companies announced on Friday. The collaboration leverages the commercial-scale production capabilities of Japan-based Fujikura and the proprietary imaging technology of MIS in Colorado, the companies said. MIS owns more than 30 issued worldwide patents relating to microformat CMOS sensor technology and other technologies that enable low-cost, disposable and high-resolution endoscopes, the company said. An endoscope is a medical device consisting of a long, thin, flexible tube that has a light and a video camera for examining the interior surfaces of an organ or tissue. On a screen, the physician can see images of the inside of the patient's body. The global market for endoscopy was worth $6.2 billion in 2011; it is growing at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 9.77 percent and is expected to reach approximately $10.9 billion by 2017, the companies said. Under the patent license, Fujikura, which designs custom CMOS-based endoscopes for OEMs, will begin shipping its 1.2-mm-diameter CMOS module (consisting of lens, chip, cable and connector) in 2013. The module gives medical device manufacturers flexibility in designing disposable/reusable diagnostic and surgical devices. The license agreement is slated to continue through 2025, with the potential to expand into multiple additional medical fields where both companies believe there is opportunity to enhance the surgeon's visualization capabilities while improving patient outcomes. Fujikura will demonstrate its disposable endoscopes and CMOS camera modules at MD&M (Medical Design & Manufacturing) East in Philadelphia, June 18-20, at Booth 4008. For more information, visit: www.fujikura.co.jp/eng