Novadaq Technologies, Inc., a Canadian medical device company, announced today that it plans to use an interactive, 3D virtual online tour created by Toronto-based diginiche Inc., in order to introduce its SPY™ Imaging System to the global market.

Novadaq's SPY™ Imaging System is a fluorescence imaging device that enables cardiac surgeons to simply and efficiently confirm proper placement of their coronary artery bypass grafts, and assess the functionality of those grafts while the patient is still on the operating room table.

David Taggart, M.D., of John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK notes, "I believe that this system will be an invaluable tool both for routine assessment of coronary bypass grafts and even more importantly in situations where heart function is impaired after grafting but where the origin of the problem is uncertain. Indeed one of our patients is only alive because of the availability of this device."

In order to bring the device to the global market, Novadaq called upon diginiche to obtain a technological alternative to presenting the 500-pound medical device to cardiac surgeons around the globe. The result is a sophisticated online 3D virtual tour which allows surgeons to assess the device for themselves from their personal computers by zooming in on key features, moving and rotating the view, and watching demonstrations.

Barry Fogarty, President of diginiche notes, "our mandate was to create something that featured sophisticated yet intuitive user control, and high image quality, but at a minimal file size. We explored a number of technology options, and finally recommended building the presentation out in Viewpoint Experience Technology – a format that we think will become the standard for online product demonstrations”.

According to Joel Palmer, Marketing Manager of Novadaq, “By using this 3D technology we can quickly and effectively present our SPY™ device without having to invest large amounts of time and money normally associated with shipping the actual unit to a potential customer. We’re extremely pleased with the interactive presentation diginiche has put together; it really engages the customer in learning about the technology.”

The SPY™ Imaging System virtual tour was first used at the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery annual meeting in Monaco in September 2002, where it helped draw traffic to the Novadaq booth. Subsequently the company has made it a key part of their sales presentations, and implemented it on their web site.

“We have a new and cutting-edge product, with a potential customer base that spans the globe," concludes Joel Palmer. “diginiche, and Viewpoint technology, have helped us to communicate effectively – in a manner that is informative and compelling - with that audience”.

Novadaq Technologies, founded in April 2000, is a spin-off from the National Research Council’s Institute for Biodiagnostics in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and is privately held. Novadaq’s corporate offices are in Toronto, Ontario, with research and development offices in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and sales offices in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Novadaq is an ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and EN 46001 certified manufacturer.

For more information please visit us at www.novadaq.com.

diginiche is one of North America’s leading providers of interactive online virtual tours of places and products. diginiche merges the arts of photography and design with cutting-edge visualization technologies to deliver high quality interactive images that evoke the experience of being in a place or interacting with a product. Headquartered in Toronto, with additional production facilities in New York, diginiche services clients in a broad array of industries including automotive, travel, e-business and advertising.

For more information visit www.diginiche.com