In the medical field, ultrasound imaging is extremely important. It's effective with many parts of the body (and tissues); it's real-time and cost-effective; and is portable. There is also no radiation exposure.
In fact, according to a report from InMedica, the market for ultrasound devices is expected to go from $4.4 billion in 2006 to $5.7 billion 2010.
Capitalizing on things, one of the fast-growing players in the space, ZONARE Medical Systems, has filed to go public.
The company's core product -- called the z.one ultrasound system -- uses sophisticated data acquisition and image formation approaches (called Zone Sonography). Apparently, this is more effective than the traditional method, which involves line-by-line acquisition. What's more, ZONARE has a portfolio of 32 US and foreign patents.
Beginning in March 2005, ZONARE started to ship product. And since then, the company has seen lots of traction (for example, there are key contracts with Kaiser Permanente and Fuji Photo Film).
For the first quarter of this year, ZONARE's combined revenues -- which includes deferred items -- came to $9.5 million, up from $5.4 million in the same period a year ago. There was a net loss of $6.2 million.
The lead underwriters on the IPO include Citigroup, Inc. (NYSE: C) and Piper Jaffray. Also, you can locate the prospectus at the SEC website.
Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including The Complete M&A Handbook
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