Advanced Research Technologies Inc.

Advanced Research Technologies Inc. of Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada, has announced clinical trials for the SoftScan optical breast imaging system. The device uses time-domain optical imaging to characterize tumors as benign or malignant. Differences in optical signatures between tissues indicate vascularization, cellularity, oxygen consumption, edema, fibrosis and remodeling.

The study will continue through 2006 at several North American centers and examine 600 to 950 volunteer patients age 25 to over 60. The company intends to present results in its submission to Health Canada and the FDA to support its premarket approval application.