Imperium, Inc. Announces Availability of the World's Smallest Handheld Ultrasound Imaging Camera for Realtime and Remote Diagnostic Inspection

New i600 Acoustocam camera more rugged and light weight with powerful imaging technology

BELTSVILLE, Md., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Imperium, Inc., the sole developer  and manufacturer of ultrasound imaging cameras for Non-Destructive Inspection ("NDI") announced today the availability of the new Acoustocam i600, a lighter, more rugged version of the world's only handheld portable camera device used by companies such as Boeing, US Navy, Airbus, NASA, Hexcel and others for NDI; especially composite materials.

The i600 Acoustocam is a much smaller and easier to manage handheld device and is built of more rugged material, but contains the same powerful imaging capabilities. The new unit uses a tenth of the number of parts of the i500, is approximately half its size and a third of its weight.

"This is a breakthrough for our company and a benefit to the industry which lacked an easy to manage, portable imaging tool for internal damage inspection in the field," said Bob Lasser, president of Imperium. "This powerful, more rugged and lightweight internal defect detection tool can be held effortlessly overhead, making comprehensive NDI examinations easier and more comfortable for the technician."

Boeing IDS Philadelphia [NYSE: BA] is the first customer to receive the i600. "Boeing recently selected Imperium's Acoustocam i600 with Remote NDI for its plans to develop an innovative damage assessment process to improve operational readiness in the field for the V-22 Osprey," said Matt Atkinson, support equipment design engineer, Boeing IDS. "With realtime collaboration over a wireless communication network, sharing realtime images and analysis, this technology should provide a tremendous benefit to our fleet support team."

Boeing Commercial Airplane Group also plans to upgrade to the i600 to support its plans for damage assessment on the forthcoming 787 Dreamliner.

Mike Hamel, president of Test Equipment Distributors, LLC, an authorized Imperium reseller in the U.S., said, "As Imperium's newest channel partner, TED is delighted to market the innovative i600 Acoustocam. This NDI tool offers tremendous value to our customers in aerospace, the armed services and their supply chains." To contact TED, visit their website at www.tedndt.com

Bruce Truesdale, president of Air Dynamics (www.airdynamics.ca), an authorized Imperium reseller in Canada, adds, "The aerospace industry will appreciate the compact, lightweight i600 camera for field damage assessment. I anticipate this product will be quite welcomed by the NDI technicians in the aerospace industry-at-large."

Pricing and Availability

Commercial availability of the i600 is scheduled for the end of February. Retail pricing (in pulse-echo configuration) is the same as the existing i500 Acoustocam. The i600 camera head is available as an upgrade to existing systems. For more information contact Imperium sales: www.imperiuminc.com

Imperium will be demonstrating the i600 Acoustocam at the American Composite Manufacturers Association's Composite (ACMA) event, February 9-11 in booth #442. http://www.acmanet.org/

About Imperium, Inc.

Imperium, Inc. is a privately-held Maryland "C" corporation that develops and manufactures advanced ultrasound imaging systems. Dr. Marvin E. Lasser, the former chief scientist of the US Army and director of research for Ford (Philco Division) founded the company in 1996. Imperium sells its products through direct and indirect sales channels, and through flagship OEM partners in different industries. Applications of the technology can be found in industrial, medical, sub sea, and biometric settings. The technology is protected by several granted and pending patents. www.imperiuminc.com

SOURCE Imperium, Inc.