BEVERLY, Mass. and TORONTO, March 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hamilton Thorne Ltd. (TSX-V:HTL), a leading provider of precision instruments, consumables, software and services to the Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) and developmental biology research markets announced today the release of its new DIMENSIONS™ II Version 3.0 Strict Morphology software module for its CASA II line of automated sperm analysis systems. Focusing on ease of use plus interoperability and consistency with the Company’s other software products, DIMENSIONS II is fully compatible with Hamilton Thorne’s IVOS II and CEROS II systems.
DIMENSIONS II V. 3.0 Strict Morphology software provides automated and objective, morphometric measurements to determine morphological classification of sperm according to strict (Tygerberg) criteria. The strict criteria classification method provides specific guidelines for size and shape of the sperm head and status of the acrosome and tail. The sperm are assessed according to these parameters and categorized as normal, sub-normal or abnormal.
New features include:
- Mid-piece detection
- Calculation of Teratozoospermia Index (TZI)
- Single image export with annotation overlay
- Bulk image export with annotations overlay during analysis
- Addition of Japanese and German language support
In addition, several improvements and enhancements have been made to increase overall analysis performance:
- Increased the normal shape signature templates from 3 to 8, allowing a wider range of normal shapes to be detected with higher accuracy
- Improved acrosome measurement
- Improved tail detection
- Improved head segmentation accuracy
- Improved cell detection rate
“Hamilton Thorne’s DIMENSIONS II software continues to be the only morphology software that has been validated by Dr. Thinus Kruger to comply fully with established strict (Tygerberg) morphology standards,” said Diarmaid Douglas-Hamilton, Senior Vice-President and Chief Technology Officer of Hamilton Thorne. “The improvements to our DIMENSIONS II software demonstrate our continued commitment to providing our customers with the best solutions as we move forward.”
About Hamilton Thorne Ltd. (www.hamiltonthorne.com)
Hamilton Thorne is a leading world-wide provider of precision instruments, consumables, software and services that reduce cost, increase productivity, improve results and enable breakthroughs in Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) and developmental biology research markets. Hamilton Thorne's laser products attach to standard inverted microscopes and operate as micro-surgical devices, enabling a wide array of scientific applications and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedures. Its image analysis systems are designed to bring quality, efficiency and reliability to studies of reproductive cells in the human fertility, animal sciences and reproductive toxicology fields. Hamilton Thorne’s standardized toxicology assays and quality control testing services help to improve outcomes in human IVF clinics. Hamilton Thorne’s growing worldwide customer base consists of pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, fertility clinics, university research centers, animal breeding companies, and other commercial and academic research establishments, including Harvard, MIT, Yale, McGill, Oxford, Cambridge, the Smithsonian Institution, Charles River Labs, Covance, ABS Global, Sexing Technologies, Merck, Cook Medical, Novartis, Pfizer, and Dow Chemical.
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Certain information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Company. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by the Company with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.