December 1, 2005, Palo Alto, CA--Agilent Technologies has acquired privately held Molecular Imaging (Tempe, AZ), a developer and manufacturer of nanotechnology measurement tools. Financial details were not disclosed.
Agilent already has a solid position in the laser interferometer market to precisely measure distances at the nanometer scale. The acquisition of Molecular Imaging marks the next step in strengthening Agilent's market position in nanomeasurement by extending the company's portfolio into imaging at the nanometer scale through atomic force microscopes (AFMs).
Nanotechnology is important to Agilent, said Bob Burns, vice president of Agilent's Nanotechnology Measurements Division, because it is a common denominator between the two chief areas of the company's business -- the electronic measurements side and the analytical measurements side, which concentrates on life sciences and chemical analysis.
Stuart Lindsay and Tianwei Jing from Arizona State University founded Molecular Imaging in 1993. The company has had a continuous relationship with ASU and its Lindsay Laboratory since then. Because of the strong ties between Molecular Imaging and ASU, Agilent has no plans to move Molecular Imaging operations from the Tempe area. Molecular Imaging employees have joined Agilent.