Leica Microsystems, a Germany-based medical device firm which develops and manufactures microscope and image analysis solutions, has signed a distribution agreement with MellingMedical.

Under the agreement, Leica’s neurosurgical, spine, ophthalmic, otolaryngologic, dental and plastic reconstructive microscope portfolio will be included in MellingMedical’s Federal Supply Schedule.

MellingMedical is a CVE-Verified Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) which is said to have over 50 recognised manufacturing partners.

The company distributes medical supplies, equipment, devices and pharmaceuticals to federal health facilities across the US under the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) ‘Veterans First’ procurement programme.

Commenting on the development, MellingMedical founder and president Chris Melling said: “We are proud to team with Leica Microsystems to ensure that Veterans and patients across the federal healthcare system can benefit from the unsurpassed quality of Leica Microsystems technology.”

Leica Microsystems Medical Division – Americas general manager Greg Bonner said: “We are thrilled to be working with Melling Medical.

“We are confident that this partnership will progress our shared goal of enabling veterans and active service members better access to quality health care through providing innovative and cost effective surgical microscope solutions.”

Leica Microsystems specialises in compound and stereo microscopy, digital microscopy, confocal laser scanning and super-resolution microscopy with related imaging systems, electron microscopy sample preparation, and surgical microscopy.

The company, which is said to maintain footprints over 100 countries and service organisations in 20 countries, has seven major plants and product development sites across the globe.

Last month, Leica donated a THUNDER 3D Live Cell imaging system to the Institute of Virology of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin to support their research related to Covid-19 disease.

In 2017, the company launched a new generation of augmented reality (AR) imaging technologies for surgical microscopes.

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