Ambu Acquires Endoscopy Imaging Firm TIMS Medical for Up to $65 Million

Ambu has acquired Foresight Imaging, LLC, the Chelmsford, Massachusetts, company that operates as TIMS Medical, for an upfront payment of $45 million and additional milestone payments of up to $20 million, the Copenhagen-based endoscope maker announced on Sept. 14.

TIMS Medical makes hardware and software that let clinicians record, edit, archive and document medical images and integrate them into hospitals' electronic medical record and imaging systems. Ambu said the company is expected to contribute about $15 million in annual revenue and to be accretive to Ambu's revenue growth.

The transaction does not change Ambu's financial guidance for its 2025/26 financial year, the company said.

Why Ambu says it bought TIMS

Ambu, which describes itself as the global market leader in single-use endoscopy, said the deal adds connectivity, reporting and documentation capabilities and access to around 7,000 installations across U.S. hospitals. The company said the purchase advances its EndoIntelligence platform, which it says combines hardware, software and AI across its respiratory, urology, ear-nose-throat and gastroenterology endoscopy portfolio, and its ZOOM AHEAD strategy.

"The acquisition of TIMS Medical is a strategic step in our aspiration to achieve global endoscopy leadership, strengthening our ability to deliver integrated and innovative solutions, for a more connected and efficient experience for our customers," Ambu Chief Executive Britt Meelby Jensen said in the release.

Ambu said the most immediate opportunity is in ear, nose and throat care, where TIMS Medical has an established position, including in fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), a procedure used to assess swallowing function. According to the release, TIMS Medical's flagship product, TIMS MVP, is widely used for ENT procedures, and many hospitals already use Ambu and TIMS Medical products together. Ambu said combining them would link visualization, connectivity, reporting and documentation in one procedure workflow.

Over time, Ambu said, it sees opportunities to develop the TIMS Medical platform further and extend it to other endoscopy areas.

About the target

TIMS Medical was established in 2004 and has about 55 employees and annual revenue of roughly 97 million Danish kroner, or about $15 million, according to Ambu. Its founder and chief executive, Mark Mariotti, said joining Ambu gives the company "the opportunity to bring our technology to more customers, while continuing to support the hospitals and clinicians who rely on TIMS products today."

Ambu has more than 5,200 employees and operates in Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region, according to the release.