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First Human Clinical Images Available with OCTIS™ Thanks to Tomophase Corporation and the Thoraxklinik, University of Heidelberg
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On Tuesday, May 7th Tomophase OCTIS was used for the first time to examine the airways of a patient undergoing bronchoscopy at the Thoraxklinik. The |
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The Tomophase OCTIS was used by Dr Ute Oltmanns, and deployed under the direction of Professor Felix Herth, MD PhD, Principal Investigator.
The internationally acclaimed Thoraxklinik Heidelberg is one of the oldest and largest pulmonary clinics in the world, in service for over 100 years. Prof. Herth, Head of Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine and Deputy Medical Director is a widely respected interventional pulmonologist. Patients will receive a CT scan and in some cases will be followed up with Tomophase OCT Imaging. OCTIS provides real-time, high resolution imaging at a level which has not been previously available. .
About the Thoraxklinik-Heidelberg
The Thoraxklinik Heidelberg started as a convalescent home, then grew from a tuberculosis hospital into a clinic specialized in all thoracic diseases, and has steadily evolved into today's world-class Lung Center. The Thoraxklinik holds a lead position not just in Germany but in all of Europe, with around 10,000 admissions, 10,000 outpatient visits, and 2,300 surgical procedures performed annually.
About Tomophase
Tomophase is a leader in developing bronchoscopic-based systems for interventional pulmonology. Offering significantly higher resolution than either CT scan or ultrasound, OCTIS provides real-time, high resolution, sub-surface tissue imaging of airways and lungs, to be followed by diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Our goal is to provide physicians with heretofore unobtainable airway microstructural images to improve the management and clinical outcome of pulmonary disease. The company has 27 patent and applications issued and pending. FDA 510(k) clearance for OCTIS was received and the CE Mark is expected in 2013. The U.S. commercial launch is underway and the EU rollout is proceeding. The company is currently raising investment capital to meet the increasing international demand for the OCT Imaging System. Examples of our tissue imaging results are available at www.tomophase.com.
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Tomophase and MOSS, S.p.A. Expand OCTIS Technology Throughout Italy with New Distribution Agreement
BURLINGTON, MA – March 25, 2013 – Tomophase Corporation, a leading developer of minimally invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) tissue imaging devices, announced today that it has signed a distribution agreement with MOSS S.p.A. of Italy.
The distribution agreement with MOSS covers the Tomophase product line including the OCT Imaging System, OCTIS™ and the OCTIS Probes in the territory Italy and San Marino. Upon signing, MOSS also purchased two systems for waiting Italian clinicians who are experts in pulmonary imaging. Delivery and installation of OCTIS is scheduled for June. These new systems for Italian medical centers follow the deployment and installation of OCTIS in Germany at the Thoraxklinik, University of Heidelberg. Both MOSS and Tomophase will work together to expand the availability of this innovative and much anticipated technology to the Italian medical community.
“We are delighted to have MOSS as our distributor in Italy. President Franco Papa and his team have been very active with innovative imaging technologies and have been following our progress at Tomophase. We look forward to close cooperation with MOSS as they extend our OCTIS technology for interventional pulmonology throughout Italy, ” said Ralph Johnston, President and CEO.
Dr. Peter Norris, Tomophase Executive Chairman commented, “ The partnership of Tomophase with Franco Papa and MOSS is another example of the high level of international interest in the OCTIS platform. With their experience in Interventional Pulmonology, MOSS is an excellent fit for OCTIS and our goal of introducing physicians to the greatly expanded pulmonary imaging capabilities it affords. The placement of OCTIS units in two major pulmonary centers in Italy is a major step forward in meeting this goal. ”
Mr. Franco Papa, MOSS President and CEO, personally expressed “MOSS has specialized through the years in identifying high-tech, innovative solutions which may provide concrete answers to our end users’ most specific therapeutic demands. Therefore we welcome the opportunity to partner with an outstanding company like Tomophase for the purpose of developing the national market by means of such a strategic collaboration and, thus, achieve a successful introduction of the Tomophase OCT Imaging System in the field. ”
About Moss
MOSS was founded to further the idea of creating an active platform for young and dynamic companies in order to offer foreign-based advanced medical device manufacturers a local, operating interface to support their needs and requirements throughout Italy.
About Tomophase
Tomophase is a leader in developing bronchoscopic-based systems for interventional pulmonology. Offering significantly higher resolution than either CT scan or ultrasound, OCTIS provides real-time, high resolution, sub-surface tissue imaging of airways and lungs, to be followed by diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Our goal is to provide physicians with heretofore unobtainable airway microstructural images to improve the management and clinical outcome of pulmonary disease. The company has 28 patent and applications issued and pending. FDA 510(k) clearance for OCTIS was received and the CE Mark is expected in June. The U.S. commercial launch is underway and the EU rollout is proceeding. The company is currently raising investment capital to meet the increasing international demand for the OCT Imaging System. Examples of our tissue imaging results are available at www.tomophase.com.
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Tomophase OCTIS™ Delivered to the Thoraxklinik University of Heidelberg
BURLINGTON, MA – November 21, 2012 – Tomophase Corporation, a leading developer of minimally invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) tissue imaging devices, announced today that the Thoraxklinik at the University of Heidelberg, Germany has requested and received the Tomophase OCT Imaging System (OCTIS™) for use in a national lung cancer trial.
The lung cancer trial is sponsored by the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum , (DKFZ) the national German Lung Cancer Center. The Tomophase OCTIS will be deployed under the direction of Professor Felix Herth, MD PhD, Principal Investigator. The Thoraxklinik has provided over €20,000,000 in funding to five academic medical centers in Germany. In addition to lung cancer, the centers will study chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and cystic fibrosis.
The internationally acclaimed Thoraxklinik Heidelberg is one of the oldest and largest pulmonary clinics in the world, in service for over 100 years. Prof. Herth, Head of Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine and Deputy Medical Director, is a widely respected interventional pulmonologist. Patients will receive a CT scan and in some cases will be followed up with Tomophase OCT Imaging. OCTIS provides real-time, high resolution imaging at a level which has not been previously available.
About the Thoraxklinik-Heidelberg
The Thoraxklinik at the University of Heidelberg started as a convalescent home, then grew from a tuberculosis hospital into a clinic specialized in all thoracic diseases, and has steadily evolved into today's world-class Lung Center. The Thoraxklinik holds a lead position not just in Germany but in all of Europe, with around 10,000 admissions, 10,000 outpatient visits, and 2,300 surgical procedures performed annually.
About Tomophase
Tomophase Corporation is a privately held opto-medical device company with a proprietary position in real-time, high resolution, cross sectional tissue imaging using a variant of OCT. Our goal is to provide physicians with heretofore unobtainable airway microstructural images to improve the management and clinical outcome of pulmonary disease. Examples of our tissue imaging results are available at www.tomophase.com.
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Tomophase Receives Notice of the Issuance of Japanese Patent Number 4756218 of its Core Technology
BURLINGTON, MA – July 8, 2011 – Tomophase Corporation, developer of the minimally-invasive Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging System (OCTIS™) and other devices, received notice today that the Japanese intellectual property agency has issued its patent number 4756218 for: MEASUREMENTS OF OPTICAL INHOMOGENEITY AND OTHER PROPERTIES IN SUBSTANCES USING PROPAGATION MODES OF LIGHT.
This is the fundamental Tomophase patent which describes a proprietary variant of OCT imaging. This patent was previously issued in the U.S. In addition to its nine issued domestic patents, Tomophase is pursuing international applications of its patents, and this is its first to issue in Japan. Given that OCT imaging will have worldwide appeal, the company is expanding the international coverage of its patent portfolio.
“Our first Japanese patent represents a milestone for Tomophase Corporation. Japan is on the forefront of medical imaging where companies including Olympus, Pentax and Fujinon produce state-of-the-art bronchoscopes and dominate the world bronchoscope market. In addition to companies, the Japanese health care system provides routine screening for lung diseases to patients. We believe that adding Tomophase OCTIS to this screening process will further enhance health care delivery options available to Japanese patients” said Ralph Johnston, President, and CEO.
Dr. Peter Norris, Executive Chairman commented “ We are very pleased to have received this patent in Japan where OCT is accepted as a highly regarded diagnostic modality. Tomophase imaging technology as embodied in our OCTIS product line is highly competitive in the rapidly growing market for pulmonary disease management. This is particularly true in Japan, where a significant portion of the population are either smokers or former smokers. Tomophase is already engaged in discussions with a Japanese bronchoscope manufacturer regarding partnering for further marketing and development effort ”
About Tomophase
Tomophase Corporation is a privately held opto-medical device company with a proprietary position in real-time, high resolution, cross sectional tissue imaging using a variant of OCT. Examples of our tissue imaging results are available at www.tomophase.com.
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Tomophase Awarded Ninth Patent: Integrated Disease Diagnosis and Treatment System
BURLINGTON, MA – June 28, 2011 – Tomophase Corporation, developer of the minimally-invasive Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging System (OCTIS™) and other devices, announced today that it has received notification from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office of the issuance of its ninth patent: Integrated Disease Diagnosis and Treatment System, U.S. Patent # 7,970,458. This patent has bearing on major imaging companies such as G.E., Boston Scientific, Johnson and Johnson, Olympus, Fujinon, Hitachi, Pentax, Siemens and Karl Storz.
This new patent sets forth designs and techniques for producing the first and only integrated systems that combine the trusted imaging capabilities of a CT scan, and optical probing with proven technology for therapeutic treatment utilizing electromagnetic radiation (e.g. laser, RF, or microwave). The integrated workstation concept combines the utility of CT for detecting/ locating small early stage solitary pulmonary nodules [SPNs], with the ability of OCT to provide real-time high resolution images of the nodules allowing the clinician to make a judgement as to the therapeutic approach indicated.
Tomophase is a leader in developing bronchoscopic-based systems for interventional pulmonology. Offering significantly higher resolution than either CT scan or ultrasound, OCTIS will be deployed for sub-surface tissue imaging of airways and lungs, followed by diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The company has 18 additional patent applications pending. FDA 510(k) clearance for OCTIS was received in December, 2010, and rollout of the systems is proceeding. The company is currently conducting a fundraising to meet the increasing international demand for the OCT Imaging System.
“Our ninth patent represents a very significant step forward for Tomophase. Combining the benefits of OCTIS and CT imaging with the therapeutic capability of laser and radio frequency ablation, the company will be able to provide a new, previously unavailable imaging and treatment modality for patients and clinicians. This approach has the potential to deliver state-of-the-art therapy in real time while minimizing overall treatment time” said Ralph Johnston, President, and CEO.
Dr. Peter Norris, Executive Chairman added: “The integrated workstation concept will allow a protocol similar to colonoscopy to be deployed for high risk lung cancer patients. Ultimately, we expect that the use of OCT and associated therapies will prove to have minimal side effects for dealing effectively with early stage lung cancer where the survival rate can be upwards of 80%. All this is expected to be accomplished in an outpatient setting. Needless to say we at Tomophase are very excited about this prospective advance.”
About Tomophase
Tomophase Corporation is a privately held opto-medical device company with a proprietary position in real-time, high resolution, cross sectional tissue imaging using a variant of OCT. Examples of our tissue imaging results are available at www.tomophase.com.
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Tomophase Announces First Sale of its OCT Imaging System (OCTIS™ )for Research Use to the University of Texas
BURLINGTON, MA – April 7, 2011 –Tomophase Corporation, a leading developer of minimally invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) tissue imaging devices, announced today that it has installed the first of its OCT Imaging Systems (OCTIS™) at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas.
This first system sale will be for research use in the laboratory of Dr. Massoud Motamedi, Director, Center for Biomedical Engineering at UTMB. Dr. Motamedi will be conducting research on application of OCT in intraluminal imaging.
Dr Motamedi said, “There is a great need for the development of a high resolution image-based technique for non-invasive assessment of tissue morphology within the intraluminal space in order to assess changes that may occur in tissue morphology in response to therapeutic interventions or disease progression. The Tomophase OCT system provides the capabilities that are needed to rapidly acquire high resolution OCT images in the lung, colon and GI tract in human and in various animal models. This imaging system could provide details about tissue morphology and structure that could potentially significantly improve early detection of diseases such as epithelial neoplasm as well as assessment of epithelial integrity and treatment safety and efficacy.”
“We are pleased that our state-of-the-art OCT tissue imaging system meets the needs of the University of Texas. High resolution tissue imaging is the focus of our efforts at Tomophase,” said Ralph Johnston, President, and COO.
“Our company is committed to providing new, innovative tissue imaging systems to improve the management of pulmonary disease. It is gratifying to see a group such as UTMB, with so much experience in Interventional Pulmonology imaging, choose our OCTIS system.” said Peter Norris, PhD CEO.
About UTMB Biomedical Engineering
ABOUT UTMB: Established in 1891, Texas’ academic health center comprises four health sciences schools, three institutes for advanced study, a research enterprise that includes one of only two national laboratories dedicated to the safe study of infectious threats to human health, and a health system offering a full range of primary and specialized medical services throughout Galveston County and the Texas Gulf Coast region. UTMB is a component of the University of Texas System and a member of the Texas Medical Center.
About Tomophase
Tomophase Corporation is a privately held opto-medical device company with a proprietary position in real-time, high resolution, cross sectional tissue imaging using a variant of OCT. Our goal is to provide physicians with heretofore unobtainable airway microstructural images to improve the management and clinical outcome of pulmonary disease. Examples of our tissue imaging results are available at www.tomophase.com.
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Tomophase OCTIS™ Receives FDA 510(K) Clearance To Market
BURLINGTON, MA – December 10, 2010 – Tomophase Corporation, developer of the non- invasive Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging System (OCTIS™) and other devices, announced today that it has received FDA 510(k) clearance to market OCTIS.
Tomophase is a leader in the development of OCT brochoscopically-based imaging systems for interventional pulmonology. OCTIS is comprised of a single-use disposable optical catheter and imaging console. Initially OCTIS will be deployed for tissue imaging of airways and lungs, followed by diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) recently released by the NCI represents an example of how OCT will be applied. In the NLST, the risk of dying from lung cancer was reduced by 20% when the subjects, (>50,000) former smokers, were given low-dose CT scans which resulted in identifying lethal tumors at an earlier, more treatable stage. Tomophase OCTIS has the potential to monitor these patients by imaging pulmonary tissue following a CT scan using laser light rather than radiation.
“We are delighted to receive the 510(k) for our new, novel OCT Imaging System. This clearance reflects the hard work and dedication of our employees and consultants over the past five years. At the present time, there is a lot of excitement in interventional pulmonology due to the emergence of several new innovative, medical technologies and potential applications. Our company is committed to providing new medical imaging products to improve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the lung and airways including asthma, emphysema and lung cancer” said Ralph Johnston, President and COO.
Dr. Peter Norris, Chairman and CEO added: “our first 510(k) represents a giant step forward in our development of OCT technology for interventional pulmonology, heretofore a greatly underserved market.” “We plan to consistently expand our system’s capabilities in order to maximize the potential for safe, cost-effective, optical imaging, diagnostics and therapy for the management of pulmonary disease, ” he added.
About Tomophase
Tomophase Corporation is a privately held opto-medical device company with a proprietary position in real-time, high resolution, cross sectional tissue imaging using a variant of OCT. The company is engaged in the research and development of sophisticated fiber-optic catheters and imaging engines, used in conjunction with bronchoscopy, and initially focused on Interventional Pulmonology applications. The OCTIS cross-sectional tissue imaging system is capable of imaging microstructure 2-3 mm below the surface of the airways and lungs to provide valuable visualization information to the physician in the management of pulmonary diseases. Examples of our tissue imaging results are available at www.tomophase.com.
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Tomophase Awarded Eighth Patent: Mapping Physiological Functions of Tissue in Lungs and Other Organs
BURLINGTON, MA – November 15 2010 – Tomophase Corporation, developer of the non- invasive Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging System (OCTIS™) and other devices, announced today that it has received notification of the issuance of its eighth patent: Mapping physiological functions of tissues in lungs and other organs, U. S. Patent # 7,831,298.
The new patent describes a novel method for measuring blood in the lungs at two different wavelengths. Measuring blood at different spectral bands will allow optical differentiation of oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood. This new technology will be accomplished with the OCT Imaging System which includes an imaging console and disposable, single use, fiber optic catheter.
Tomophase is a leader in developing bronchoscopic-based systems for interventional pulmonology. Initially OCTIS will be deployed for tissue imaging of airways and lungs, followed by diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The company has 19 additional patent applications pending.
OCTIS is currently for experimental use only and not cleared by the FDA for patient use. The company is currently pursuing FDA regulatory clearance.
“We are pleased to receive this patent which we believe will increase the utility of OCTIS as a new tool in the armamentarium for interventional pulmonologists. Our company is committed to providing new, innovative medical imaging products to improve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the lung and airways including asthma, emphysema and lung cancer” said Ralph Johnston, President and COO.
Dr. Peter Norris, Chairman and CEO added: “this new patent will continue to move us forward in the development of technology for interventional pulmonology, heretofore a greatly underserved market.” “We plan to consistently expand our system’s capabilities in order to maximize the potential of safe, efficient, optical energy to image, diagnose and treat disease, ” he added.
About Tomophase
Tomophase Corporation is a privately held opto-medical device company with a proprietary position in real-time, high resolution, cross sectional tissue imaging using a variant of OCT. The company is engaged in the research and development of sophisticated fiber-optic catheters and imaging engines, used in conjunction with bronchoscopy, and initially focused on Interventional Pulmonology applications. The OCTIS cross-sectional tissue imaging system is capable of imaging microstructure 2-3 mm below the surface of the airways and lungs to provide valuable visualization information to the physician in the management of pulmonary diseases. Examples of our tissue imaging results are available at www.tomophase.com.
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Tomophase Receives Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project (QTDP) Award
BURLINGTON, MA – November 04, 2010 – Tomophase Corporation, a leading developer of non-invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) tissue imaging devices, announced today that it has received an award from the Departments of the Treasury and Health and Human Services for the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project (QTDP.)
The Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project is a federally-sponsored program that is targeted to projects that show a reasonable potential to:
• Result in new therapies to treat areas of unmet medical need or prevent, detect, or treat chronic or acute diseases and conditions,
• Reduce the long-term growth of health care costs in the United States, or
• Significantly advance the goal of curing cancer within 30 years.
The award also takes into consideration which projects show the greatest potential to create and sustain high-quality, high-paying U.S. jobs and to advance U.S. competitiveness in life, biological, and medical sciences. [Source: U.S. HHS website]
Tomophase has developed an OCT Imaging System (OCTIS™). initially for interventional pulmonology. The OCTIS fiber-optic catheter and image console is a minimally invasive bronchoscopic-based system that will provide image guidance for newly approved interventional therapies such as bronchial thermoplasty for severe asthma as well as real time, cross-sectional, high resolution visualization of airway microstructure for future therapies for emphysema and early stage lung cancer.
“We are very pleased to receive this award. It is recognition that research and development being conducted by Tomophase is state-of-the-art and holds significant potential for patients, families and caregivers as well as our current and future employees. We will continue to complete ongoing financing to produce the OCT Imaging System (OCTIS™) technology for interventional pulmonology,”stated Ralph Johnston, Tomophase President and COO.
Dr. Peter Norris, Tomophase Chairman and CEO said that“ This award will help Tomophase in its efforts to commercialize OCT for pulmonary applications and indicates HHS recognition of its value in this respect. We hope to be first-to-market with an imaging system that will find acceptance within the Interventional Pulmonology community.”
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Tomophase Receives Seventh Patent: Delivering Light Via Optical Waveguide and Multi-view Optical Probe Head
BURLINGTON, MA – April 27, 2010 – Tomophase Corporation, a leading developer of non-invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) tissue imaging devices, announced today that it has received notification of the issuance of its seventh patent: Delivering Light via Optical Waveguide and Multi-view Optical Probe Head, U. S. Patent # 7,706,646.
This new patent covers the unique, disposable fiber-optic imaging catheter which is a key component to the company’s Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging System (OCTIS™). This invention in part describes the optical probe and the capability to project light beams in either forward or orthogonal directions with a rotary trajectory to visualize tissue to a depth of 2-3mm. The first application of OCTIS will be to visualize airway and lung tissue in Interventional Pulmonology. The company has an additional 20 patent applications pending. OCTIS is currently for experimental use only and not cleared by the FDA for patient use. The company is currently pursuing FDA regulatory clearance. “We are pleased to receive this patent which we believe will increase the flexibility of OCTIS as a new tool in the armamentarium for interventional pulmonologists. Our company is committed to providing new, innovative medical imaging products to improve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the lung and airways” said Peter Norris, PhD CEO.
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Tomophase Corporation Names Ralph S. Johnston
President and Chief Operating Officer
BURLINGTON, MA – March 22, 2010 – Tomophase Corporation, a leading developer of non-invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) tissue imaging devices, announced today that Ralph S. Johnston has been appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of the company. The announcement was made by Dr. Peter Norris, CEO, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Johnston brings over 25 years of experience in medical devices and pharmaceuticals to the business. He has held senior management positions in business development, strategic marketing and sales with venture-backed start-up enterprises and Fortune 500 companies Pfizer and Corning Medical.
Previously Mr. Johnston was involved in the start-up of Infusaid Corporation, a privately held medical device company that produced a totally implantable Class III drug infusion system. Pfizer acquired Infusaid and Mr. Johnston accepted an offer to remain with the company, ultimately serving as worldwide Vice President of Marketing and Sales of the Pfizer division. Mr. Johnston received an MBA from the Sawyer School of Management, Suffolk University, Boston, and earned a BA in Biology and Chemistry from Eastern Michigan University.
Dr. Norris states: “We are delighted to have Ralph join our team as we move forward with our development and commercialization plans, initially in Interventional Pulmonology. His previous experience in the U.S., Europe and Asia with sophisticated medical devices and his clinical relationships will be important assets for Tomophase.” Mr. Johnston noted: “The field of Interventional Pulmonology represents an important emerging opportunity for the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, asthma and other pulmonary diseases. Tomophase?s proprietary position in OCT imaging and therapeutic modalities is unique and exciting and I?m looking forward to contributing to move this technology to clinicians and patients.”
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Tomophase Corporation accepts invitation to present at
Connecticut Angel Guild meeting
BURLINGTON, MA – December 9, 2009 / PRNewswire-First Call via COMTEX News Network – Tomophase Corporation today announced that has accepted an invitation to present its Optical Coherence Tomographic Imaging Systems (OCTIS?) at the December 9, 2009 meeting of the Connecticut Angel Guild (CAG) meeting to be held in New Haven, CT. This is as follow up to an earlier CAG presentation last year by Tomophase where the most promising technologies are invited to return for a development update. Tomophase will showcase its second generation OCTIS technology with significantly improved speed and performance.
“This invitation by the Connecticut Angel Group is another endorsement of our patented approach to opto-medical devices and our business direction. Investors who are part of the CAG routinely review many new technologies and we are delighted that Tomophase has been invited to return,” said Dr. Norris, CEO.
Tomophase OCTIS™ systems address the needs in oncology and pulmonary medicine where early and minimally invasive diagnosis is key to successful treatments. The company?s initial focus will be applying its technology to the early stage diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, the worlds leading cause of cancer death. If detected in an early stage, the 5 year survival rate of the lung cancer patients is over 85%. However, the early stage is asymptomatic and detection is primarily by chance. After the patients present with symptoms, the 5 year survival rate drops to 10-15%. Screening via CT scan may soon be accepted for high risk groups to reveal the presence of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs). Currently there is no means to differentiate between malignant and benign SPNs other than pulmonary biopsy, itself a risky procedure. Tomophase has patented technology which will, in conjunction with existing tools, enable the early-stage diagnosis in a non-invasive and reliable way.
About the Connecticut Angel Guild
The Connecticut Angel Guild is a group of high net worth investors located in Connecticut who are interested in investing a portion of their assets in high growth, early stage companies. Members have backgrounds as successful entrepreneurs and professional investors. Members invest in start-up and early stage companies. While their focus is Connecticut, members also invest in companies in New England and New York. We believe we contribute more than money to the companies we fund and welcome the opportunity to work with entrepreneurs open to take advice, yet having the smarts and determination to make their business successful.
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Tomophase Corporation to Present at Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) Investor Showcase Event
BURLINGTON, MA – November 24, 2009 / PRNewswire-First Call via COMTEX News Network – Tomophase Corporation announced that it presented its Optical Coherence Tomographic Imaging Systems (OCTIS™) results ‘Advanced Airway Microstructure Imaging’ during the Medical Device Investor Showcase Event on November 24, 2009 at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, MA. Tomophase showcased its second generation OCTIS technology.
“Our poster presentation at the Investor Showcase Event highlighted recent developments in our patented approach to opto-medical devices including significant improvements in speed and performance of our second generation system,” said Dr. Peter Norris, CEO.
Tomophase OCTIS systems address the needs in oncology and pulmonary medicine where early and minimally invasive diagnosis is key to successful treatments. The company?s initial focus will be applying its technology to the early stage diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, the worlds leading cause of cancer death. If detected in an early stage, the 5 year survival rate of the lung cancer patients is over 85%. However, the early stage is asymptomatic and detection is primarily by chance. After the patients present with symptoms, the 5 year survival rate drops to 10-15%. Screening via CT scan may soon be accepted for high risk groups to reveal the presence of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs). Currently there is no means to differentiate between malignant and benign SPNs other than pulmonary biopsy, itself a risky procedure. Tomophase has patented technology which will, in conjunction with existing tools, enable the early-stage diagnosis in a non-invasive and reliable way.
About the M2D2
M2D2, the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center, is a UMass Lowell-UMass Medical School initiative that is helping entrepreneurs move new medical device ideas from patent to production. M2D2 helps them prototype and test inventions, obtain funding and build management teams so that new medical devices will be developed in the Bay State. M2D2 was established with seed funding from the UMass President?s office and is supported by the two campuses, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s John Adams Innovation Institute and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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Tomophase Corporation to Exhibit First In-Vivo Cross-Sectional Images of Pulmonary Stenting Using Proprietary Oct System
Results Displayed at CHEST Meeting in October 2008
BURLINGTON, MA – October 22, 2008 – Tomophase Corporation announced today that it will display the first in-vivo cross-sectional images of implanted pulmonary stents using their proprietary optical coherence tomography (“OCT”) system at the CHEST meeting in Philadelphia, October 27th through October 29th. The images were captured using the Tomophase OCT System as part of an ongoing research collaboration with Dr. Armin Ernst, Director of Interventional Pulmonology and Dr. Hisashi Tsukada, Research Associate, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Tomophase OCT System enables the interventional pulmonologist to clearly visualize sub-epithelial tissue structures in the airway. The system, which is not yet FDA-approved, utilizes a near-infrared emitting probe in a catheter which is integrated with a conventional video bronchoscope. The images captured by the research team at Beth Israel are from in vivo animal model tracheal tissue. During the next several months the Company plans to continue this work as it progresses towards use of the system in human clinical studies.
“Our goal at Tomophase is to use our proprietary optical technology to help clinicians image subsurface pulmonary tissue at a level of resolution currently unavailable, while not exposing the patient to potentially harmful radiation, UV light or contrast agents” commented Dr. Peter Norris, CEO of Tomophase. “Much of the structure in the airways beneath the epithelial layer is essentially invisible to clinicians. Providing real-time access to this information could provide major benefits to both diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to many pulmonary diseases. We believe this research collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess is an important first step in establishing the utility of this breakthrough technology in both research and the clinic.”
“These latest imaging results from the Tomophase OCT system show excellent detail in the region surrounding the implanted stent,” commented Dr. Ernst. “As such, it may ultimately prove very useful to clinicians in understanding the detailed nature of the interaction between the stent material, including those made from bio-absorbable materials, and the surrounding tissue. High resolution, cross-sectional OCT imaging technology may also have the potential to provide real-time evaluation of other drug and device/tissue interactions as well.”
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Tomophase Corporation to Exhibit First Cross-Sectional Images
of Human Bronchus Using Proprietary OCT System
Results Displayed at CHEST Meeting in October 2007
BURLINGTON, MA – October 16, 2007 – Tomophase Corporation announced today that it will display the first cross-sectional images of excised human bronchial tissue using their proprietary optical coherence tomography (“OCT”) system at the CHEST meeting in Chicago, October 22nd through October 24th. The images were captured using the Tomophase OCT System as part of an ongoing research collaboration with Dr. Armin Ernst, Director of Interventional Pulmonology, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Tomophase OCT System enables the interventional pulmonologist to clearly visualize sub-epithelial tissue structures in the airway. The system, which is not yet FDA-approved, utilizes a near-infrared emitting probe in a catheter which is integrated with a conventional video bronchoscope. The images captured by the research team at Beth Israel are from ex vivo human bronchial tissue. During the next several months the Company plans to further this work in real-time in vivo clinical studies.
“Our goal at Tomophase is to use our proprietary optical technology to help clinicians image subsurface tissue at a level of resolution currently unavailable, while not exposing the patient to potentially harmful radiation, UV light or contrast agents” commented Dr. Norris, CEO of Tomophase. “We believe this research collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess is an important first step in the introduction of this breakthrough technology into both the research and clinical settings.
“The initial imaging results from the Tomophase OCT system show remarkable clarity at greater tissue depths than other existing optical imaging technologies” commented Dr. Ernst. “As such, it may ultimately prove useful to clinicians in the enhanced evaluation of various pulmonary disease states. High resolution OCT technology may also have the potential to provide real-time image evaluation of drug/tissue interactions. This ability may provide new insight regarding the treatment of pulmonary conditions such as asthma and COPD.”
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Tomophase Corporation Closes $4.5 M Series A Financing Round
BURLINGTON, MA –November 23, 2005 - Tomophase Corporation, a leading developer of non-invasive opto-medical devices, announces the completion of a $4.5 M Series A round of private equity financing. The capital raised will fund continuing product development and manufacturing as well as clinical development activities. The financing round was led by Sanderling Biomedical Venture Capital in conjunction with a private investor group from the original seed round of financing.
“The funding decision by Sanderling is a strong endorsement of our patented approach to opto-medical devices and our business direction. Sanderling has many years of experience in bringing medical devices to the marketplace and we look forward to collaborating with them on the commercialization of our multi-modal tissue analyzer,” said Dr. Feiling Wang, President.
Dr. Peter Norris, CEO, commented, “Tomophase now has the means to proceed with an active staffing program aimed at attracting the best optic and electronics talent available to join us in our committed attack on some of the most deadly diseases. Based on initial discussions with several leading first wave adopters at top clinical centers, we expect rapid deployment and acceptance as the standard of care as clinical trials are completed.”
Tomophase devices address the needs in oncological and cardiovascular medicine where early and minimally invasive diagnosis is key to successful treatments. The company’s initial focus will be applying its technology to the early stage diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, the worlds leading cause of cancer death. If detected in an early stage, the 5 year survival rate of the lung cancer patients is over 85%. However, the early stage is asymptomatic and detection is primarily by chance. After the patients present with symptoms, the 5 year survival rate drops to 10-15%. Screening via CT scan may soon be accepted for high risk groups to reveal the presence of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs). Currently there is no means to differentiate between malignant and benign SPNs other than pulmonary biopsy, itself a risky procedure. Tomophase has patented technology which will, in conjunction with existing tools, enable the early-stage diagnosis in a non-invasive and reliable way.
Tomophase Corporation is a privately held, developmental stage opto-medical devices company has headquarters in Burlington, MA. Tomophase was founded in 2003 and is focused on the development and commercialization of its patented technology for minimally invasive opto-medical devices.
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