Tomophase Awarded Ninth Patent: Integrated Disease Diagnosis and Treatment System

BURLINGTON, Mass., July 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomophase Corporation, developer of the minimally invasive Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging System (OCTIS(TM)) 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 http://www.tomophase.com.

For further information:

Dr. Peter Norris, Executive Chairman
Tomophase Corporation      
P: (781) 229-5700
E: [email protected]

Mr. Ralph Johnston, President, CEO
Tomophase Corporation      
P: (781) 229-5700, ext 123
E: [email protected]

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SOURCE Tomophase Corporation