Tomophase To Exhibit First In-Vivo Cross-Sectional Images Of Pulmonary Stenting Using Proprietary OCT System

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Also Included In: Lung Cancer;  Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 21 Oct 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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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, Oct. 27th through Oct. 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."

About Tomophase Corporation

Tomophase Corporation is a private company founded in 2003 based on proprietary technology innovations in the field of optical coherence tomography and its use to image tissue at high resolution. With Tomophase OCT, researchers and clinicians can observe tissue structure within 2-3 mm of the surface without the use of radiation, UV light or image contrast agents. Tomophase is pursuing the first application of its technology in pulmonary medicine for the visualization of airways. Future development areas include respiratory therapy development, lung cancer management and surgical guidance.

Tomophase Corporation