Press Releases

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — July 1, 2008 – Seno Medical Instruments, Inc., of Texas, The University of Prince Edward Island, and Ryerson University of Toronto, officially celebrated the formation of an exciting research partnership that has great potential to benefit human and animal health at a public ceremony held June 25, 2008 at Prince Edward Island.

Clinical Model of Novel Opto-Acoustic Platform Technology Also Under Development

“This is an outstanding three-way partnership, building on the cooperative relationship between UPEI and Ryerson University and on the opto-acoustic imaging strengths of Seno Medical Instruments,” says UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan. “This could lead to real advances in medical technology, and training opportunities for students.”

Leading the project are Dr. William Whelan, Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Optics and a member of the physics department at UPEI, and Dr. Michael Kolios, Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Applications of Ultrasound with the physics department at Ryerson University.

At the ceremony Janet Campbell, CEO of Seno Medical Instruments stated that through this collaboration, UPEI and Ryerson will develop new biomedical applications for Seno’s opto-acoustic imaging technology, with applications in animal and human health, including cancer detection and treatment monitoring. This new opto-acoustic technology offers researchers key advantages such as reliable and reproducible outcomes with a turnkey system that offers improved contrast and real-time images.

By using the first-ever commercially available opto-acoustic small animal imaging device created by Seno Medical Instruments Inc, laser pulses are directed into tissues, and if tumors are present they will absorb the light energy and convert this energy absorption into an acoustic wave, which is picked up by the transducers embedded in a probe, similar to those used by ultrasound. Seno’s technology will be used to provide clinicians with new cancer diagnostic tools capable of detecting the hallmarks of cancer, angiogenesis and oxygen saturation. This new platform technology takes the best of existing proven technologies and combines them to create an advanced, novel, opto-acoustic cancer imaging technology.

“This project is a great example of how our researchers propel ideas and innovations into the community, industry and marketplace,” says Dr. Alan Shepard, Provost and Vice-president, Academic, at Ryerson University. “We look forward to continued interactions between researchers at Ryerson and UPEI, and opportunities to expand our research and academic connections in other disciplines.”

“We are so pleased that UPEI and Ryerson have purchased the first ever commercially available opto-acoustic small animal imaging device,” says Janet Campbell, Chairman and CEO of Seno Medical Instruments, a SanAntonio, Texas based company.

“Individuals such as Dr. Whelan and Dr. Kolios are truly performing groundbreaking research by utilizing our technology. This project is tremendously valuable to cancer researchers and cancer patients, and we are proud to be part of it.”

Whelan and Kolios are long time collaborators and have jointly received funding from federal and provincial granting agencies for their work, including NSERC, CIHR, NCIC, CFI and ACOA. Their joint research programs focus on developing minimally invasive technologies that use light and sound, instead of surgery or radiation, to deliver, monitor and assess cancer treatments.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — June 18, 2008 – Seno Medical Instruments, Inc., a San Antonio company engaged in the development of opto-acoustics, the next generation cancer imaging technology, today announced the appointment of Thomas F. Budinger, M.D. to the company’s Scientific Advisory Committee.

“Tom’s participation as a member of Seno’s Scientific Advisory Committee will greatly enhance Seno’s knowledge of other imaging techniques and their capabilities,” said Janet Campbell, Chairman and CEO of Seno. “His extensive research background, scientific and engineering breakthroughs and expertise in functional imaging is an asset to our internationally recognized Scientific Advisory Committee.” With more than 40 years of academic and medical experience, Dr. Budinger joins an elite group of medical professionals on Seno’s Scientific Advisory Committee. Dr Budinger provides leadership for many organizations; he is the past president of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, past president of the Society for Molecular Imaging where he is currently an executive officer and a trustee for the Society of Nuclear Medicine.

“I am particularly excited and pleased that Tom Budinger has agreed to join us,” said Dr. Bob Kramer, Chairman of Seno’s Scientific Advisory Committee. “His CV reads like a medical encyclopedia, his areas of expertise are myriad, but his primary area of excellence is in the area of biomedical imaging.”

Dr. Budinger holds concurrent positions at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). At UCSF, he has been professor of radiology since 1984, and served as director of the Magnetic Resonance Science Center (1993-97). At UCB, he has held the Henry Miller Research Medicine Chair (1974-present) and he has been professor of bioinstrumentation, electrical engineering, and computer sciences since 1976. In 2004 he completed a six-year appointment as founding chair of the department of bioengineering at Berkeley. Dr. Budinger holds leadership positions at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory including: Head, Research Medicine Group (1976-1986): LBNL Medical Research Division Director (1986-1992), Head, Center for Functional Imaging (1992-2007), and Faculty Senior Staff Scientist (1986-present).

Dr. Budinger has authored over 370 research papers and book chapters. His science and engineering contributions include discovery of the cosmic particle mechanisms for light flashes seen by astronauts; determination of ice detection limitations of radar; development of quantitative single photon emission tomography and high resolution dynamic positron emission tomography; safe limits of human exposure to static and switched magnetic fields; and the development of wireless tracking and sensing systems. In recognition of his work, he received The Berkeley Citation National Institute of Health’s Merit Award-Alzheimer’s Research; Distinguished Scientist Silver Medal Award from the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine; Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award and Paul C. Aebersold Basic Science Award from the Society of Nuclear Medicine, and the Ernst Jung Preis fur Medizin, Jung-Stiftung fur Wissenschaft und Forschung, Germany.

Seno Medical Instruments, Inc. is a San Antonio based medical device developer focused on the early detection of cancer thru the use of its patented opto-acoustic technology. Opto-acoustic imaging combines light and sound to produce high-resolution, high-contrast images to indicate the presence of increased blood supply and vascular structure that surround and feed a tumor. To learn more about Seno Medical’s opto-acoustic imaging development and applications, visit www.SenoMedical.com

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – May 13, 2008 – Seno Medical Instruments, Inc., today announced the appointment of William F. Keane, M.D. as its Chief Medical Officer.

San Antonio, TX – SENO Medical Instruments, Inc. a San Antonio company engaged in the development of a next-generation, opto-acoustic cancer platform technology, today announced the appointment of William F. Keane, M.D. as its Chief Medical Officer. In this capacity Dr. Keane will focus on the clinical utilization of SENO’s opto-acoustic imaging technology, moving the technology through clinical studies for use in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Dr Keane joins SENO after a distinguished career in the pharmaceutical world. Prior to joining SENO he was Chief Medical Officer at Reliant Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline Inc., where he provided for the integration of the two organizations’ scientific and medical endeavors. He has served as Vice President of US Medical and Scientific Affairs (now called External Medical and Scientific Affairs EMSA) at Merck, Inc. and served as Chairman of the Department of Medicine, Hennepin Medical Center, at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

During her announcement, Janet Campbell, Chairman and CEO of Seno Medical, praised Dr. Keane saying, “His ability as a medical doctor to understand the pharmaceutical and therapeutic aspects of our products, coupled with his experience of working with Contract Research Organizations, and his knowledge of the FDA and the process involved in moving a product through development and testing and ultimately to the patient is invaluable to SENO. We are fortunate to have Dr. Keane join our team and his addition to our team increases the capabilities of our core management exponentially.”

Dr. Keane will begin his responsibilities with Seno in the oversight of Seno’s clinical studies that will begin at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio and the CTRC this month. In addition he will assume responsibility for the critical oversight of pivotal trials that will be initiated in 2009. “I am excited to take on the role of Chief Medical Officer at SENO and to join the senior management team of this growing and dynamic company” says Dr. Keane. “SENO has made significant inroads in creating a technology to more accurately and efficiently diagnosis breast cancer. I believe their technology could have broad applications and represents a substantive advance over current imaging options. As Chief Medical Officer, I intend to direct all research and development activities to make the case for FDA approval of the device. I will also explore broader applications for the product, and bring this exciting technology to the market safely and efficiently.”

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — April 8, 2008 – Seno Medical Instruments, Inc., a San Antonio company engaged in the development of opto-acoustics, the next generation cancer imaging technology, received the prestigious Super Star Award from the San Antonio Technology Accelerator Initiative (SATAI) in recognition for their entrepreneurial development of cutting edge technology in the region.

The award was presented Friday night, April 4, during The SATAI STARs of Innovation banquet at the Skyroom at the International Conference Center at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

“This award has great meaning to our company,” said Janet Campbell, CEO of SENO. “To realize SATAI has previously bestowed this award upon such successful companies as KCI and Rackspace, companies that have offered the most innovative and promising technology in our region, makes it even more special. We are proud to be included as members of this select group. Our opto-acoustic imaging technology has the capability to become the new standard for the industry in cancer detection and diagnoses. Opto-acoustics provides high-resolution and high-contrast in real-time, uniquely offering the only blood map in the world for the detection of cancer. I am deeply honored to accept this award tonight and thank SATAI for this recognition.”

The award is part of an annual program developed by the SATAI, a non-profit organization that inspires, creates, and helps grow new technology companies. Each year, the non-profit technology incubator produces a banquet to recognize and showcase leaders in the rapidly growing technology sector in the San Antonio region.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — February, 2008 – Seno Medical Instruments, Inc., a San Antonio company engaged in the development of medical devices announces the appointment of Patricia E. Sacks, M.D. to its Scientific Advisory Committee. Dr. Sacks, a breast-imaging radiologist who has been in practice for more than 30 years, now joins an elite group of professionals and medical specialists who are dedicated to the early detection of cancer.

Seno Medical Instruments, Inc. was formed in 2005 to commercialize a new modality in cancer screening and diagnosis: opto-acoustic imaging. To further the development of this potentially life-saving technology, the corporation is assembling a team of experts in the field of breast cancer detection, product application and protocol design. Dr. Sacks joins an elite group on the board including, Dr. Lester Crawford former Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner at the Food and Drug Administration, Robert L. Kramer, M.D., founding member of the Susan G. Komen Advisory Board and Charles Coltman, M.D., President Emeritus of San Antonio’s Cancer Therapy and Research Center on the committee. Also on Seno Medical’s Scientific Advisory Committee is John W. Holaday, Ph.D., formerly listed among the 500 most cited scientists in the world by the Science Citation Index.

“Our Seno family is privileged to have the addition of Dr. Sacks on our Scientific Advisory Committee,” said Janet Campbell, Seno Medical CEO. “Dr. Sacks brings to the table vast experience in patient care and a depth of scientific knowledge.”

Dr. Sacks is currently the Medical Director of the Vasek and Anna Maria Polak Breast Center at Torrance Memorial Medical Center, which serves as one of the largest, and most successful breast cancer care centers in Southern California. As a founder of the first dedicated breast center in the southern region of Los Angeles, Dr. Sacks has become a premiere speaker on breast cancer and her video on breast cancer care as a team approach won a National Communicator Award. Dr. Sacks received her Bachelors Degree from Skidmore College and her M.D. from Tufts University in Boston. She then completed her radiology residency at USC Medical Center in Los Angeles.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – January 9, 2008 – Seno Medical Instruments, Inc., a company engaged in the development of medical devices for cancer, announced receipt of the remaining $1 million from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF). This award is one of the largest investments the State of Texas has made to date into a private company.

Seno Medical met targeted milestones in order to obtain this $1 million capital. Janet Campbell, Seno’s CEO said, “We are pleased to have achieved our pre-established milestones with the state. One milestone was to ship our initial Imagio Research Device to Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada.”

Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson and Seno Medical Instruments, Inc. CEO Janet Campbell announced the Fund’s investment during a joint press conference at the world renowned Cancer Therapy and Research Center in San Antonio in August 2007. “The technological and medical advancements being made by Seno are exactly what Governor Perry envisioned when creating the Texas Emerging Technology Fund,” stated Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson. “We look forward to continue watching Seno grow and prosper in Texas.”

The patented functional imaging technology is being commercialized to produce real-time color images which differentiate benign and malignant tumors for all solid tumors, such as in breast cancer. Seno’s intent is to provide the most advanced high quality products for cancer screening, diagnosis and therapeutic treatment that are more humane than existing technologies.

The TETF is a $200 million program created by the Texas Legislature in 2005. A 17-member advisory committee of high-tech leaders, entrepreneurs and research experts reviews potential TETF projects and recommends funding for projects to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House. To date, the TETF has allocated $94.1 million in grant funds to Texas companies and universities across the state.