Groundbreaking diagnostic technology will be introduced to Southeast Asia, starting with Singapore, through the latest Seno Medical and Genetik agreement. The exclusive distribution deal signed by the US-based company is for the former’s Imagio Opto-Acoustic/Ultrasound (OA/US) Breast Imaging System. Such an agreement is a first for Seno and Genetik will market, sell, and service the imaging system in Singapore, its headquarters.
This diagnostic breast cancer imaging system assists medical practitioners in differentiating between benign and malignant breast lesions. The non-invasive optoacoustic/ultrasound technology provides information on breast lesions in real time. Such equipment helps healthcare providers to classify masses that may or may not require more medical attention and offer timely intervention. Inaccurate diagnostic assessments and the breast biopsy procedures done subsequently cost the US healthcare system alone more than $2 billion annually. With Seno’s breakthrough technology, these costs can be reduced, and patient-centric care is improved as well.
Apart from novel imaging, the Imagio System also includes AI technology as a decision-support tool. Called SenoGram, the AI helps trained professionals in interpreting new images and helps radiologists transition from relying on ultrasound alone to utilizing OA/US imaging to more precisely assign the likelihood of malignancy.
This imaging technology was approved by the US FDA in 2021 and received a supplemental pre-market approval for its market-ready device in June 2022. As innovative technology which helps determine whether an individual requires more invasive diagnostic assessment or not, popularizing the equipment is imperative.
The combination of laser optics and grayscale ultrasound makes the OA/US system capable of fused functional, morphological and anatomical breast imaging. Optoacoustics used in the imaging system provides a blood map in and around breast masses. Patients may be referred for a diagnostic imaging breast work-up after clinical presentation or screening mammography.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with a reputable organization such as Genetik to stimulate commercial adoption of the Imagio System into Southeast Asia,” said Seno Medical CEO and president, Tom Umbel. “This agreement represents a major milestone for Seno Medical and the continued acceptance and adoption of our new fusion modality in breast imaging,” he stated.
“We are proud to work with innovative and highly accurate technologies that can change the standard of care for patients. We look forward to representing this state-of-the-art product for diagnosing breast cancer — the only global FDA-approved technology based on photoacoustic fused with ultrasound,” commented V.B. Balrai Singh, CEO of Gentik.
Further providing evidence that Seno’s imaging equipment is worth the attention, it was honored with the Gold Edison Award and a Gold Medical Design Excellence Award. The breast cancer imaging system was also the semi-finalist in the 2022 Minnie’s for medical innovation.
The imaging industry, especially in breast cancer diagnostics in Southeast Asia, had taken a new turn during the pandemic. This innovative technology put forth by the Texas-based medical imaging company has the potential to improve the landscape of patient care and diagnostics in the region.
