Devices Personnel

 News Release - August 25, 2008

Avantis Medical Systems, Inc. Announces Key Leadership Appointments

Medical Device Industry Experts Dodson and Tannenbaum Join as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 25 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- Avantis Medical Systems, Inc. announced today that it has appointed medical device industry experts Scott Dodson as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Larry Tannenbaum as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Both executives will assume key roles with the Avantis management team.

"We are pleased to announce this new executive leadership team for Avantis," said Fred Seddiqui, founder and chairman of Avantis. "Scott was selected for his proven expertise in growing emerging companies and bringing new products to market. He will be instrumental in all factors of our commercialization, through research, manufacturing, and distribution. Larry brings extensive experience in managing growing companies and funding expansions."

Mr. Dodson is an accomplished medical device executive with a 20 year career of increasing responsibility, leading large global teams for world class companies. From 1992 - 2006, Dodson was with Boston Scientific in its Urology, Endoscopy and International Business units, also serving from 2004 - 2006 as Vice President of Global Marketing in the company's Endoscopy business unit. From 2006 - 2008, Dodson was President of the Orthopedic business for Orthofix, Inc., where he managed a large, cross-functional global team. Dodson earned his bachelor's degree in management from Indiana University, and has completed executive programs at Columbia University, Babson College, and the American Management Association.

"Avantis offers physicians a superior visualization system that will lead to early cancer detection, reduced miss rates and disease prevention," said Dodson. "I am honored to be joining at such an exciting time in the company's history."

Dodson discussed Tannenbaum's hire as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President. "Larry brings an impressive record in medical device start-ups and has been instrumental in positioning a number of companies for acquisition and/or an initial public offering. He has been directly involved in developing, acquiring, and/or selling six companies, raising over $200 million and negotiating transactions up to $400 million."

Mr. Tannenbaum's career in finance spans over 30 years. Most recently he served in executive positions at Iridex as Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer, as well as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to Iridex, Tannenbaum also worked in senior management positions for LJL Biosystems, ArthroCare diabetes start-up Metrika (now Bayer Diagnostics), drug manufacturer Sinogen, and Target Therapeutics (now Boston Scientific). He has also served as a lecturer at the Innovation Program for Stanford University for the past six years. He graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University and earned his MBA in finance from the University of Utah.

"In Avantis, I see a company poised to leverage its market position to achieve commercial success, and I am proud to be part of the team planning for the company's future success," said Tannenbaum.

About Avantis

Avantis Medical Systems, Inc. is a visualization technology company focused on delivering cost effective solutions for the improved detection and prevention of cancers of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

The seasoned Avantis team is developing solutions for the limitations associated with today's technologies that are used to screen, assess and treat cancer throughout the alimentary tract and the body. Avantis has an extensive portfolio of patents covering innovative devices based on the convergent technologies of micro-chips, enhanced video processing and catheter based delivery systems. For more information, visit http://www.avantismedical.com.

Source: Avantis Medical Systems

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