How Taumedis is turning decades of medical imaging experience into innovation, commercialization, and local economic impact.
Winnipeg-based Taumedis was founded in 2023 by Canadian scientists and engineers with experience in medical and intraoperative imaging. Focused on developing technologies across the continuum of care—from early disease detection through image-guided intervention—the company’s work leverages collaboration between industry, academia, and clinical researchers. Taumedis aims to carry Manitoba’s medical imaging legacy forward, while building on a history of its own.
The Taumedis iMRI system utilizes a ground-based mobile platform to transport the MRI from adjacent Diagnostic Room or Storage Bay to the neurosurgical patient in the Operating Room for real-time imaging during procedure.
Taumedis is led by a team with over 70 years of expertise in medtech leadership, iMRI engineering, and imaging systems. Taumedis’ founders included Dr. John Saunders, a medtech executive who brought the world’s first mobile-magnet intraoperative MRI (iMRI) system to market in 2006, having co-developed the technology while at the National Research Council’s (NRC) Institute for Biodiagnostics. As the founder and Chief Executive Officer of IMRIS, Dr. Saunders’ vision was that every neurosurgical suite be equipped with MRI to provide intraoperative scans that inform surgical planning. He founded Taumedis with this perspective, albeit with a new approach designed and developed by this Winnipeg-based team.
From Research to Technology
Taumedis’ technology roadmap is centered on multi-modality imaging solutions that support clinical decision-making from diagnosis to intervention. Its focus is an intraoperative MRI (iMRI) solution that brings a 1.5T (Tesla) magnet to the patient, informing neurosurgical decision-making with real-time imaging. The ground-based transport platform is intended to reduce barriers to broader iMRI adoption. This technology is in development and working toward regulatory clearance and commercialization.
Consistent with Taumedis’ vision to bring clinical imaging information closer to the point of care, the R&D roadmap extends into additional intraoperative imaging modalities, bringing real-time MRI, Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and ultrasound into the operating room.
While intraoperative imaging remains the company’s primary area of development, Taumedis has expanded its research program through a licensing agreement with the University of Manitoba (UM) Price Faculty of Engineering, investigating a patent-pending dual-mode imaging technology intended to complement breast cancer screening and diagnostic protocols.
The company has also partnered with the University of Winnipeg’s (UW) Departments of Physics and Applied Computer Science to investigate technologies that may help surgeons visualize residual cancer during surgery. Together, these collaborations strengthen Manitoba’s research capacity while expanding opportunities for commercialization, innovation, and economic development.
Taumedis Co-Founders: Mike Lang (CTO), Gord Klimenko (Chief Engineer), and Henry Floreal (CEO)
Strengthening Manitoba’s Innovation Ecosystem
Partnerships with UM and UW reflect a commitment to strengthening Manitoba’s innovation ecosystem, creating opportunities for students, researchers, engineers, and clinicians to participate in the development of technologies that may progress from concepts to regulated healthcare products. In doing so, they are contributing to the growth of specialized expertise and intellectual property within the province.
Taumedis’ medical technology innovation strengthens Manitoba’s industrial ecosystem. Developing regulated medical devices draws upon specialized manufacturing capabilities, creating opportunities for local companies with expertise in complex automated systems, alongside suppliers and technology partners.
Like many technology ventures operating in highly regulated industries, Taumedis’ progress is measured through technical, quality, and regulatory milestones rather than rapid commercial expansion. Achievements such as establishing quality management systems aligned with international medical device standards reflect the foundational work required to advance healthcare technologies from concept to market readiness.
Building for the Long Term
Earlier this year, Taumedis obtained ISO 13485:2016 certification and Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP) certification following an audit conducted by Intertek. Built upon a formal quality management system (QMS), this milestone is typically associated with later-stage organizations; Taumedis prioritized establishing this foundation early to support its regulatory, commercialization, and growth objectives.
Taumedis illustrates both the opportunities and challenges associated with new medical technology for Manitoba business, investment, and innovation communities. Success in this sector requires sustained investment, long-term collaboration, and the ability to bridge research, engineering, regulation, and commercialization.
As the company advances its diagnostic and intraoperative imaging platforms with expanding collaborative research initiatives, Taumedis demonstrates how local expertise, academic partnerships, and intellectual talent contribute to Manitoba’s position within the global medical technology and manufacturing landscape.
Dr. John Saunders, Founder of Taumedis
