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CBI to Collaborate with Prime Research |
CBI to Collaborate with Prime Research
Team will use fiber optic sensors for wide range of medical applications FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Cheryl Valentine Roanoke, VA (September 8, 2004) The Carilion Biomedical Institute (CBI) is pleased to announce that it is collaborating with Prime Research of Blacksburg, Virginia to develop fiber optic sensors for biomedical applications. Utilizing technology developed by Prime Research, the CBI/Prime Research team will develop ultra-thin sensors for pressure measurements at various locations throughout the body. The Carilion Biomedical Institute is currently investigating a wide range of medical applications for this technology including cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, eye/ear/nose/throat, and orthopedic applications. Andre Muelenaer, M.D., Medical Director at CBI states, “Prime Research has strong optical fiber development capabilities. I look forward to working with this team and leveraging CBI’s resources at the Carilion Health System to create biomedical devices that will positively impact healthcare. We have a cadre of world-class physicians and staff here that we can tap into to give valuable feedback and test devices. This collaboration will ultimately result in new products, improved patient care, and economic development in the Roanoke and New River Valleys of southwest Virginia.” Fiber optic sensors are nontoxic, chemically inert, can easily be coated for biocompatibility, and do not suffer from electromagnetic interference (EMI), which will be critical for patient monitoring applications. Additionally, fiber optic sensors can be miniaturized such that the resulting sensor sizes are on the order of 125 μm (about the size of a human hair), which permit minimally invasive monitoring of several parameters. "We are privileged that a renowned institution like Carilion has chosen Prime Research to jointly develop sensors for the medical community” noted Joseph Swider, President of Prime Photonics, LC, “Several members of our technical team have experience designing and manufacturing systems to strict medical standards and they are extremely excited to be moving forward with Carilion on this important program”. Prime Research (www.primeresearchlc.com) is a certified federal small business that is focused on R&D, product development, and manufacturing of sensor systems for harsh environments as well as R&D programs that develop unique solutions to unmet needs of federal and commercial clientele. Prime Research is part of the Prime Photonics Group which was founded in 1999 by two international experts in the photonics industry at the Virginia Tech Center for Photonics Technology (ee.vt.edu/~photonics/) the largest academic-based photonic sensor group in the United States. Over the years, Prime Photonics’ novel technologies have been developed under internal R&D programs and high-profile research programs from the Department of Energy, U.S. Navy and Air Force, DTRA, NASA, NSF, DOT, and private industry. The Prime Photonics Group has successfully commercialized and is manufacturing and selling products based on this technology. The company is also active in advanced R&D programs for federal and commercial sponsors. Prime Photonics has three distinct business units whose missions are to fully serve the needs of three market areas solving pertinent technological problems via focused R&D initiatives, rapid product commercialization, and nanotechnology. Carilion Biomedical Institute (CBI) (www.biomedicalinstitute.com) is dedicated to improving the health and lives of people worldwide by partnering with scientists, researchers, and the medical and business communities to create major advances in healthcare. CBI fosters biomedical research at the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech and brings promising technologies to market through rigorous medical, financial, operational and market analysis. CBI also connects early-stage companies to venture capital, strategic real estate, management talent, manufacturing partners and healthcare customers. Start-up biomedical companies, entrepreneurs and inventors with a business plan or biomedical concept that are interested in working with CBI should contact the Carilion Biomedical Institute at biomedicalinstitute.org. ### |