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Bonecraft LLC was founded in July 2000 by Dr. Norman M. Krause and Dr. Robert Mendicino to develop software and orthopedic instrumentation that aids surgeons in planning and executing various orthopedic operations, for example, correction of acute and chronic bone deformities. This system is part of a treatment strategy that both maximizes the quality of care and reduces the cost of treatment.
Bonecraft's goal is to make Computer-Aided Orthopedic Surgery available to patients in both large and small communities with cost-effective, relatively inexpensive techniques. The system predominantly uses regular X-ray images to create 3D CAD models, relying on MRI/CT scans only when detailed information is necessary. The CAD model, in conjunction with surgical planning tools and surgical instruments, will enable both community and medical center based surgeons to handle both simple and more complex cases, while increasing the accuracy of surgical outcomes.
Bonecraft LLC received $100,000 in funding from Innovation Works in September 2000.
CASurgica is developing computer-assisted tools and technologies to enable more accurate and less invasive surgery. Less invasive surgical approaches will require sophisticated information technologies that can support a surgeon's decisions in the operating room and will also drive continuing innovation in the design of surgical tools.
CASurgica's initial product focus is on systems that assist in adult reconstructive orthopedic surgical procedures about the hip, knee, and other joints. For example, HipNavTM is CASurgica's patented computer-assisted surgical planning and navigation system for total hip replacement resulting from research at Carnegie Mellon University and UPMC Shadyside. Tools and technologies under development include:
- Pre-operative surgical planners and simulators for patient-specific surgical plans.
- Image-guided surgical navigation systems.
- Sensors, actuators and robotic assistive devices used during surgical interventions and for pre-operative and post-operative clinical evaluations.
- Less invasive and minimally invasive surgical techniques and new surgical tool designs to support them.
CASurgica received $100,000 from Ben Franklin/Innovation Works in June of 1999 and $100,000 from an Innovation Works in April 2000. The company has also received over $200,000 in gifts from private and corporation donors over the past two years. Finally, in September 2000, the company signed a strategic partnership with a major computer-assisted surgery company for development, marketing and distribution.
The knowledge of the chemistry of life has expanded dramatically during the latter part of the 20th century, and has produced the modern disciplines of genomics and proteomics. Yet, there remains the great challenge to discover the integration and regulation of these living components in time and space within the cell. As we move into the post-genomic period, the complementarity between genomics and proteomics will become apparent and the connections between them will be exploited. However, neither genomics, proteomics, nor their simple combination will provide the data necessary to interconnect molecular events in living cells in time and space, especially the network of events that all drugs inevitably modulate. Cellomics envisions a new area of the cell where integration of genomics and proteomics with a new knowledge base built from temporal and spatial data on the chemical and molecular interrelationships of cellular components, or the "cellome," forms the foundation of an extremely rich platform for drug discovery.
Cellomics maintains that we are on the threshold of a new frontier, a perspective on drug discovery that is cell-centric rather than focused on isolated genes or proteins. It is the information held within the cellome that defines the temporal and spatial interactions of cellular components, and thus normal and abnormal functions. The knowledge base of the cellome will be built by connecting layers of these interactions into the pathways and networks that govern all aspects of cellular life. Just as automated genome analysis and database tools are pushing the genomics era to a conclusion, automated cell analysis using High-Content Screening and cellular bioinformatics systems are the requisite exploration tools to commence the era of the cell and the definition of the cellome. Cellomics is poised not only as a provider of these tools, but as a leader in the fusion of this new knowledge base with the pharmaceutical industry for faster and more effective drug discovery.
Sequel Genetics Incorporated is an early stage biotechnology company located in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. The company is developing novel and proprietary technologies for the discovery and analysis of genomic sequence variation and for gene and drug-target discovery. Sequel Genetics currently employs 14 individuals, of whom four hold Ph.D. degrees and three hold masters degrees. The company occupies approximately 4500 square feet of office and laboratory space at 4415 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. To date, Sequel's activities have been funded by private investment and by federal grants.
Automated Cell delivers a significant advance in living cell-based assays for protein function elucidation of novel gene products for target validation and therapeutic protein development. Automated Cell's patented cell biology tool set combines the power of visible and epifluorescence imaging for live cell analysis with an interactive, robotic fluid handling system and complete system automation. These tools, linked with our advanced bioinformatic software, produce an improved dynamic understanding of biologic activity and physiologic outcomes. http://www.automatedcell.com
- 1997: Automated Cell Inc. is incorporated to develop an automated, vision based robotic cell culture system. This is the first Spin-off Company that formally involved researchers from both Carnegie Mellon and Pitt.
- 1998: Automated Cell Inc. executes a license with Carnegie Mellon for cell growth and holding technology. Company is using Ben Franklin and STTR/SBIR funding to develop commercial products.
- 1999: Automated Cell Inc. obtains small round of financing from Diversified Services, Inc. Continues development of commercial products.
2000 Automated Cell, Inc. received a $300,000 Commercialization Grant from Innovation Works and has received an exclusive license from the University of Pittsburgh to utilize a base patent for the CytoWorks™ System.
ChromoDynamics, Inc. is based on acousto-optic technologies for microscopy and is the only technology that can presently provide both maximum spectral versatility and speed. This technology will be used to produce an acoustic-optic tunable filter (AOTF) microscope. The major goal of ChromoDynamics is to incorporate the AOTF microscope into a working research tool, thereby providing tremendous potential for both basic biological and clinical biomedical research.
- 1997: ChromoDynamics is founded to develop the acoustic-optic tunable filter microscope into a working research tool, thereby providing tremendous potential for both biological and clinical biomedical research.
- 1998: ChromoDynamics executes a license with Carnegie Mellon for the acoustic-optic tunable filter microscope.
- 1999: ChromoDynamics (CDI) was the beneficiary of a consulting contract from Biorad Laboraties, Hercules, CA, to study the potential of spectral imaging techniques for aiding in pathology diagnosis. CDI also made its first sale of an acousto-optic tunable filter based illumination source for microscopy and endoscopy to a major pharmaceutical company. Several other research laboratories in the US and abroad have also expressed interest in this product.
- 2000: The past year at ChromoDynamics, Inc. has been largely spent in research and development of two new products for the biomedical community: an acousto-optic tunable filter-based imaging system for microscopy, and a spectral endoscopy system for early diagnosis of cancer. Great progress has been made within this time period, and CDI hopes to have prototype versions of both products available before the end of the next fiscal year.
Nederloff
Dan Focht
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