CONTACT: John Webster, 505-667-5543, [email protected]
LAB LICENSES RIGHTS TO TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOP NONINVASIVE MEDICAL TOOLS
LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Oct. 27, 1998 -- Los Alamos National Laboratory recently awarded license rights to a start-up company from Austin, Texas, to develop a suite of noninvasive medical diagnostic tools based on Los Alamos' swept-frequency acoustic interferometry technology.
The company also has opened a research and development office in Los Alamos to maintain close communications with the inventor and the Laboratory's technology.
Interferometrics Inc. received the license rights to biomedical applications of the technology that was developed by a team of scientists and engineers from Los Alamos' Electronic and Electrochemical Materials and Devices Group and led by Dipen Sinha. The license agreement was signed on Oct. 2.
SFAI is a technique that uses high-frequency sound to characterize liquids, gases, mixtures, emulsions and other fluids inside sealed containers. The sound sets up standing waves inside the object being studied; by varying the sound wave across a range of frequencies, it is possible to obtain a series of standing waves, producing spectrums that contain physical information about the object, such as sound speed and attenuation, fluid density and viscosity, and acoustic nonlinearity.
The SFAI technique can noninvasively detect chemical warfare agents inside munitions. Other potential applications include use in basic research; biomedical and environmental sensors; the chemical, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and petroleum industries; and customs for drug interdiction.
Interferometrics officials said they plan to modify the technology to develop an intraocular (eye) pressure monitor and many other noninvasive pressure tools for physicians to perform diagnostic tests in the office, saving time and money.
Interferometrics will pay the Lab a license issue fee and provide annual royalty payments on any future sale or service of therapeutic or medical diagnostic devices derived from the technology. Royalties will be shared among Sinha, Los Alamos' Civilian and Industrial Technology Program Office and the Laboratory directorate under which the inventor's technical division falls.
"As a physician and biomedical engineer, I have always had a strong interest in using technology to better help patients," said Interferometrics Chief Executive Officer Don Schomer. "Interferometrics believes it understands where the problems lie in the field of medicine and that technology from Los Alamos can help solve some of those problems."
Regarding the opening of an office in Los Alamos, Schomer said, "I call this 'co-location synergy,' where Interferometrics personnel and Los Alamos researchers bring their medical and scientific insights together to solve problems," said Schomer.
Los Alamos currently has 85 licensing agreements in place, 30 of which are with Northern New Mexico companies. Royalties to the Laboratory were projected to be about $670,000 for fiscal year 1998.
There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at the local office, located at 127 East Gate Drive, Suite 300, beginning at 2 p.m. Oct. 28. Among those scheduled to attend are Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Bill Redmond.
Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy.
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