Healthcare Industry News: macular degeneration,
News Release - January 19, 2007
Bioptigen Receives FDA Clearance and Two Phase II SBIR Awards; Company to Exhibit at Major Technology Conference
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Bioptigen, Inc., a Duke University Biomedical Engineering Department spin-out, has received FDA clearance to market its first generation spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) imaging systems for imaging ocular tissue microstructure. Bioptigen systems offer non-invasive three-dimensional imaging of the retina and anterior surfaces of the eye fifty times faster than previous generation technologies, with axial resolution below six micrometers. Bioptigen systems are aimed at supporting advanced research in eye disease including glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Unique among competitive options, Bioptigen offers multiple scanning interfaces to support in-vivo imaging in humans and animals, as well as ex-vivo imaging of tissues. Bioptigen InVivoVue(TM) software provides superior image processing and maximum flexibility for the researcher.Bioptigen has also been awarded two concurrent Phase II SBIR grants to continue its development of research grade OCT systems. The first award supports development of advanced retinal imaging systems for pre-clinical and clinical applications in order to maximize the utility of SDOCT technology to analyze ophthalmic disease at its very earliest stages through advances in real-time signal processing and hardware design. The second award is directed at the development of high throughput screening technologies for genetic phenotyping of small animal models. A recent application of this imaging modality includes the investigation of human cardiac genes as homologously expressed in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster). "SDOCT imaging of cardiac function in the fruit fly is allowing us to observe the impact of specific genes in a way not possible previously," says Dr. Matthew Wolf, Fellow in Cardiology at Duke University. "The Bioptigen imaging system is unique and valuable in the continuation of the research program." This system will, in addition, have important application to volumetric assays of native and engineered biological tissues.
"We are proud to be among the first providers to receive FDA clearance for spectral domain OCT devices and to have been awarded the Phase II grants. These events are a testament to our team and to our progress in developing the highest performance and most versatile research grade SDOCT imaging systems," said Eric L. Buckland, Chief Executive Officer, Bioptigen, Inc.
In addition, Bioptigen, Inc. announces that it will be exhibiting at BiOS and Photonics West (http://spie.org/Conferences/programs/07/pw/) January 20th-25th in San Jose, California. Bioptigen will be demonstrating its 840 nm SDOCT microscopy system suitable for high resolution volumetric imaging a wide variety of biological and inorganic specimens.
About Bioptigen, Inc.
Bioptigen, Inc., a spin-out of the Biomedical Engineering Department in the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University, develops optical coherence tomography imaging systems for biomedical and select industrial applications. Primary markets include pre-clinical and early-stage clinical research and development. Bioptigen's advances in imaging speed and image quality are of particular value to the biomedical research and development community.
Source: Bioptigen
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