Archive for the ‘Artificial limbs’ Category

Bioreactor For Bone Tissue Engineering Wins Professor Venture Fair

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Posted 11 Aug 2010 — by James Street
Category Artificial limbs, Bone repair

23 Nov 2009

John Fisher, associate professor in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering, won the Best Inventor Pitch at the 2009 Bioscience Research and Technology Review Day with a tissue engineering bioreactor system that grows bone and other types of tissue for implantation.

Fisher’s technology was one of six innovations presented in an eight minute pitch by faculty members and graduate students at the Professor Venture Fair at the University of Maryland.

“Dr. Fisher impressed the judges with his clearly defined product-the bioreactor system itself-and his ability to position himself within an already vibrant tissue engineering marketplace,” says Gayatri Varma, executive director of the university’s Office of Technology Commercialization.

Fisher’s novel, patent-pending bioreactor system makes tissue engineering more efficient by addressing many of the shortcomings of available systems, such as the high cost and complexity of the perfusion chamber and the low output of the rotating flask. His approach exposes growing tissue to an increased amount of oxygen and nutrients, making it a more prolific and cost effective bioreactor than those currently on the market.

Fisher, along with graduate student researcher Andrew Yeatts and undergraduate student researcher Elyse Geibel, both from the Fischell Department of Bioengineering, have already created a prototype in the lab using off-the-shelf products. Fisher plans to start a company to bring the bioreactors to a commercial market.

“We’re thrilled to win the Best Inventor Pitch for Bioscience Day 2009,” says Fisher. “It is a fantastic opportunity to be able to describe our work and concept to local venture capitalists. We hope to use this award as a springboard to launch our company, ProlifiTEC.”

The annual Biotechnology Research and Technology Review Day Professor Venture Fair is hosted by the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech), the Office of Technology Commercialization, and the College of Chemical and Life Sciences. The pitch competition encourages scientists to consider the commercial potential of their work and challenges them to translate their ideas to a general, non-technical audience.

This year’s Professor Venture Fair was sponsored by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO).

Both past winners in the fair’s relatively brief, three-year history have gone on to create successful start-up companies. Last year’s winner, Matt Dowling, had already started Remedium Technologies in 2007, and the company, now in the Mtech VentureAccelerator Program, continues to develop its Velcro-like biomaterial bandages.

Lawrence Sita, the 2007 winner, started Precision Polyolefins, a company that could revolutionize the plastics industry by introducing a clean alternative to existing methods of plastics production.

“Investors can find it difficult to navigate the wealth of research at universities to pinpoint a major market winner,” says Dean Chang, director of Mtech’s venture and education programs. “These Faculty Venture Fairs bring together innovative academic researchers, venture capital firms, and university entrepreneurship organizations to ensure that the best inventions on campus will have a good chance of finding their way out of laboratories and eventually into the market.”

Judges for the event included Jeff Auerbach of Edell, Shapiro & Finnan; Jeff Davis of Medimmune; Robb Doub of New Markets Growth Fund; Christine Copple of Starrise Ventures; Martha Connolly of Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS); and Linda Saffer of TEDCO.

Source: Eric Schurr
University of Maryland

Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171739.php

Main News Category: Medical Devices / Diagnostics

Also Appears In:  Bones / Orthopedics,  Biology / Biochemistry,

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A new kind of implant can save children’s lives and their limbs.

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Posted 20 Jul 2010 — by James Street
Category Artificial limbs

UNDATED (WJRT) — (07/20/10) — A new kind of implant can save children’s lives and their limbs.

HealthFirst reporter Leslie Toldo tells us about this new treatment for the most common childhood bone cancer.

Osteosarcoma usually strikes in the leg, just above the knee. In the most challenging cases, amputation is the only option.

This new implant may change that.

Step by step, Haley Richardson is beating cancer. Last year, an MRI revealed a tumor in her right femur. To eliminate the cancer, doctors had to remove bone in Haley’s thigh.

Her leg was saved thanks to this implant. It connects her remaining femur to her lower leg with a hinge joint to replace her knee. As Haley grows, this unique prosthesis can be extended to grow with her.

“Traditional implants for growing kids didn’t work, and they didn’t work well because the child is growing and the implant doesn’t grow,” explained Dr. Mary I. O’Connor, an orthopedic surgeon at the Mayor Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. “We put a little coil around Haley’s leg and we can turn that on, and that emits a signal that’s picked up by a receptor in her implant that expands the coil so the implant actually lengthens.”

“At first, I was a little scared of it. But now I’m starting to get used to it,” Haley said. “Now I’m starting to walk on it a little more than I did.”

Haley’s still getting the hang of her new knee and finishing up her chemo.

Life is now full of possibilities.

“She’s going to be able to ride a bike. She’s going to be able to swim. She’s going to be able to dance at her prom. You know, important things like that,” O’Connor said.

A brave little girl who is painting a picture of a big, bright future without cancer.

This device is perfect for young bone cancer patients who still have growing to do.

It is expensive, however, costing about $30,000.

When Haley is all grown up, doctors may give her a permanent, fixed implant.

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma is a type of cancer that starts in the bones. Every year, about 400 children in the United States are diagnosed with the cancer. It is the most common type of cancer that develops in bone. Most osteosarcomas occur in children and young adults. Teens are the most affected age group; however, this type of cancer can occur at any age. Osteosarcoma usually develops in areas where the bone is growing quickly, such as near the ends of the long bones. Most tumors develop in the bones around the knee, either in the distal femur (the lower part of the thigh bone) or the proximal tibia (the upper part of the large lower leg bone).

TREATMENT: The most common treatment for osteosarcoma is surgery, and sometimes, amputation. In addition, chemotherapy is also typically required. According to the University of Texas Cancer Center, treatment usually begins with chemotherapy, then surgery, then post-surgery treatment (chemotherapy, radiation and sometimes hormone or biological therapy). These post-surgery treatments ensure the remaining cancer cells have been completely destroyed. In the past, before technological advances and medical breakthroughs, amputation was the only option. Nowadays, doctors aim to save the child’s leg and safely remove the tumor without amputating the leg.

NEW TECHNOLOGY: “Today, there is a newer alternative: a femoral prostheses that grows with the patient,” Mary I. O’Connor, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., told Ivanhoe. “The device can be adjusted for patient growth by heating the plastic structure of the implant, which uncoils an internal spring and stretches the patient’s leg to the appropriate length.”

A benefit of this newer replacement is that multiple operations are not necessary as the child grows and develops. The prosthesis can be adjusted just a few millimeters at a time. This feature makes the implant especially attractive for younger patients who still have some growing to do. Unfortunately, many insurance companies do not cover the prosthesis, and the cost is around $30,000.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Cynthia R. Nelson, Public Affairs
Mayo Clinic Florida
Jacksonville, FL
904-953-0464
nelson.cynthia1@mayo.edu