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With the resources of the SUNY Research Foundation, and our history of successful partnerships, we are here to help move biomedical products and ideas to market.
Our scientists and core facilities can help move discoveries into practice and technologies into the marketplace.
Upstate is home to top research facilities with highly specialized equipment and advanced instrumentation, to support research and product development.
We are here to create the relationships and partnerships needed to move innovative ideas forward.
Upstate Biotech Ventures
In a partnership between Empire State Development, Upstate Medical University, the SUNY Research Foundation, and Excell Partners, the newly-launched Upstate Biotech Ventures invests in high-potential startups and small businesses affiliated with Upstate Medical University to drive research and technology innovation.
Recent Tech from SUNY Upstate
Enables high-quality emission computers tomography (ECT) whild reducing the patient's radiation expo...
Enables high-quality emission computers tomography (ECT) whild reducing the patient's radiation exposure. BackgroundEmission computed tomography (ECT) is an important scientific and medical imaging technique. Clinical applications of ECT include detecting, staging and monitoring response to cancer therapy; detection and risk stratification of cardiovascular diseases; mapping regional blood flow in the brain; bone scans; pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scans; renal scans and many other applications. There is a great need to reduce radiation dose to the patients undergoing ECT examinations. However, dose reduction implies using less ionizing radiation, i.e. fewer gamma photons, which in turn leads to increased noise in the data and in the images reconstructed with conventional methods. Clearly, good quality ECT reconstructions from low-dose ECT examinations, ergo high-noise data, are in high demand. This demand may be met by applying novel advanced ECT reconstruction methods that subdue the noise while preserving diagnostic image quality.Technology Overview:
This technology uses a computer to reconstruct transaxial images of the patient from projection data. The reconstruction process estimates mean radiotracer activity distribution inside the body of a patient. It is governed by molecular and/or functional processes and allows clinicians to arrive at diagnoses. The algorithm reconstructs the expected activity distribution, while suppressing noise and preserving the spatial resolution in the estimation. This method demonstrates superior performance vs. standard-of-care when the observed data are very noisy or incomplete. It allows clinicians to perform the clinically acceptable ECT examinations with a radiation dose that is two to six times lower than presently used for the standard-of-care ECT imaging. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_226212015.jpegAdvantages • Allows lower radiation dose for patients undergoing ECT examinations without compromising the obtained images quality.
• Provides good quality tomographic image reconstructions under high noise conditions. Applications: Emission computed tomography (ECT). This is widely used for many medical applications, including:
• Detecting, staging and monitoring response to cancer therapy.
• Detection and risk stratification of cardiovascular diseases.
• Mapping of regional blood flow in the brain.
• Bone scans.
• Pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scans.
• Renal scans
… and many others. Intellectual Property Summary: This technology is protected by U.S. Patent 9,460,494, “Methods and systems for inverse problem reconstruction and application to ECT reconstruction”
Stage of Development: TRL 4 – Technology validated in lab Licensing Status: This technology is available for licensing. Licensing Potential: This technology would be of interest to any organization involved in ECT, including:
• Medical imaging equipment manufacturers
• Hospitals and medical laboratories
• Educational and research laboratories
Improves the treatment of acute ischemic stroke by reducing the risk of distal thromboembolism and i...
Improves the treatment of acute ischemic stroke by reducing the risk of distal thromboembolism and intercranial emboli. Background:
Large vessel occlusion accounts for 30% of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and is a major cause of devastating neurologic deficits. A large vessel occlusion (LVO) occurs when a large blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot, this results in the death of brain cells in the affected area and loss of the neurologic function and disability. At present, the standard method for treating LVO AIS is via aspiration and/or stent-retriever thrombectomy. Unfortunately, in a significant percentage of cases, this procedure results in a distal thromboembolism. The retrieval of the stent-retriever involves dragging the stent-retriever through blood vessels, which can cause intracranial vessel reactive narrowing, spasm, and endothelial vessel damage. Obstruction of antegrade flow using balloon arrest (using balloon guide catheter) has been demonstrated to improve recanalization rates. Technology Overview:
This technology combines balloon guide catheter technology and direct aspiration catheters with an aspiration catheter balloon inflation mechanism for use in the retrieval of intracranial occlusions and as an emboli protection device in the treatment of intracranial steno-occlusive disease. The distal catheter design is optimized to be advanced without requirement of a co-axial guide wire, this promotes a faster procedure and the balloon arrest enhances atraumatic intracranial flow arrest for enhanced distal thrombectomy and emboli protection in the treatment of intracranial atherosclerotic disease. This device can be used as an intermediate catheter, with its balloon functionality allowing for function as an intracranial emboli protection device by proximal arrest of the intracranial parent vessel during angioplasty and stenting procedures of intracranial atherosclerotic disease. The device can be used in combination with other stroke thrombectomy devices including stent-retrievers. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_518776887.jpeg Advantages:
· Simple design.
· Easy to use.
· Rapid deflation with retrieval of internal aspiration catheter, protecting against prolonged flow arrest during thrombectomy procedures.
· Provides operator flexibility to intracranial flow arrest for treatment of intracranial blockages and narrowing for emboli protection.
· Can be used in combination with other stroke thrombectomy devices.
Applications:
This primary application for this technology is mechanical treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Intellectual Property Summary:
A provisional patent application was filed on 4/29/2022, having the serial number: 63/336,465. < RSS.HDStageOfDevelopment> Stage of Development:
TRL 3 - Experimental proof of concept
Licensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.Licensing Potential:
This technology would be of interest to neuro-interventionalists and manufacturers of medical devices for use in endovascular neurosurgery.
Fixation device to secure bone fragment of tibial tuberosity to native bone after osteotomy surgical...
Fixation device to secure bone fragment of tibial tuberosity to native bone after osteotomy surgical procedure. Background:
Standard osteotomy techniques to join the tibial tubercle fragment to native bone include screw fixation alone or fixation with wire or suture, which are not reliable methods to holding the bone in place to avoid displacement post-operatively and possibly leading to non-union, malunion, extensor weakness, extensor lag, or complete loss of active knee extension.Technology Overview:
Orthopedic oncology and joint reconstruction expert at Upstate Medical University has designed a device that secures the bone fragment of tibial tuberosity to the native bone using custom-made plates, screws and suture/wires after osteotomy and mobilization of the tuberosity and associated patellar tendon. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_322821442_(002).jpeg Advantages:
• Improves fixation of the tibial tubercle fragment by improving bone to bone healing and normal restoration of the knee.
• Reduces rate of revision surgery.
• Minimizes surgery time.
Intellectual Property Summary:
Patent Pending US 18/236,678Stage of Development:
TRL 3 - Experimental proof of concept Licensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.
A method to precisely control the amount of pressure applied by the fluid flow from the lithotripsy ...
A method to precisely control the amount of pressure applied by the fluid flow from the lithotripsy device with a stopcock. Background:
In percutaneous nephrolithotomy, the urologist inserts a needle into the kidney, dilating a tract into which a sheath is inserted. Fluid irrigation and lithotripsy are then used to break up and retrieve kidney stones into a vial, via the sheath.The devices used for this purpose have channels through which suction is applied from an external source to remove the stones; however, they do not have a method for modulating that suction. Instead, someone in the OR has to clamp or bend the suction tubing in order to slow or release the flow.
This is awkward, imprecise and frustrating; too much suction can lead to loss of visualization and air bubbles inside the body; too little suction can also reduce visualization due to the buildup of particles and/or stone fragments in the tubing. These particles and/or fragments sometimes stick to the inside of the suction tubing; they are difficult to remove and this gums up the works, limiting the effectiveness of the suction device.Technology Overview:
A SUNY Upstate Medical University team has created a method for reducing pressure buildup in the pelvis during endoscopic procedures. First, the researchers determined the optimal shape of a ureteroscope for reducing intrapelvic pressure. Next, they found that by offsetting the endoscope to the side of the access sheath, which contains the endoscope, they could substantially improve fluid outflow and reduce pressure. Finally, the team determined that this displacement could be achieved by adding small, radially emanating projections within the working channel of the scope. They concluded that any endoscope or catheter could be adapted with these projections and that the methods could also be used with bronchoscopes to reduce the disruption in air flow. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_4398441972.jpegAdvantages:
- Makes endoscopy safer for patients.
- Reduces pressure that can cause infection, injury, and pain.
- Modifications can be used to adapt any endoscope or catheter
- Reduces pressure buildup during endoscopic procedures.
- Patent application submitted
- Provisional patent
This technology is available for licensing.