THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Sree ChitraTirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum, will conduct an Industry- Innovator Meet, Medical Technology Expo and Technology Conclave 2019 at the Biomedical Technology Wing Campus, Poojappura, on March 24, 2019.
The meet is organized to build strong partnership with the industry for commercializing the inventions of the Institute to reach the Society. There will be brainstorming sessions which will be attended by industrialists, clinicians and researchers to discuss about the emerging trends in Biomedical technology. It is also aimed at setting a roadmap for the technologies and products needed for healthcare in the future. The Medical Technology Expo will have exhibits of the various technologies developed at Sree Chitra. The industry representatives will have the opportunity to meet researchers and get acquainted with these technologies.
The participants can visit various labs and facilities in the Biomedical Technology Wing Campus. Industries can identify suitable areas for collaboration and initiate joint development of technologies. Formal Technology transfers of this year will be held at the Technology Conclave.
Various mission mode R& D projects programs are ongoing as part of the Technical Research Center (TRC) for Biomedical Devices, which is a 5-year program funded by Department of Science and Technology from 2016. The focus areas are Cardiovascular devices ( heart and blood vessels), Neuro-prosthetic devices ( devices for brain and spinal cord), Hard tissue devices ( bone and dental material), diagnostic devices and Biological combinational products ( eg. Drug loaded biomaterials).
The commercial launch of the Vein Viewer developed by SCTIMST and manufactured by M/s.Agappe Diagnostics Ltd, Kochi, will also be held during the Conclave. The technology was transferred to Agappe Diagnostics last year. The hand held Vein Viewer helps to identify the location of veins for intravenous injection of medicines and Intravenous fluids which t is particularly difficult in small children and in the ICUs in patients who have already received multiple venous injections.
A device for viewing the veins prior to injections can improve the outcome by helping the healthcare professionals locate the vein and correctly insert the needle into vein in a single needle prick The Chitra vein viewer is an easy- to- operate portable and battery operated device that can be used in laboratories and hospitals.
The product launch of DRIPO Infusion monitor developed by Evelabs Technologies Pvt Ltd, a startup company incubating at TIMED, the business incubator of SCTIMST will also take place at the conclave. This device is developed for precisely monitoring and controlling the rate of flow of intravenous drugs.
The new technology transfers include Paracorporeal Left Ventricular Assist Device to Meril Life Sciences, TB Screening Device and PT/INR Monitoring Device to Agappe Diagnostics Ltd, Injectable hydrogel for cartilage repair and Lint free absorbent wound dressing to Phraction Scientifics Pvt ltd, and SCTAC2010: drug conjugated serum albumin to Eight Oaks Bio Pvt ltd.
The Paracorporeal Left Ventricular Assist Device device is a third generation device that can be used for supporting the heart, as a “Bridge to Recovery” after cardiac surgeries or “Bridge to Transplantation” used to support the failing heart while awaiting a donor heart for cardiac transplantation. The device has a pump, controller and battery packs and necessary accessories for supporting the heart for days to few weeks duration. It is called paracorporeal as it will functions outside the body and is not implanted within the chest cavity.
PT/INR Monitoring Device is a point of care, battery operated hand held device for easy measurement of blood parameters carried out with a single drop of finger prick blood applied on a disposable strip. The technology of isothermal based DNA amplification device developed by SCTIMST to detect TB bacterium in sputum samples in less than 30 minutes will be transferred on March 24, which is also world TB day. The device can simultaneously screen 20 patient samples in one assay and at a considerably lower cost than the existing devices ( costs approx Rs 2500/ sample). The preliminary data from the patient shows that this device has high sensitivity and specificity ( low false positives and false negative results) comparable with that of the currently used CB-NAAT technology.
There are TB detection devices that are currently used in a specialized laboratory setup, but there is an urgent need for a highly sensitive TB detection device which can be used in resource poor peripheral centers where sophisticated laboratories or services of microbiologists are not availabe. The device will also help in mass screening of population of people for TB at a substantially low cost. It is believed that this device presents a breakthrough in the rapid diagnosis of Tuberculosis. SCTIMST has already filed the patent application for this technology.
The Injectable hydrogel for cartilage repair is used for micro fracture surgery to aid quick and easy repair of damaged cartilages in joints. The gel can also be used as a vehicle to transport cartilage producing cells to the site.
Lint free absorbent wound dressing developed in the Institute is made of materials that don’t shed lint into the surgical site, has high fluid holding capacity and fast wicking properties for management of low to moderately exudating wounds. SCTAC2010: is a product which comprises anticancer/anti- inflammatory drug conjugated to human serum albumin It is an intravenous delivery system, enabling 100 fold increase in drug bioavailability. Clinical trials in humans have to be completed and results assessed as the ensuing steps towards commercialization.
The technology relicensing of Poly Viny Alcohol (PVA)Sponge and Hydrocephalus Shut to M/s Konikkara Industries and M/s Phraction Scientifics Ltd respectively will also be held. PVA sponge is a synthetic sponge designed for tissue manipulation or absorbing fluid quickly from surgery sites. Hydrocephalus shunt is a device used to drain abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain to other areas in the body, typically abdominal cavity.
The re licensing of Bioactive Bone Cement and Calcium Phospho- silicate Composite Granules to new industry partner M/s Prevest Denpro Ltd will also be held. Bioactive Bone Cement is a patented bioactive formulation of calcium sulphate and phosphate. It is packed as powder-liquid combination which forms a self-setting putty upon mixing. It is used for filling bone defects.The bioactive and resorbing properties enable the remodelling of the bone and faster healing of the defects. BioCaS is an affordable product which could be used as a bone defect filler in orthopaedics and dentistry.
Calcium Phospho-silicate Composite Granules technology offers synthetic bone graft substitute in fine granule form based on calcium-phospho-silicate composite. High bioactivity and osteoconductivity are the special properties of this indigenous composite prepared in porous ceramic form. The fine granules of the composite are ideal for grafting periodontal infra-bony defects in dentistry.
The exchange of agreement between Sree Chitra and M/s. Shree Pacetronics, Indore for the Co-development of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator will also take place. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator is a battery powered device which performs cardioversion, defibrillation and pacing of the heart. It is meant to prevent sudden cardiac death by constantly monitoring the rate and rhythm of the heart. The Institute has entered into a MoA with M/s. Shree Pacetronics Ltd, Indore, for the co-development of the device.
The device is expected to reach the clinic within five years. SCTIMST combines specialized medical care with development of Medical Devices and Biomaterials, and provide training in advanced medical specialties, public health and biomedical engineering. Biomedical Technology Wing (BMT Wing) has been established with the objective of promotion of Biomedical Sciences and Technology. The institute hosts a technology business incubator, TIMed for fostering start-ups in the medical device segment.
The BMT Wing has advanced facilities for the development and evaluation of medical devices and biomaterials. Selected testing services are accredited by NABL, India and COFRAC, France. The Institute holds 110 patents and 51 technologies have been transferred to industries, during the last four decades.
Institute’s first technology partner, Terumo Penpol, is one of the largest producers of blood bags in Asia, and together with the other industrial partners are making about more than 50 million bags annually, exporting to more than 70 countries. The premier product of the institute, the mechanical heart valve has crossed 120,000 implantations since 1990.
