Souderton, Pa. – Solar Atmospheres and ASM International at Materials Park in Ohio have partnered to offer a new Vacuum Heat Treating Course. This new course provides students with a means to combine basic vacuum heat treatment theory with hands-on instruction using the new ASM laboratory vacuum furnace donated by Solar Atmospheres, Inc., and manufactured by Solar Manufacturing Inc.

The first class of the new ASM course offering was taught in December 2013, with subsequent courses scheduled for April 2014, and September 2014. The course was developed by Solar Atmospheres’ consultant in chemistry and metallurgy Virginia Osterman, PhD, who works closely with Solar Atmospheres Research and Development group. This course covers the background of vacuum measurement, vacuum furnace design, and vacuum technology as it applies to various metallurgical processes.

Osterman notes, “Having a basic understanding of vacuum theory and its application in heat treating in itself is valuable, however with the added benefit of the new Mentor Vacuum Furnace students now can see how to put theory into practice and get a better understanding as to why the use of vacuum heat treat processes add value to a product.”

Source: Solar Atmospheres

West Lafayette, Ind. - Purdue Research Foundation and Cook Medical officials announced plans to establish a $12 million evergreen investment fund to support Purdue-based life sciences companies.

“The Foundry Investment Fund provides Cook with the opportunity to join Purdue in an effort to repeat the Cook Biotech story for other companies”

"Converting Purdue innovation into new products, companies and jobs is perhaps the most valuable way for our university to live up to its land grant heritage and contribute to the progress of our state," said Mitch Daniels, president of Purdue University. "This fund will help a new and larger generation of Purdue innovators move their technologies to the public."

The Foundry Investment Fund, a not-for-profit fund, will seek to join with other investors to fund companies that are based on Purdue technology or expertise in the areas of human and animal health and plant sciences. The Foundry Investment Fund will provide a match to outside investors’ funds, adding critical capital for the transition from the discovery of a promising technology to founding a viable life sciences company. Returns on the investments will remain in the fund for future investments.

"Cook has a long history of commercializing life-changing medical innovations that originated at Purdue," said Mark Bleyer, president of Cook Biotech Inc. "We have seen firsthand how innovative technology, when guided by thoughtful business practices and supported by sufficient financial funding, can result in products that improve lives in amazing ways."

Established in 1995, Cook Biotech develops and manufactures advanced biologic tissue grafts engineered from natural tissue sources. Based on discoveries made at Purdue, these tissue-engineered medical products have been used worldwide in more than 1.5 million surgical repairs. Product applications include treatments for hernias, fistulas, and wounds.

"The Foundry Investment Fund provides Cook with the opportunity to join Purdue in an effort to repeat the Cook Biotech story for other companies," Bleyer said.

The Foundry Investment Fund will:

• Stimulate outside parties to invest in Purdue-based life sciences businesses.
• Provide critical capital funds to entrepreneurial ventures that originate from Purdue innovation or expertise.
• Be self-sustaining through returns from prudent investments.
• "Clearly, raising capital is one of the most challenging endeavors that entrepreneurs face, and offering a match of funds from the Foundry Investment Fund will help drive interest in our life sciences companies and draw funding opportunities from across the country," said Dan Hasler, president and chief entrepreneurial officer for the Purdue Research Foundation.

Those who could be matching investors are non-Purdue entities such as venture capital firms, corporations, angel groups or qualified individuals.

Source: Purdue Research Foundation

Sauk Rapids, Minn. - Talon Innovations, a provider of precision machined products and assemblies for the semiconductor, medical device, aerospace and other technology-driven industries, received a grant from the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MSJP) Program. The grant will be used to develop and implement a robust new training program for its employees.

Talon has received this grant in partnership with the St. Cloud Technical & Community College (SCTCC). Talon and the SCTCC will work together to develop curriculum and implement a company-wide training program to improve manufacturing skills and assist Talon to diversify its product line.

Greg Olson, CEO of Talon states that, “This new program further enables Talon to develop our employees, specifically in key technical areas related to our medical contract manufacturing business. These new technical skills will enhance Talon’s employees’ skills-sets and the partnership with SCTCC will help Talon more effectively train new employees.”

MJSP grants create an opportunity for business and educational institutions to partner and provide training to company employees while expanding college capacity to meet current and future workforce needs. The MJSP is a program of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben states that, “We selected this partnership for a grant due to Talon’s strong commitment to the communities of Sauk Rapids and St. Cloud as demonstrated by their significant investment in their current workers, and by adding new jobs to their facility. Growing companies like Talon need access to a well-trained workforce, and this Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Program grant will provide the customized training needed to support Talon’s highly technical products and will help expand its medical device business.”

Talon Innovations has been a leader in the development and sales of gas delivery systems to the semiconductor industry for more than 20 years with its proprietary TMS Modular Gas Delivery system and associated diaphragm valves, fittings, and complex components and assemblies. Talon leveraged its experience and expertise in precision machining and ultra-high purity manufacturing to expand into manufacturing medical device components and to serve other industries where precision and ultra-high purity are critical success factors.

Source: Talon Innovations

Yoqneam, Israel - Given Imaging Ltd. officials announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared PillCam COLON as a new modality to provide visualization of the colon. It may be used for detection of colon polyps in patients after an incomplete optical colonoscopy with adequate preparation and a complete evaluation of the colon was not technically possible. PillCam COLON received clearance under the direct de novo classification for devices with low to moderate risk that have no predicate on the market.

Watch a video about how the PillCam works by clicking here.

As previously announced, Given Imaging conducted an 884-patient, 16-site clinical trial studying the accuracy and safety of PillCam COLON 2 compared to optical colonoscopy in detecting adenomas 6mm or larger. Results from this clinical trial demonstrated that the sensitivity for PillCam COLON was 88% and specificity was 82% in detecting adenomas at least 6 millimeters in size.¹ The FDA based its clearance decision on an analysis of this clinical trial data that used a more restrictive methodology for matching polyps. In this analysis, which was conducted on hyperplastic polyps and adenomas, the positive percent agreement for PillCam COLON and optical colonoscopy was 69% and negative percent agreement was 81% for polyps at least 6mm in size.²

"PillCam COLON will improve patient care by offering a new and effective colon imaging option for patients who have experienced an incomplete colonoscopy. Among the limited alternatives available after incomplete colonoscopy, PillCam COLON gives us a minimally invasive, radiation-free option that provides endoscopic images of the same basic type that have made colonoscopy so useful," said Douglas Rex, M.D., distinguished professor of medicine and chancellor's professor, Indiana University School of Medicine and Director of Endoscopy, Indiana University Hospital.

Incomplete colonoscopies occur in approximately 750,000 patients in the United States per year.^3,4 Patients with incomplete colonoscopies often incur additional costs along with the inconvenience and risk of other procedures to complete the colorectal examination. The incidence of incomplete colonoscopies is higher in women due to the increase in past pelvic surgeries and the differing anatomy of women that includes particularly acute rectosigmoid angles in thin women. Patients with a redundant or long colon, history of abdominal surgery or advanced diverticular disease are also at a higher risk for experiencing an incomplete colonoscopy.

"We have made tremendous strides in increasing the number of people who are getting screened for colon cancer, starting at age 50 for the average risk individual. Colonoscopy is the most comprehensive option, but for up to 10% of individuals, achieving a complete colonoscopy may not be possible. For those individuals, PillCam COLON capsule endoscopy could be an effective option to allow their gastroenterologist to complete a colon examination. And who wouldn't want that kind of peace of mind for this unique cancer – that we can largely prevent with the aid of diagnostic exams that detect the presence of polyps," said Eric Hargis, CEO, Colon Cancer Alliance.

"The clearance of PillCam COLON by the FDA represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of Given Imaging as a GI medical device leader. This important event caps a string of significant regulatory milestones for our company including clearance of PillCam COLON in Japan and PillCam SB 3 in both the U.S as well as Japan. We look forward to working closely with the U.S. gastroenterology community to bring this clinically-proven, diagnostic tool to patients who need to have a thorough colorectal exam following an incomplete colonoscopy," said Homi Shamir, President and CEO, Given Imaging. "While we believe that PillCam COLON will ultimately play an important role in both the global colorectal cancer diagnostic and screening market, this initial indication is an important first step. To this end, we are making good progress in advancing additional clinical studies that should support the expanded indications."

To date, PillCam COLON clinical data have been validated in 34 publications. PillCam COLON is commercially available in more than eighty markets including Japan, Europe, Latin America, Canada, Australia and parts of Asia and Africa. 

About PillCam COLON
The PillCam COLON video capsule is equipped with two miniature color video cameras (one on each end), a battery and an LED light source; it measures 12mm X 33mm. PillCam COLON is designed to be ingested by the patient and transmits 4 or 35 frames per second for approximately 10 hours to a recording device worn by the patient. Data are transferred from the device to a computer that uses RAPID software to compile the video data and enable the physician to review and report the results of the PillCam study.

The risks of PillCam capsule endoscopy include capsule retention, aspiration and skin irritation. The risks associated with colon preparation are allergies or other known contraindication to any preparation agents or medications used for the PillCam COLON regimen, according to laxative medication labeling and per physician discretion. After ingesting the PillCam capsule and until it is excreted, patients should not be near any source of powerful electromagnetic fields, such as one created by an MRI device. Medical, endoscopic or surgical intervention may be necessary to address these complications, should they occur. A normal or negative capsule endoscopy examination does not exclude the possibility of colon polyps or colon cancer.

Source: Given Imaging

^{1 Rex DK et al. Accuracy of PillCam Colon 2 for detecting subjects with adenomas ≥ 6mm. Abstract presented at Digestive Disease Week; 2013 May 18-21; Orlando, Fla.}

^{2 Data on file with Given Imaging}

^{3 Rex DK, Petrinin JL, Baron TH, et al. Quality Indicators for Colonoscopy. Am J Gastroenterol 2006;101:873-85.}

^{4 Seeff LC, Richards TB, Shapiro JA, et al. How many endoscopies are performed for colorectal cancer screening? Results from CDC's survey of endoscopic capacity. Gastroenterology 2004;127:1670–1677.}