Presenting Companies

Afferent Corp., founded in 2000 by Jason D. Harry, Ph.D., is commercializing a breakthrough neurotherapy technology emerging from research at Boston University. Afferent's experienced management team has advanced the technology through an aggressive product development program. The company's products will be used to treat sensory dysfunction resulting from disease and injury. Afferent's technology dramatically increases the flow of sensory information traveling from muscles, joints, and skin to the body's control centers. The company's first products are targeted at restoring brain and motor function following stroke. By directly boosting sensory neural traffic from the extremities, Afferent's products will drive functional improvements that are unattainable using traditional therapies.

Advanced Cochlear Systems, Inc. (ACS) is committed to developing state-of-the-art technology for the hearing impaired population. Since our inception in 1995, we have developed advanced digital signal processors, faster data communication across the skin, more efficient power transfer strategies to implanted devices, and new high density electrode technologies. In recognition of our technological advances, ACS has received significant research support from the National Institutes of Health. Our scientists and engineers have been involved in research on the neurophysiology and biophysics of cochlear implants for over 25 years. Their accomplishments include over 100 published papers and 28 patents. They have experience in digital signal processing, optoelectronics, microcircuit design and fabrication, and biomedical packaging. Founders of the company include former faculty in electrical and bioengineering at the University of Washington.



Cyberkinetics, Inc. is a leader in the rapidly emerging field of brain computer interfaces. Cyberkinetics’ technology allows for the creation of direct, reliable, and bi-directional interfaces between the brain and nervous system and a computer. This technology platform may allow breakthrough applications such as the translation of thought into direct computer control. Additional applications include the monitoring and treatment of psychiatric diseases including epilepsy or depression. Cyberkinetics’ lead product development effort is the Braingate™ Neural Interface Device. Based on years of pre-clinical development at Brown University, the Braingate™ is intended to provide severely disabled patients with a permanent, direct, and reliable interface to a personal computer. In late 2002, Cyberkinetics merged with a leading manufacturer of neural recording, stimulation, and signal processing equipment for neuroscience research. Through the merger, Cyberkinetics gained a world-class engineering team, manufacturing facilities and key intellectual property. The company continues to provide the BIONIC® line of neural recording arrays and data acquisition systems to preclinical researchers. The company's intellectual property estate features key exclusive licenses from Brown, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Emory University and University of Utah.

Cyclotec AMT is dedicated to advancing TENS technology to new levels of convenience, effectiveness and ease of use through a series of revolutionary new products. The company offers a new generation of wireless TENS devices for relief and/or control of acute and chronic pain. These advanced new products are FDA-approved and miniaturized, with simple pushbuttons to operate six modes, customize cycling, and control intensity. These lightweight units attach directly to the electrodes, eliminating the need for lead wires, and avoiding the possibility of entanglement or confusion.

RoboMedica, Inc. was founded in September 2001 by Alan Olsen, founder and former President of Danek Medical, a pioneer in the spinal fixation market, which later became the foundation for Sofamor Danek Group. Mr. Olsen was one of the first entrepreneurs to recognize the unique treatment opportunities for patients with spinal disease, injury, and trauma. The mission of RoboMedica is to develop new technologies and robotic rehabilitation systems to allow individuals with paralysis to walk again. The company's first products are based on robotic technology developed at UCLA and UC Irvine, which are licensed by the company. There is an animal laboratory robotic product for use by neuroscience researchers and a human body weight support system for a variety of patient populations including those with neural impairments, orthopedic injuries, and degenerative diseases. RoboMedica has received a $1.9 million research and development grant from the Advanced Technology Program of the Department of Commerce to build and test its human robotic step-training device for re-training individuals with neurological impairments to walk. The company also has raised start-up capital from angel investors.


Intelli-Scents

Intelli-Scents is a San Francisco, CA-based company that has developed a patented technology for a flat, reusable, packet that delivers an air-based sample of any fragrance, scent, or aroma when it is squeezed. Since it is no larger than a credit card and less than a half-inch thick, it fits easily into a pocket or purse. Intelli-Scents packets last for over a month and will not affect anything else they come in contact with. There are a wide range of commercial uses for the packets in personal care, household, and food product marketing and promotion. Significant applications also exist in the areas of education and behavior since scent is inexorably tied to memory due to its connection with the limbic system in the brain. Intelli-Scents is currently working with Guide Dogs For The Blind in San Rafael, CA, testing the packet's ability to modify dog behavior using dog appeasing pheromone and a portion of Intell-Scents' profits will be donated to Guide Dogs For The Blind.