WASHINGTON & MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. & CORK, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Silicon Valley-based Compact Imaging, Inc. today announced a technology collaboration with IPIC (Irish Photonic Integration Center), a Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) research center.
The collaboration will provide IPIC’s world class technical expertise, specialized equipment and funding to enable Compact Imaging to transition its MRO™ optical sensor technology from bench-top prototypes to miniaturized low cost photonic modules suitable for integration with mobile devices and high-volume production.
Compact Imaging’s proprietary MRO™ (Multiple Reference Optical Coherence Tomography) technology is a highly disruptive tissue imaging and analysis system that offers a greater than 100x reduction in size and cost compared to conventional OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) systems. The engagement with the IPIC team at Ireland’s Tyndall National Institute will utilize IPIC’s photonic integration and packaging expertise to deliver the targeted size reduction.
When complete, the path will be open to product development of MRO™ for a broad range of mobile monitoring applications, such as health and fitness, cosmetics and skin care, ophthalmology and eye care and biometric security. Compact Imaging already has demonstrated technical feasibility of MRO™ in human subject tests.
The collaboration was announced at the Science Foundation Ireland’s St. Patrick’s Day conference in Washington, DC by Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, who said, “This development is another example of how collaborations between the two countries can lead to the development of breakthrough technologies and the growth of exciting new start-up ventures that have the potential to deliver societal and economic benefits.”
Compact Imaging CEO, Don Bogue, said, “We believe there will be huge demand for MRO™ sensors in fast-growing markets such as fingerprint device authentication and mobile health monitoring. This collaboration with IPIC comes at a critical time for Compact Imaging as we move our optical sensor technology from the engineering lab to manufacturing. We’re grateful for the support we’re receiving from IPIC, an institution at the forefront of photonics integration technology.”
IPIC’s Center Manager, Dr. Patrick Morrissey, said, “The project reinforces Ireland as a leading location for exciting young technology companies to efficiently develop their technology to market launch and to navigate the often difficult path to market. We look forward to working with Compact Imaging and to the successful launch of their breakthrough MRO™ technology.”
Added Tyndall’s CEO Kieran Drain, “Tyndall has proven itself to be an ideal partner for fledging technology companies, such as Compact Imaging. This is another example of how we can support Irish and international start-up companies.”
Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland, Professor Mark Ferguson said, “SFI are delighted to support this collaboration between IPIC and Compact Imaging, which aligns with our role to attract industry to Ireland in areas such as ICT, health and life sciences, and manufacturing competitiveness.”
Compact Imaging has developed significant intellectual property, consisting of 14 US patents and an even greater number of pending US and foreign applications in MRO™ and OCT-based imaging and biometry. The Company has extensive Irish connections with over 80% of its capital coming from Irish investors. The Company has recently established an Irish entity, Compact Imaging Ireland Ltd. Compact Imaging also has a long-standing research collaboration with the Tissue Optics and Microcirculation Imaging Labs (TOMI) under the leadership of Prof. Martin Leahy at National University of Ireland, Galway.
About Compact Imaging, Inc.
Compact Imaging (CI), based in Mountain View, CA, is an early-stage technology company developing miniature optical sensors that non-invasively image and measure sub-surface features, properties and behaviors of human tissue and other biological and non-biological materials. These sensors, called MRO™, which are inherently small, low-cost and battery-powered, will address the need for more capable and versatile sensors in rapidly expanding consumer device markets, such as mobile personal health monitoring and fingerprint authentication. The Company has been issued a series of US patents covering its multiple-reference optical coherence tomography (MRO™) technology. Additional information is available at the Company’s website, www.compactimaging.com.
About the Irish Photonic Integration Center (IPIC)
The Irish Photonic Integration Centre (IPIC) brings together over 100 researchers from four institutes to develop new light-enabled technologies. Targeting the ICT, medical devices and diagnostics sectors, IPIC works with 18 industry partners to develop the next generation of highly compact and miniaturized photonics devices. More information is available at www.ipic.ie.
About Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is the national foundation for investment in scientific and engineering research. SFI invests in academic researchers and research teams who are most likely to generate new knowledge, leading-edge technologies and competitive enterprises in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
The Foundation also promotes and supports the study of, education in, and engagement with STEM and promotes an awareness and understanding of the value of STEM to society and, in particular, to the growth of the economy. SFI also advances co-operative efforts among education, government, and industry that support its fields of emphasis and promotes Ireland’s ensuing achievements around the world. Additional information is available at www.sfi.ie.