RMD & SBIR/STTR

Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. (RMD), has conducted many broad-ranging and successful SBIR and STTR projects. From research contracts focused on creating new technologies requiring years of development to reach the market, to engineering projects leading straight to a marketable item before the completion of Phase II, RMD continues to be a leader in the SBIR/STTR process.

A Sustainable Balance

Our corporate goal is to sustain a balance of contract research and commercial sales that allows us to have in-house resources and a continuous stream of state-of-the-art technologies necessary to continue to grow while providing important new products to private and government customers. In 1998, RMD Instruments, LLC was founded specifically for the purpose of commercializing the novel technologies developed at RMD. RMD Instruments, LLC is a vertically integrated company that performs all of the manufacturing steps needed to bring our products to the market. Both OEM and direct sale products are produced. RMD Instruments, LLC maintains complete ISO-9001 certified facilities for the design, development, prototyping and manufacturing of commercial products.

In 2002, RMD received the National Tibbetts Award from the US Small Business Administration in recognition of its outstanding contributions to the SBIR program. In addition, RMD has consistently maintained a rating of at least 70% on the DOD SBIR Commercialization Index, placing RMD in the top 20% to 30% of firms with regard to the commercialization of SBIR technologies.

Doing Well by Doing Good

Some of our successes can not be measured simply in terms of sales. In the medical arena, we have built instruments that have had a significant impact on the quality of life of patients after surgery. In addition, several of our technologies have resulted in improvements in surgical technique, which have been documented to reduce the probability of post-operative problems and increase patient recovery rates.

Other products have and will continue to affect hundreds of thousands of people. Our lead-in-paint analyzer is not only a strong product for RMD, but helps to ensure the safety of children in their homes by detecting lead paint.

RMD has a strong commitment to developing products and technologies that have a positive impact on our community. More specific details of those technologies are discussed below.

Selected RMD Products Derived from SBIR/STTR Research

Gamma Guidance System Surgical Probe
One of RMD's most successful products resulting from SBIR funded research is our nuclear medicine probe for sentinel node surgery. This probe allows surgeons to more easily and accurately identify and locate the spread of cancer cells in the body during surgery.

Large Area Imaging Films for Digital Radiograph
Based on SBIR research funded by NSF, DOD and NIH, RMD built a production facility for the manufacturing of high resolution CsI screens up to 18" x 18" (47 x 47 cm²) in area. This endeavor resulted from an investment of over $1,000,000 of internal and external funds for commercial development. About $200,000 in prototype sales have already been made. RMD is also investigating semiconductor imaging films of PbI₂ and HgI₂. RMD has sold many tens of thousands of dollars worth of prototype films and devices, and has received over $1,500,000 in Phase III development funds and prototype sales.

Emboli Monitor to Reduce Neurological Deficit from Open Heart Surgery
This instrument, originally funded by an NIH SBIR grant, has resulted in reduced complications during open heart surgery. With the help of this instrument, our collaborators at Bowman Gray School of Medicine were able to answer crucial questions relating to the causes of temporary and permanent neurological damage, which affects over two-thirds of all patients undergoing open-heart surgery. As a result, tens of thousands of patients have experienced improved outcomes at hospitals around the world. In particular, the average length of time patients stay in intensive care units following surgery has been reduced from 48 hours to 12 hours; the fraction of patients who suffer from post-operative brain swelling and long term brain dysfunction has been reduced by as much as 70%; and the incidence of stroke in heart surgery patients has been reduced from 5% to 0.7%.

A New Portable XRF System for Lead Paint Analysis
This NIH sponsored project resulted in our commercial lead in paint analyzer (LPA-1). The hand-held device can determine the lead content of painted surfaces in less than 10 seconds. RMD manufactures this product, with sales of several million dollars per year. Over 7,000 inspectors have been trained in the use of the LPA-1 and over 100,000 dwellings have been inspected, helping to protect the children who live in these homes. RMD is a major supplier of lead paint detection instruments in the United States.

Other Products

Standard Products - Standard products include APDs, APD arrays and APD based instruments, CZT and CdTe detectors, instruments and systems based on CdTe and CZT, CsI Imaging Sensors, Compuglass, LPA-1 Lead-in-Paint Analyzer, and RADCAM.

Nuclear Medicine Products - Nuclear medicine specialty probes include the surgical probe, dental probe, gastrointestinal probe, kidney function monitor, and eye probe.

Prototype Products - Prototype products include PET and SPECT detector arrays and modules, PbI2, and HgI2 imaging plates, Geiger-APD arrays, and CMOS APD arrays.

Planned Products - Planned products include Chem/Bio detectors, a Mold Detection System, LADAR detector arrays, LIDAR detectors and systems, and small animal nuclear imaging systems.

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