August 11, 2003
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August 11, 2003 |
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Rose-Hulman Ventures, a technology-based incubator and product development center, announced it is providing financial assistance and lab space to Stamper Medical Technologies. The Terre Haute-based company will design, test and market a new halo orthosis concept that will improve medical treatment of cervical spine injuries.
Richard Stamper PhD, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and CEO of Stamper Medical Technologies, recently launched the company at Rose-Hulman Ventures. The halo orthosis, introduced in 1959, is a medical device used for restricting motion of the skull and cervical spine. The halo, which is a minimally invasive alternative to surgery, immobilizes the cervical spine region to promote fracture healing, without eliminating overall patient mobility. Each year, approximately 12,000 people sustain injuries that require immobilization of the cervical spine for proper healing. Presently, a patient treated with a halo orthosis has a significant chance of experiencing a loose halo pin, leading to extreme patient discomfort, increased risk of infection, and possible loss of fixation of the skull and cervical spine. Additionally, it is standard practice to over-tighten halo pins to delay the onset of pin loosening. This over-tightening increases patient discomfort and the chances of puncturing the skull with a halo pin. Pin loosening and the associated problems are especially prevalent in children since their skulls are more compliant. Stamper Medical Technologies will design, test and market a new halo orthosis concept to reduce pin loosening and determine minimum pin force for proper constraint. Stamper said, “By applying techniques drawn from robotics research, we can design a new halo that will fully constrain the skull and cervical spine while adapting to changes in the skull and at the pin site. Our approach will have considerable clinical impact on thousands of patients.” Stamper gained support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the world's foremost medical research centers. An agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, the NIH awarded Stamper with a $137,000 grant to design, build and test a prototype of the new halo system. Co-investigator on the NIH grant is Dr. Terry Trammell, orthopedic surgeon and assistant clinical professor currently in private practice at Orthopaedics Indianapolis. With a national reputation for contributions in motor sports medicine, Trammell works with cutting-edge research and surgical techniques for spine related disorders and injuries. Jim Eifert, president of Rose-Hulman Ventures said, “This is an ideal opportunity for us to assist a faculty member in developing new technologies and commercializing ideas in the area of life sciences.” The support Stamper received from the Rose-Hulman community has been overwhelming. “This is an environment that strongly encourages entrepreneurship and professional development,” said Stamper. Graduate and undergraduate students from Rose-Hulman and Saint Louis University are providing their support to the project in the form of engineering development activities, business planning, and intellectual property development. About Rose-Hulman Ventures Rose-Hulman Ventures is creating economic growth and career opportunities for technical professionals in Indiana. In 1999, the Lilly Endowment, Inc. awarded a $29.7 million grant to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology to establish Rose-Hulman Ventures. The Lilly Endowment, Inc. awarded a $24.9 million grant in 2002 to build upon the success of programs at Rose-Hulman Ventures to expand educational and professional practice experiences for Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students and faculty. For the fourth consecutive year, U.S. News and World Report magazine ranked Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology No. 1 among all colleges and universities that offer the master’s as the top degree in engineering. For more information, visit, www.rhventures.org.
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