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A MERGER OF TECHNOLOGIES INVOLVING POLYMER FIBER OPTICS, POLYMER PHTHALOCYANINE PHOTO VOLTAICS AND ELECTRODE CELL ADHESION SURFACES HAS RESULTED IN THE CONCEPT OF A NOVEL SENSORY PROSTHESIS WHICH USES FINE (510) POLYMER OPTICAL FIBERS INSTEAD OF METAL

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: N/A
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 3292
Amount: $50,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1985
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
7503 Standish Place
Rockville, MD 20855
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 JAMES H. MCALEAR
 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
 (301) 294-0400
Business Contact
Phone: () -
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

A MERGER OF TECHNOLOGIES INVOLVING POLYMER FIBER OPTICS, POLYMER PHTHALOCYANINE PHOTO VOLTAICS AND ELECTRODE CELL ADHESION SURFACES HAS RESULTED IN THE CONCEPT OF A NOVEL SENSORY PROSTHESIS WHICH USES FINE (510) POLYMER OPTICAL FIBERS INSTEAD OF METAL WIRES. USING A PHOTO CONVERSION MECHANISM AT THEIR ENDS, THESE FIBERS CONVERT LIGHT ENERGY TO A NEGATIVE ELECTRICAL PULSE IN THE 100MV RANGE. INTIMATE ATTACHMENT OF THESE FIBER ENDS TO TARGET CELLS BY USE OF NONSPECIFIC (E.G., POLYLYSINE) OR SPECIFIC (MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY OR CELL ADHESION MOLECULE) SURFACES ALLOWS THE TARGET CELLS TO BE FIRED. SUCH AN AP-PROACH ENHANCES THE POSSIBILITY OF HIGH-DENSITY ELECTRODE SYSTEMS AND SPECIFICITY THEREOF. AS AN APPLICATION TO AN AUDITORY PROSTHESIS SUCH AN ELECTRODE SYSTEM MAY 1. REQUIRE LESS POWER, 2. INVOLVE LESS ELECTRODE EROSION BY CHEMICAL EFFECTS, 3. ELIMINATE INSULATION NEEDS, AND 4. ALLOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SUCCESSFUL TRANSCUTANEAL PROBE BY THE USE OF A COMPATIBLE CELL ADHESION MOLECULE ON THE SHAFT IN A PROTEIN POLYMER COMPOSITE.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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