The company will become a tenant of the Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise and leverage the Richard Desich SMART Commercialization Center for Microsystems to develop its technology
Lorain County has attracted a new startup. Guided Interventions, LLC, a company developing a technology to better assess the physiological impact of coronary artery blockages, plans to call the Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise (GLIDE) home while taking advantage of the equipment and expertise at the Richard Desich SMART Commercialization Center for Microsystems.
Guided Interventions is commercializing a product that uses pressure sensors to more easily, effectively and affordably assess the physiological impact of coronary artery blockages. The way in which these sensors connect with a fractional flow reserve (FFR) guidewire is critical to its effectiveness in obtaining FFR measurements during coronary catheterization procedures. Guided Interventions CEO, Dr. Matthew Pollman, a cardiologist and cardiovascular molecular biologist, plans to use the staff of the Desich SMART Center, a MEMS packaging, assembly, and test development foundry, to help integrate and test the sensor.
"I was incredibly impressed by the level of competency among the individuals at the Desich SMART Center," said Dr. Pollman. "There are very few places in the United States where a small company can gain open access to the level of technical support, infrastructure and expertise that is offered at the Desich SMART Center and that was a main attraction for our company."
"To have a startup incorporate in Ohio in part because of the Desich SMART Center validates that this facility is filling a much needed gap in the commercialization continuum and is positioning Lorain County as a hub for MEMS and sensor technology development," said Lorain County Community College president Dr. Roy Church.
Guided Interventions is combining the Lorain County resources with a recently awarded $250,000 investment from JumpStart, a nonprofit venture development organization. With this financial, technical, and infrastructure support, the company intends to launch and scale its operations in Lorain County in the next year, including hiring engineers.
"GLIDE has a track record of success in attracting technology-based companies to Lorain County," said Lorain County Commissioner Ted Kalo. "When GLIDE—an established Edison Technology incubator with tangible results—is then complemented by such innovative resources as the Desich SMART Commercialization Center, the County becomes a beacon to burgeoning startups developing technologies and creating jobs."
GLIDE, which was established by a partnership between the Lorain County Commissioners, the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce and Lorain County Community College, has advised more than 2,600 entrepreneurs and formally mentored over 100 companies that have created new jobs in Lorain County.
Within the same building as GLIDE is a temporary home for the Desich SMART Center, which is a class 10,000 cleanroom equipped with advanced and standard packaging technologies to provide customers with high performance, low-cost manufacturing solutions. The Desich SMART Center has served more than two dozen companies with specific MEMS packaging, assembly, and test needs, and in spring 2013 will move into a 47,000 square-foot facility adjacent to GLIDE featuring class 100 and class 1000 cleanrooms and incubator space.
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About Guided Interventions
Guided Interventions, LLC is a medical device company currently based out of the Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise (GLIDE). Its novel technology helps doctors better assess the physiological impact of coronary artery blockages.
About the Desich SMART Center
The Richard Desich SMART Commercialization Center for Microsystems is a MEMS packaging, assembly, and test development foundry. It develops manufacturable packaging integration solutions for customers developing next-generation MEMS products by leveraging world-class facilities and a highly experienced engineering team to accelerate product time to market.
About GLIDE
The Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise (GLIDE), a physical and virtual incubator on the Lorain County Community College campus, was formed in 2001 through a partnership with the College, the Lorain County Commissioners, and Lorain County Chamber of Commerce. GLIDE has advised more than 2,600 entrepreneurs and formally mentored over 100 companies.
