The first consultation is free.
During this consultation we will discuss the merits, patentability and marketability of your concept. We will also give you a “ballpark” estimate of what it will cost to go forward with your concept. After we discuss the details of how you want to proceed, a formal quote will be submitted to you.
Establish marketability:
In the first consultation, we try to establish the marketability of your concept. Then we explore the patentability of your concept. If we determine that it may be patentable, we can put you in touch with a patent attorney to initiate a patent search. Once it is established that the concept is novel and patentable, we can assist in the preparation of a draft for the patent attorney.
Plan of action:
At this stage, depending on the nature of the concept, we generally lay out a plan of action for your approval. What is usually involved, is development of a proof-of-concept model, if this was not already done. Then, if the concept involves hardware, software, electronics or some combination of these and other type devices, a production prototype of the concept may be required. We have a design staff who can design and produce production drawings. If the concept does not require a prototype, we can proceed along different lines. We have enclosed several “case histories” so you can better understand how we operate.
To recap:
It is expected that this cryostat, will find wide application in clinical as well as in research laboratories. The total operational sequence for the process is expected to be much faster than with conventional cryostats. This is due primarily to the snap-freezing step, and the virtual elimination of the trimming steps. The time to produce a stain-ready-section from fresh tissue, is projected to be under two minutes, comparing very favorably to the current 3-5 minutes with conventional cryostats. It is especially significant because frozen sections are often performed while the patient is still on the operating table.
This is just a sampling of the types of concepts and products we deal with. If you or your company would like to discuss a product please call or write. All inquiries are held strictly confidential.
Case History #101
Problem:
During the preparation of preparing a tissue specimen for a frozen sectioning a Pathology laboratory, the operator must freeze, then trim away some of the frozen tissue specimen with the knife on the microtome inside the cryostat. This trimming debris, which may be infectious, has to be cleaned up at some point.
Product:
Vacuum system for Cryostats
Usage:
The vacuum system removes potentially infectious tissue that is generated during the trimming procedure when preparing a frozen section. The removal of the cutting debris, eliminates the
need to clean up. This product is used by Pathologists or by technicians
Role of CTP personnel:
Developed this product from its inception.
How sold:
This product is sold as an after-market product to users of cryostats. The product was developed as an add-on adapter kit, which can be retrofitted to existing cryostats.
Description:
During the routine trimming of a frozen tissue specimen, there is considerable amount of cutting debris that is generated. This debris has to be cleaned out periodically. What is worse, is that infectious tissue may present a hidden hazard to the operator. This patented product was developed to address both these problems. A small, external, foot-switch actuated, vacuum/blower using 3/4 diameter hose, is connected to a custom designed fitting that fits in the door track of the cryostat. The sliding door can be opened and closed in the normal manner. Inside the cryostat chamber, the hose is connected to a bacteriological filter and an upstream coarse filter canister. Both filters are disposable. In use, the operator places a movable nozzle at the knife edge, and steps on the foot switch. Then as the cutting debris is generated, it is drawn into the nozzle and captured in the coarse filter. When full, the filter can be capped and disposed of with other bio-hazard waste. One of the novel features of this system is automatic freeze drying of the cutting debris. As the cold, dry air flows through the filter, the debris is freeze-dried, and 90-95% of the bulk is removed, leaving the porous skeletal tissue structure behind. This makes it possible to draw fresh debris into the filter canister, even when almost full.
Patent status:
A patent for this product was granted, and the company selling this product has the benefit of a competition-free marketplace.
Annual Sales:
This information is confidential, and cannot be disclosed.
Case History #102
Problem:
When frozen sections are prepared in Pathology Laboratories, there is usually severe time restraints, since the patient is still on the operating table, and the surgeon in awaiting the results of the diagnosis. In order to cut the specimen, it must first be frozen. In conventionally prepared frozen sections, the ice crystals are relatively large, and causes extensive damage to the tissue structure thereby degrading the section quality. In addition the freezing steps and trimming steps that are necessary to obtain a section, are both time consuming procedures.
Product:
Automated cryostat with snap freezing.
Usage:
Pathology Laboratory
Role of CTP personnel:
Developed this product from its inception.
How sold:
This product will be sold through distributors.
Description:
This cryostat incorporates many novel automated features not present in cryostats currently being sold. This new cryostat utilizes a freeze-in-place method that reduces the trimming requirements to one or two trim cuts. When coupled with the snap-freezing step, the operator can capture a section close to the freezing surface, where the ice crystals are smallest. Small ice crystals, usually in the sub-micron size, greatly improves the quality of the cut section. Both the freezing and initial trim step is fully automated.
Patent status:
A patent was recently issued. The patent holder is seeking means of distribution.
Annual Sales:
Since the product is not released yet, only projected figures can be used. The replacement market for this type of product is estimated to be approximately 2,000 units/year worldwide. Using a 10% market penetration figure, and a projected selling price of $15,000-$18,000, the sales projections are $3 Million/yr.
Case History #103
Problem:
Current tissue section staining procedures in a Pathology Laboratory, require the use of Formaldehyde and Xylene, both of which are known carcinogens. Normally these procedures are carried out inside a large hood that vents the fumes to the outside. In many cases, due to a number of reasons, the operator carries out the staining at the bench, and the fumes are released into the laboratory. Currently available bench top fume hoods are either bulky, noisy and/or inefficient.
Product:
Bench-top fume hood
Usage:
The 18” wide x 12” high x 8” deep fume hood in intended for use directly at the source of fumes such as a manual staining setup used by Pathologists or Histo-techs.
Role of CTP personnel:
Developed this product from its inception.
How sold:
This product will be sold through a mail order distribution network.
Description:
This self contained stand-alone fume hood will be sold complete with hood, ducting and an exhaust blower. No external venting will be required. Activated charcoal coated with a special formulation for Xylene and Formaldehyde will capture and deactivate these fumes. This hood, with a built in halogen lamp, will provide the user with a high level white light. Staining dishes, of the type used for staining tissue sections, can be placed inside the hood, so that fumes generated during staining, never have an opportunity to escape into the laboratory. The activated charcoal filters cartridge installed inside the duct near the blower, was designed as an easily replaceable disposable. The ducts, hood and blower housing are all arranged in a swivel design permitting the operator to arrange the hood exactly as they require. The entire structure including the ducts, which are manufactured by a low cost molding type process, can be produced from flame retardant high density Polyethylene, a material impervious to the chemicals used in a histology laboratory.
Patent status:
Concept novelty currently being searched.
Annual Sales:
This product is not released yet. Marketing and sales projections are confidential.
Case History #104
Problem:
Peripheral blood smears which are analysed by Hematologists, currently use the conventional two-slide-method to produce blood smears. This method is simple to use but produces a smear that is wedge shaped. At the thick end, the blood cells are several layers thick, making it impossible to see the white cells. At the thin end, there is a monolayer but it is not uniform. The population of white cells is relatively small in the acceptable region. It takes a highly trained eye to properly read these smears. Spinner-type smear-makers produde uniform layer smears, but also produce an aerosol of the blood which is spun off the slide; a potential hazard to the user. These machines may soon be banned.
Product:
Peripheral blood smear-maker
Usage:
One version of this product can be used by Hematologists as a manual device to produce a monolayer of red blood cells from a single drop of peripheral blood. In another fully automated version, the same concept is used to produce a “hard copy” blood smear for all “abnormal” bloods as determined by an automated White Cell Differential machine.
Role of CTP personnel:
Developed this product from its inception.
How sold:
This product will be sold through distributors.
Description:
This new device, utilizes a controlled gap to create the space for generating the smear. After a drop of blood is dispensed onto standard glass slide, a special ribbon draws away all but a tiny residual quantity of blood (8-12 microliters). When a release button is pressed, the slide is automatically advanced with controlled velocity, to produce a uniform monolayer of red cells, 5/8” wide x 2” long. This controlled gap method, also substantially reduces the shear forces that all the cells are subjected to in the conventional method. As a result, the white cells remain in their normal rounded shape. The two-slide-method produces distorted white cells. The one time use proprietary ribbon will add less than $0.10 to the cost of producing the slide. In the fully automated version, a White Cell Differential machine will categorize a sample as “abnormal”, and generate a signal for the smear-maker. Then, the sample blood stream that would ordinarily be sent to waste, is diverted to the smear-maker to automatically produce a monolayer blood smear.
Patent status:
A patent search is currently underway.
Annual Sales:
This product is not released yet. Marketing and sales projections are confidential.
Concept-to-Product Corp.
512 Warwick Ave., Teaneck NJ 07666
Phone / fax (201) 833-8888
E-mail abegordon.ctp.corp @ worldnet.att.net
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