California startup Tribogenics is betting that their technology will transform health care--and investors seem to agree
X-ray machines traditionally use bulky power sources to generate rays. However, California startup Tribogenics is betting that a novel method of powering X-ray machines will revolutionize medical care and airport security. The best part? Tribogenics has already developed prototypes that fit in a pocket.
Tribogenics' products rely on a counterintuitive discovery: X-rays are generated when unrolling Scotch tape in a vacuum. In a Nature article, UCLA researchers Carlos Camara, Juan Escobar, Jonathan Hird, and Seth Putterman detailed how Scotch tape can generate surprisingly large amounts of X-rays thanks to visible radiation generated by static electricity between two contacting surfaces.
The research encountered challenges thanks to the fact that Scotch tape and generic brand adhesive tapes generated slightly different energy signatures; the composition of Scotch tape adhesive is a closely guarded 3M trade secret. Camara is Tribogenics' chief scientist; the company is headed by Dale Fox, best known for developing the first screen overlay protectors for mobile phones.
Dale Fox told Fast Company:
“Every other X-ray source in the world uses a high-voltage transformer connected to a vacuum tube. In contrast, we've harnessed the power of the immense voltages in static electricity to create tiny, low-cost, battery-operated X-ray sources for the first time in history. It's like the jump the electronics industry took when it moved from vacuum tubes to transistors.”
According to Fox, Tribogenics has already developed X-ray energy sources the size of a USB memory stick. While Tribogenics representatives declined to discuss pricing for upcoming products, the firm “very comfortably” promised that the cost would be less than 10% than that of any existing X-ray technology.
Tribogenics' effort to bring products to market received a major boost on Tuesday, December 6, thanks to $2.5 million in funding received from Flywheel Ventures and an assortment of angel investors. The firm was founded in 2009 and appears to have completed the difficult step of finding commercial applications for pure research.
The guts of Tribogenics' ultra-portable X-ray machines can be traced, like so many other things, to DARPA. UCLA received research funding from the government agency in 2007; DARPA literature has detailed their hope that cheap, portable X-ray machines could revolutionize battlefield medicine, emergency first response, and airport security. Additional funding was received from the U.S. Army Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center. The technology was later featured on the television show Mythbusters.
Tribogenics' XRF Analyzer (Click Image To Enlarge)
While no commercial products have been released by Tribogenics yet, several prototypes show potential. The company appears to be banking most of their hopes on a product called a Pocket XRF Analyzer (pictured above), which representatives explicitly compared to a Star Trektricorder. The XRF Analyzer, which is approximately the size of an iPhone, can identify gold or other precious jewels for jewelers, detect lead traces in toys, and can find traces of radioactive elements in airport security settings.
However, ultra-portable X-ray machines show the greatest potential for becoming a disruptive medical technology. Tribogenics' methods have revolutionary ramifications for catheterized radiation therapy, which currently poses significant radiation risks for patients, doctors, and nurses. According to Fox, the company's products eliminate the need for radioactive isotopes.
Release dates for Tribogenics products for the consumer market have not been announced; however, the firm claims that Pocket XRF Analyzers will drop to a price point affordable for the mass market--and not just for specialists. However, the firm will face challenges in transforming devices that generate large amounts of radiation into consumer products.
COMMENTARY: Here's the Tribogenics press release announcing the $2.5 million venture capital raise:
"LOS ANGELES, CA – December 6, 2011 – Tribogenics today announced that it has closed $2.5 million in funding from a network of global angel investors and Flywheel Ventures. The funds will be used to commercialize a disruptive new X-ray technology discovered at UCLA and funded by DARPA and other agencies. This technology enables miniature low-cost X-ray sources for a wide range of applications, including scientific instruments, security screening and medical devices.
Developed by Chief Scientist and company Founder Dr. Carlos Camara, Tribogenics’ patented technology will be used to transform products throughout the $12 billion global X-ray market. Dr. Camara said, “I am very excited to help realize the potential of this technology as we move from the initial discovery to meeting customers’ needs.”
Tribogenics also announced that mobile pioneer and veteran entrepreneur Dale Fox will lead the emerging technology company’s day-to-day operations as CEO. Fox said, “Tribogenics technology will enable small mobile X-ray devices that are not possible using existing technology. I’m excited to be leading such an experienced team to bring these solutions to market.”
Trevor Loy, General Partner at Flywheel Ventures, commented, “I believe Tribogenics can bring Moore’s Law-type innovation to X-ray imaging, and for the first time, bring the benefits of X-ray imaging to billions of people worldwide. In a lifetime, a venture capitalist may only see a handful of investments with this amount of economic and human potential, and I couldn’t be more excited to assist the Tribogenics team in realizing that potential.”
About Tribogenics
Founded in 2009, Tribogenics is developing low-cost, miniature x-ray solutions for applications in mining, industrial, military, medical imaging, and many other industries. Tribogenics employs technology developed at UCLA by leading scientists and is based in Marina Del Rey, California.
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I find this very interesting x-ray technology, which will probably require extensive field tests and FDA approvals no doubt. Does remind you of StarTrek.
Since the Pocket XRF Analyzer dangerous radiation (dosage levels unknown), it will undoubtedly require properly trainced and/or licensed medical personnel. I don't see this as a general device that could be sold to the general public.
I definitely see the Tribogenics' portable x-ray technologyi being used in the field by medical personnel (military corpsmen, paramedics, home care physicans and nurses, etc) as depicted below.
Courtesy of an article dated December 8, 2011 appearing in Fast Company
can you guys tell me more about the physics of this,i am a student from the university of johhanesburg in South frica.and we are currently given a reaseach to do on the latest x-ray machines and how they are able to produce the radiograph,i understand that tribogenics is a portable machine but how does it produce the rays and turn it into a latent image
Posted by: promise gotha | 02/06/2013 at 03:07 AM
What? I'm sure this will be something we will see in a matter of years. I hope it comes quicker than we think.
Thanks,
Brian
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