News Briefs (Jan. 12, 2006)

Robert Ellis was hired as senior vice president, business development, at Advanced BioPhotonics Inc., a Bohemia, N.Y., developer of medical imaging systems using advanced infrared (IR) technology to observe and measure changes in photonic activity in body tissue for disease detection and drug development applications. Ellis has more than 25 years of experience in clinical radiology and the diagnostic imaging industry. He has held executive positions at GE Medical Systems and Sony Electronics, and was previously administrative director for the Hitchcock Clinic at The Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and a faculty instructor in the Department of Community and Family Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School. The company's BioScanIR system uses quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) technology to detect minute changes in temperature based on the pattern of IR photon emissions over time; it was originally developed for the Department of Defense by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The company has a worldwide license to use the technology for biomedical applications. . . . Ibsen Photonics, a Copenhagen, Denmark-based supplier of holographic phase masks, transmission diffraction gratings and optical spectrometer modules based on diffraction gratings, was granted US patent 6,978,062, for a "wavelength division multiplexed device." The company said the technology uses multiple transmission gratings to provide high dispersion while taking advantage of the beam-folding properties of its transmission gratings to create compact module designs. Ibsen, which provides products to a variety of telecom and laser markets, said it is pursuing partnerships with other industries for a diffractor platform based on its pure-fused silica holographic diffraction gratings. . . . Jmar Technologies Inc. announced it has moved into its new product development and headquarters in San Diego, Calif. The 23,000-square-foot facility combines Jmar's BioSentry product development team, compact x-ray microscope and x-ray nanoprobe R&D team, and its corporate offices. The new address is: 10905 Technology Place, San Diego,CA 92127; phone: (858) 946-6800, fax: (858) 946-6899. Mechanical and electrical laboratories, a customer training room and fully equipped machine shop are shared by the product lines; a biological safety level 2 laboratory will enable the BioSentry team to expand its pathogen library; and specialized laser laboratories provide the x-ray products team with product development and testing facilities, the company said. Jmar completed a $3-million financing in December.