MicroMRI News
MicroMRI has received 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its BoneVue™ software. Clearance of the BoneVue™ 510(k) application marks a milestone in the growth of the company as MicroMRI is now able to market its BoneVue™ image post-processing software in the US after completing the commercial release.
Dr. Michael Kleerekoper, Chief Medical Officer of MicroMRI said: “This is not only great news for the company but also for patients undergoing high-resolution MRI for visualization of bone micro-architecture. The concept of bone micro-architecture has been emerging for many years and its need was highlighted by the new definition for osteoporosis set by a Consensus Conference of NIH and FDA in 2000. High-resolution MRI is the first clinical routine method developed to visualize bone micro-architecture that does not rely on ionizing radiation and that uses standard clinical equipment.” Dr. Andreas Muehler, President & CEO of MicroMRI added: “MicroMRI can now begin the commercialization phase of our technology. Our product can be applied to MR images acquired on standard 1.5T and 3T scanners. The company is currently exploring distribution partnerships with major radiology companies.”
BoneVue™ is a software tool for 3D visualization of bone micro-architecture using MRI datasets with the possibility of manual or automated measurements of descriptive parameters regarding cortical and trabecular morphology. It is a workflow tool intended to assist a trained physician in the assessment of high–resolution MRI datasets of bone.
MicroMRI, Inc. is proud to announce that Dr. Peter Steiger, a leader in the medical device and bio-pharmaceutical clinical development industries, has joined the company as a member of its Board of Directors.
Andreas Muehler, President & CEO of MicroMRI expressed: “We are very honored to welcome Dr. Peter Steiger, an entrepreneur who has enjoyed much success leading and managing start-up firms and emerging growth companies, on our Board of Directors. He brings with him a considerable amount of experience and will be able to provide invaluable advice and guidance to help steer MicroMRI to greater success.”
Dr. Steiger currently serves as Chief Executive of Optasia Medical, an early stage medical imaging software company. Prior to joining Optasia Medical, Dr. Steiger served 6 years as President and CEO of Synarc, Inc., a privately held company, and the world's largest dedicated provider of centralized imaging and molecular marker services for clinical trials. Dr. Steiger holds a MS degree in Electrical Engineering and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the ETH in
MicroMRI, Inc. is proud to have had several of its MRI bone micro-architecture scans selected by the editors of the Journal of Clinical Densitometry and prominently placed on the cover of the December 2008 issue.
Dr. Andreas Muehler, President & CEO of MicroMRI stated: “We are very proud that the editor of such a prestigious science journal chose to have the bone micro-architecture images acquired with the MicroMRI technology to be featured on the front page. It is testament to the growing confidence of the scientific and clinical community in the technological advancements made by MicroMRI and the value that bone micro-architecture has in the management of osteoporosis patients.” Dr. Michael Kleerekoper, Chief Medical Officer, added: “DXA and bone densitometry has been the staple of osteoporosis imaging and we believe it will stay the screening procedure. Bone micro-architecture assessment, such as done by MicroMRI, can add an additional and very sensitive dimension as an add-on to DXA. Such bone micro-architecture data have never been available to clinicians in a routine clinical setting.”
The Journal of Clinical Densitometry (JCD) publishes the latest clinical research on the uses of bone mass and density measurements in medical practice, as well as state-of-the-art review articles on critical topics. JCD is the anchor for the publication of the internationally acknowledged The Official Journal of The International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) Position Development Conferences and their resulting ISCD Official Positions. These positions lead the clinical field into exploration of new ideas and concepts that impact the practical clinical management of osteoporosis and other metabolic diseases.
MicroMRI, Inc. has been approved for an investment of $400,000 by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP).
Dr. Andreas Muehler, President & CEO of MicroMRI stated: "We are very proud that Ben Franklin Technology Partners approved MicroMRI for this investment, following the $100,000 they invested in 2007. It shows the confidence that BFTP/SEP has in the business strategy of MicroMRI and in the ability of its management to execute this strategy."
Application for a BFTP/SEP investment requires preparation of an elaborate and detailed proposal of the company’s technology. MicroMRI had successfully put together a comprehensive investment proposal. Following several presentations and discussions, BFTP/SEP has decided to give the green light in rewarding MicroMRI’s innovative technology with the additional investment.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, BFTP/SEP is the region’s catalyst for Stimulating Entrepreneurial Potential. Ben Franklin invests in innovative enterprises and creates commercialization pathways that generate wealth through science and technology. Part of a statewide network in Pennsylvania, BFTP/SEP provides entrepreneurs and established businesses with the Capital, Knowledge and Networks to compete in the global marketplace.
BFTP/SEP’s investment in MicroMRI was covered in the Philadelphia Business Journal, for further information please visit: http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2008/08/04/daily20.html
As of 30th July 2008, MicroMRI will collaborate with RAPID Biomedical GmbH and RAPID MRI, LLC to develop a specialized phased-array wrist and ankle coils customized for MicroMRI's technology enabling improved diagnosis of osteoporosis and treatment monitoring using high-resolution MRI on clinically available scanners.
RAPID Biomedical GmbH (located in Rimpar/Germany) is a medical device company that specializes in designing and manufacturing imaging coils for MRI. A customized design process ensures that customers get individualized coils optimized to their needs. RAPID Biomedical GmbH was founded in 1998 as a Spin-off from the Department of Biophysics, University of Wuerzburg.
RAPID MR International, LLC was founded in 2006 as a sister company of RAPID Biomedical GmbH. Its location in Columbus/OH better addresses the needs of US-based customers and facilitates the coil definition process. RAPID MR International, LLC is setting up its own coil development and manufacturing facilities.
Andreas Muehler, President & CEO of MicroMRI stated: "RAPID Biomedical and RAPID MRI are two companies with a reputation of designing and producing premium MR imaging coils specifically tailored for demanding applications. We are delighted to have them support our efforts to develop high-resolution MRI as a viable tool for early detection and sensitive treatment response monitoring in osteoporosis." Bob Sohval, PhD, Chief Technology Officer added: "We are pleased to enter a collaborative program with RAPID Biomedical GmbH and RAPID MRI, and believe it will enhance and broaden our ability to bring a commercial solution to market to visualize bone micro-architecture for detection and characterization of osteoporosis as a routine clinical tool."
MicroMRI, Inc. is a medical device company focused on developing and commercializing novel and innovative products that perform high resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of bone micro-architecture subsequent computer assisted visualization of bone quality and bone strength.
For more information about the companies visit http://www.rapidmri.com & http://www.rapidbiomed.de.
Effective August 6th, 2008, MicroMRI's office will be located at:
580 Middletown Boulevard, Suite #D-150, Langhorne, PA 19047
Our new general contact information will be:
Main telephone number:
Main Fax Number: 267-212-1101
Main Email Address: info@micromri.com
This move will allow the company to operate from an office that will support its growth from a prime business location in Bucks County.
Micro MRI also unveiled its revised logo that better defines its business mission and allow for better recognition of the use of its technology.
As of July 28 2008, MicroMRI has appointed John Chetley Ford, Ph.D. as new Chief Science Officer of MicroMRI. Ford has a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Connecticut, a NIH postdoctoral Fellowship from the University of Pennsylvania and a MBA in Technology from Drexel University. He is an experienced MR physicist and has worked with MicroMRI’s founders in trabecular bone micro imaging and diagnosis of osteoporosis. Ford has vast experience in dealing with pulse sequence design, engineering RF coils and gradient coils and designing and implanting post processing algorithms.
Chet Ford has worked in both the industry and academia. Before MicroMRI he worked as Senior Scientist at RMD, Inc; a national leader in the specialized fields of radiation detector materials, nuclear instrumentation, and custom detector applications. He is also currently an Assistant Professor in the department of Radiology at the University of Massachusetts and an adjunct Assistant Professor at Worcestor Polytechnic Institute. He is the author of 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals, was the former Deputy Editor of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, received the Stauffer Award from the Association of University Radiologists, and received a Shannon Award from the National Institute of Health.
John Chetley Ford will bring great value to MicroMRI as he has extensive networks among the Phillips MR community. He has experience working with Philips 3T machine and is able to pulse program and interface custom-built RF coils to Phillips MRI machines.
As Professor Felix Wehrli, PhD, Professor of Radiology and Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of Pennsylvania and the Head of the Scientific Advisory Board of MicroMRI states: “Chet Ford made pivotal contributions to the development of the technology and theory of trabecular bone structure analysis by quantitative magnetic resonance imaging, first as a postdoctoral fellow in my laboratory and subsequently as research faculty in the Department of Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania.
At the 14th Annual Ben Franklin Emerging Business Awards "The Bennies" ceremony on April 22nd, 2008, MicroMRI received the very prestigious S.R. One, Ltd Biotech Company of the year award.
The Bennies honors regional companies that are fast emerging on the business scene. Founded by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania and The Entrepreneur's Forum of Greater Philadelphia, the awards award stellar young companies the opportunity to be recognized for their tireless efforts.
Specifically, the S.R. ONE, Ltd Biotech Company of the Year award recognizes life sciences companies with a talented management team, innovative technology and clear path to commercialization. MircoMRI was also awarded a cash prize of $1,000.
Prospective companies for the award are required to pass a series of stringent evaluations before becoming a nominee. The conveted award is only handed out to early stage companies of less than five years and located within the 9 county region including New Castle, Delaware: Burlington, Camden and Glouchester counties in New Jersey; and Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delware and Chester Counties in Pennsylvania.
For more information on the Bennies please go to;
MicroMRI has received 510(k) clearance by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market their Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Wrist Coil device. The wrist coil will be part of an add-on kit to the GE Healthcare and Siemens Medical Solutions MRI systems for high-resolution bone imaging. MicroMRI's specialized Wrist Coil will aloow the acquisition of high-resolution MRI images with high signal-to-noise ratio, enabling visualization of trabecular bone microarchitecture. The MRI images needed for such applications require roughly 10 times the resolution of existing standard images of the wrist.
Effective January 1st 2008, MircroMRI would like to announce that it has hired a new Chief Executive Officer in order to move the company into the next stage of technology commercialization. Andreas Muehler is a physician trained in radiology with a long history in working in management positions of the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, in particular in start-up companies. As a physician, he brings to the management team clinical experience as well as extensive research and business experience in the field of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Before joining the Company, Andreas spent more than 15 years in the medical imaging industry in Europe and the U.S., occupying positions in research, clinical development, licensing, business development and marketing. Prior joining MicroMRI in January 2008, Muehler served as President & Director of CAD Sciences, a start-up company developing and commercializing computer assisted diagnosis software for breast and prostate cancer.
Andreas received his medical degree from Humboldt-University Berlin (Germany) and also holds an MBA degree from Duke University.
MicroMRI will be exhibiting at Booth 721 at the ASBMR 29th Annual Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii on September 16th- 20th, 2007. We invite you to stop by and visit to see what is new. If you would like to set up a meeting with MicroMRI, please send your email to mpierce@micromri.com to schedule a date and time to speak. We look forward to seeing you at this event!
MicroMRI has licensed another one of the University of Pennsylvania's imaging technologies, this one is for Osteoarthritis.
The new technology quantifies the cartilage degration levels at the knee with the use of an attachment coil for a MRI scanner and proprietary software analysis of the images. The technique is call the T1-rho imaging. This technique measures the cartilage structure and captures the quantity of the collagen-proteoglycan matrix. It provides excellent tissue contrast and precision quantification of small changes in cartilage degeneration.
Look for more detailed information coming soon to our website!
MicroMRI will be exhibiting at the National Osteoporosis Foundation's Annual Conference on April 18-21, 2007 in Washington, DC. We look forward to seeing you at Booth #500!
WE DID IT! After months of preparation, MicroMRI conducted its first patient scan in clinical trials at an MRI center near Houston, TX.
WE MOVED! MicroMRI has recently relocated to the Rittenhouse Square area at 1429 Walnut Street, Suite 1102, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
MicroMRI recently successfully installed and validated the VBB system on a magnetic resonance unit at Hadassah Medical Center obtaining very high quality in vivo human images.
MicroMRI recently expanded its Virtual Bone Biopsy products to include high-resolution ankle assessment at 1.5T magnet, and wrist assessment at 3.0T magnets.
MicroMRI receives $4MM from the NIH as grant funding to support clinical trials.