| Tempe,
AZ, July 14, 2004 – Molecular Imaging is an R&D
100 Awards winner for its new PicoTREC. The awards are
sponsored by R&D Magazine and recognize the top
100 products introduced into the marketplace during
the year. PicoTREC is the only commercially available
instrument to add real-time, simultaneous Topography
and RECognition imaging capability to the atomic force
microscope (AFM). A breakthrough tool for AFM, PicoTREC
allows researchers to pursue new avenues of discovery
in all areas of nanotechnology and nanoscience.
"We
are honored to be the recipient of the R&D 100
Awards and to be ranked among the world's top technology
innovators," said Vance Nau, President and CEO.
“This award is an acknowledgement of Molecular Imaging’s
commitment to creating innovative new products and
techniques for our customers that will enable new
application areas for AFM in academic and industrial
research.”
PicoTREC,
used together with Molecular Imaging’s PicoPlus®
SPM (Scanning Probe Microscope) and MAC Mode®
(Magnetic AC mode), represents a new product category
for AFM. PicoTREC improves the speed, sensitivity,
and accuracy of recognition and adhesion studies at
the molecular level. Therefore, it can be used to
greatly accelerate existing research and to perform
experiments that were not possible before. It is a
label-less detection methodology so sensitive samples
are not changed by the introduction of radioactive,
fluorescent, and other markers. Furthermore, single
molecule sensitivity is not only possible, with PicoTREC
it is routine.
PicoTREC
creates new possibilities for using AFM in life science,
materials science, electrochemistry and other fields.
For example, PicoTREC offers researchers in cell biology,
nanobiotechnology and pharmacology the ability to
explore dynamic properties of molecular binding events.
It enables studies on a host of ligand-receptor interactions
including membranes, cells, antibody-antigen, drug-receptor,
DNA-protein, DNA-DNA, and smart materials. In addition,
for scientists studying the characteristics of data
storage media including CD's, DVD's and hard drives,
or sensors, polymers and other materials, PicoTREC
provides a better understanding of the molecular level
structures and interactions that influence their behaviors.
An
international team worked on developing PicoTREC.
“The original idea came from a group lead by Dr. Peter
Hinterdorfer at the University of Linz, Austria,”
said Nau. “The engineering team at Molecular Imaging
led the effort to turn the concept into a product.
They worked in concert with the group at Linz and
members of the Lindsay Lab at Arizona State University
in Tempe, led by Professor Stuart Lindsay, who helped
to refine the product.” Nau continued, “The efforts
of these outstanding organizations working together
have allowed us to bring the unique capabilities of
PicoTREC to market.”
“Oscars”
of Applied Research
Often called the “Oscars” of Applied Research, the
42-year-old R&D 100 Awards program honors the
most technologically significant new products and
processes of the year. Corporations, government labs,
private research institutes, and universities worldwide
submit entries for the coveted awards. Technologies
are nominated in open competition and judged by a
large panel of technical experts in a variety of disciplines.
The judges look for breakthrough products or processes
that promise to improve people's lives through technological
advances.
Key
innovations receiving past R&D 100 Awards include
the development of Fluoronanotubes, Plastic Rechargeable
Lithium Ion Battery, Real Time Ultrasonic Imaging
System, Scanning Confocal Electron Microscope, High
Speed Fiber Optic Sensor System, and the In Situ Electron
Microscope Microtome System. Many other R&D 100
Awards winners are now household names – Polacolor
film, antilock brakes, the fax machine, halogen lamp,
antismoking patch, automated teller machine, liquid
crystal display, high-definition television and Taxol
the anti-cancer drug. The complete archive is available
at http://www.rdmag.com/rd100ach/Default.aspx.
The
42nd annual R&D 100 Awards ceremony, exhibits
and banquet will take place October 14, 2004 at the
Navy Pier in Chicago.
About
Molecular Imaging
Molecular Imaging is the premier developer and supplier
of Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and Scanning Probe
Microscope (SPM) systems for high-resolution imaging
in fluids or ambient air under controlled temperature
and environmental conditions. Our products are designed
for nanotechnology research applications in life science,
biotechnology, electrochemistry and material and polymer
science.
We
are focused on creating innovative new products and
techniques for our customers that will enable new
application areas for AFM and SPM in academic and
industrial research.
More
information about Molecular Imaging is available at:
(http://www.molec.com)
CONTACT:
Barbara L. Rice
Worldwide Marketing Communications and Public Relations
4666 S. Ash Avenue
Tempe, AZ 85282
Tel:
+1.480.753.4311 x177
Fax: +1.480.753.4312
Contact us by email: press@molec.com
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