Innovate Utah NEW IDEAS, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FROM UTAH COMPANIES

While mammograms are a safe, effective way to detect the presence of breast cancer in women, patients are advised to begin the procedure after the age of 40, in part because it involves small doses of ionizing radiation.

To widen the age group of those who can get tested, University of Utah electrical and computer engineering assistant professor Benjamin Sanchez-Terrones is developing a safe, painless diagnostic tool for detecting breast cancer that uses a low electrical current instead of radiation. His research was recently published in the journal IEEE Access.

The research is based on the notion that cancer causes a person’s lymphatic interstitial fluid to change due to the increased presence of white blood cells and other physiological changes that happen to fight off the tumor. 

“We suspect that the immune response is triggered in a person with cancer and produces lymphatic interstitial fluid that is less electrically conductive,” said Sanchez-Terrones. 

To detect that change, Sanchez-Terrones along with Utah-based IONIQ Sciences, which develops cancer-screening technologies, are creating a diagnostic device with two electrodes that send a low-voltage electrical current through the body to detect these lymphatic changes. 

The patient holds one electrode while the doctor touches different parts of the body with a handheld probe containing the second electrode. Each time the second electrode touches the skin, a painless electrical current runs from that electrode to the one the patient is holding. Measurements of the person’s conductivity are taken with each touch, and an algorithm in the device analyzes the data points and calculates a likelihood the patient has cancer or not. 

Atadas, a Clearfield-based provider of software for medication-assisted treatment has launched the AddMedPro telehealth platform, a cloud-based patient management software application specifically built for office-based opioid treatment practices. Developed to address the challenges of monitoring and managing controlled substances prescribed to patients with opioid use disorder, the secure and HIPAA-compliant system features a revolutionary pill count system called PillCountPro that automates patient pill counts using Android or iOS devices. “AddMedPro telehealth provides a valuable system of checks and balances for medical professionals treating patients with opioid addiction,” said William Farr, CEO of Atadas Inc. “We wanted to provide the essential tools and software so practitioners can treat more patients with greater confidence and improved efficiencies for a better overall experience and outcome for everyone involved.”

Blackrock Neurotech, a Salt Lake City developer of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, has unveiled a BCI platform with the aim of restoring communication function in patients impaired by disabilities caused by ALS, paralysis and other spinal cord injuries. With the technology, patients are able to create text simply by imagining themselves typing or writing by hand.The BCI device consists of a neural implant, miniaturized electronics, software and a decoder system. “This is the first step toward providing people with limited communication ability the opportunity to communicate more effectively,” said Florian Solzbacher, chairman and president of Blackrock. “The eventual goal is to enable communication functions on par with that of an able-bodied person. The progress is truly incredible.” Blackrock intends to commercialize the new platform in 2022.

The CAO Group Inc., a dental technology company based in West Jordan, has launched an in-office and take-home teeth whitening strip system for dental practices. The company says the system, called SheerWhite Teeth Whitening Strips, is the first of its kind. The dental professional applies the strips to the patients in the office following other scheduled dental procedures and then sends them home to wear them for 30 minutes. A take-home kit can also be provided for continued treatment. “Starting with SheerWhite in the office and finishing with take-home strips, a patient’s teeth can be up to eight whiter shades in five days,” said Dr. Densen Cao, CEO and founder of CAO. “The SheerWhite … system will make whitening through the dental practice easier, faster and better."

Provo-based FileShadow has added a cloud file archiving service to its platform so that emails in Microsoft Exchange, Office 365, Gmail, iCloud Mail, Yahoo! Mail and IMAP servers can now be collected, organized, searched and secured. FileShadow archives email from multiple accounts into its cloud file vault and a machine learning process analyzes the content to create metadata tags. “We now collect your content from all places where it’s stored, helping you search and share your files, regardless of their source,” said Tyrone Pike, president and CEO of FileShadow. “Using our machine learning process, we give you a faster, more powerful search, finding messages, files, PDFs and photo attachments typically not supported by most email clients. FileShadow is the complete solution for collecting content together in one, searchable place.”

Fishbowl, developer of an inventory management system for QuickBooks users, has introduced Fishbowl Online. The Orem company said the product has the same features available with Fishbowl Desktop. The Fishbowl Online Mobile App, now available for Apple and Android, provides securely accessing data, scanning items and managing inventory at any time, on any device and from any Wi-Fi-connected location. “As a company, we are excited to now offer a desktop and online version of our software to allow our customers to pick and choose what works best for their business. This is the next step in our goal to always be innovating for the businesses we work with,” said John David King, Fishbowl CEO. “Fishbowl Online allows companies to better streamline their operations while scaling up their businesses.”

Lehi-based Gabb Wireless, a provider of tech devices for kids, has launched the Gabb Watch Lite, a simplified smartwatch with GPS tracking and safe zones to keep kids safe and provide parents with peace of mind. The rollout builds on Gabb Wireless’s philosophy of “tech-in-steps.” The company sees Gabb Watch Lite as the first step in kid-safe tech with the Gabb Watch being Step 2 and the Gabb Phone Z2 as Step 3 or Step 4 depending on the level of service chosen. “The Watch Lite extends Gabb’s product lineup to account for even younger kids and is the perfect first-step technology device,” said Gabb CEO Nate Randle. “We’re excited to continue expanding our offerings in ways that will protect kids while keeping them connected to their parents.”

ZarifaÊUSA, a Murray-based maker of massage products and chairs, has introduced what it calls “the world’s first massage chair with the application of artificial intelligence.” The Z-Smart Massage Chair Plus can be operated without the use of a controller through the AI system with voice commands responding to the name “Alice.” “We are so proud to be able to offer the Z-Smart Massage Chair Plus. This innovative chair can be operated without the use of a controller through our innovative AI system,” said Zarifa USA CEO Yama Mustafawi. “Also, we stand behind our "no hassle" and "no wait" on supply chains this year as we are fully stocked and prepared for the upcoming season of giving.” “Alice” recognizes 17 different adjustment commands for massage therapy targeting.