Pipeline

CORE'S lines of business are limited to the fields of knowledge of biotechnology, bioengineering and biomedicine, wherein it develops and executes its own projects, and offers outsourcing services to technological partners. The current product portfolio is made up of ten internal initiatives that are at different stages of development, three of v*»hich have reached the market stage: a compact and portable Bubble CPAP device, a non-invasive neonatal ventilation circuit, and a humidifier with heater and Venturi device.


Bioengineering

PORTABLE COMPACT BUBBLE CPAP.
(WO 2011/001277 A1)
CPAP is the acronym for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, and refers to a system that maintains positive gas pressure in patients’ airways, even when exhaling. Since it uses a column of water to maintain pressure in the circuit, it’s known as a bubble CPAP, aimed, in this case, at low birth-weight newborns whose clinical treatment requires the use of a disposable CPAP. In the particular case of the CORE BCPAP, the ventilation circuit controls the mixture of gases using a Venturi device, heats and humidifies the mixture, and increases pressure from 0.1 to 10 cms of H2O, in 0.1 degree steps. Additionally, due to the fact that pressure changes are achieved by changing the level of the liquid and not by moving the end of the circuit, the CORE BCPAP is safer and much more stable. Our device integrates the system’s components into a single container, making its operation safer. The CORE BCPAP has the unique adjustable stabilizing device -ASD-, which allows the adjusting and stabilization of the liquid level, and consequently, the therapy. This capacity, plus his compact design and simple requirements, permits it to be used in high, medium and low complexity health centers, also in supervised domiciliary therapy, and safe patient transportation. This characteristics increase the potential market of BCPAP, increasing it in almost four times, because massive institutional use, inside and outside NICUs.


Adjustable stabilizing device - ASD

Additionally, the ventilation tube circuit and the patient interface are specially designed to allow greater movement of the newborn during therapy, decreasing the risk of skin lesions - ulcers - due to a prolonged supine position. If necessary, the CORE SCRAP’S circuit of tubes can also be connected to a mechanical ventilator, as it’s compatible with virtually all ventilator models. All these elements together give it a number of advantages when compared to similar currently available devices, both in terms of practical and economical operation, and in terms of features.












Inherent advantages of the BCPAP

The "gold standard” device for neonatal BCPAP therapy is the Fisher & Paykel [TM] Bubble CPAP, which is design in complex multicomponent configuration, and only for Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) use. They need to be connected to other devices which the institution must own previously. Therefore, they can’t be used outside NICUs. or at lower complexity health centers. Therapy during patient transportation appears impossible, at least impractical.



CORE’S BCPAP was designed to solve these problems:

• Integrated: it doesn't require other elements for operation, as a single device mixes the gas, humidifies, heats and allows BCPAP therapy.

• Practical: can be used with a medicinal oxygen source and a standard energy source, elements which can be found at any level of care, inclusive in a regular ambulance.

• Portable: can be used during patient transportation on ambulances.

• Safe: Easy operation, human mistakes proof.


All these qualities not only give it important clinical advantages, and increase its potential market by allowing institutional massive use and home assisted care applications.

COMPARISON OF OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
REQUIREMENTS F&P bcpap BCPAP CORE
Liquid Source X X
02 Source X X
Aire Source X Not Required
Gas mixer X Not Required
Humidifier X Not Required
120V Power Source X X


FEATURE COMPARISON BETWEEN DISPOSABLE DEVICES
DISPOSABLE DEVICE FEATURES F&P bcpap BCPAP CORE
CPAP Dosage in cms Yes Yes
CPAP Dosage in mms No Yes
Gas Mixture No Yes
Gas Heater No Yes
Gas Humidifier No Yes
Use outside the ICU No Yes
Use on ambulances No Yes
Decubitus Supine Patient Position Yes Yes
Decubitus Lateral Patient Position No Yes


Biotechnology

(BITl) BIODEGRADABLE IGNIFUGUE TERMOACUSTIC INSULATOR

We have been working for the last four years in the design of a process to produce the BITI, a compound material with very competitive biodegradable and thermal insulation properties, is made from low cost natural waste. In CORE we have developed a practical process merging chemical and mechanical concepts with the biochemical yeast action, switch the wastes into an effective biodegradable thermal insulator.

BITI present a good performance in the Thermal Conductivity tests as ASTM C177 test to measure the Coefficient of Thermal Conductivity, and also in heat and bending tests.