Gillibrand, Lowey Announce $146K Federal Grant for HYPRES to Significantly Improve the Performance of MRI Systems

Health and Human Services Award Will Help Elmsford Company Develop Innovative Research and High-Tech Products

Elmsford, NY – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Nita Lowey announced today that the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded HYPRES, Inc., an Elmsford-based company that develops digital superconductor electronics, a $145,821 federal grant through the agency’s Small Business Innovation Research Grants. Specifically, HYPRES will use the funding to develop a retrofit module for MRI systems using its superconductor digital circuits to provide higher resolutions and faster scan times than currently possible with traditional MRI electronics.

“This federal investment will help HYPRES develop and improve the next wave of MRI technology,” said Senator Gillibrand. “When we spark more growth in clean-tech and high-tech innovation and research, we’ll reinvigorate New York’s great manufacturing communities, start more new businesses, and create more family-supporting jobs right here where we need them the most.”

“Hypres, Inc. is one of many innovative companies in the lower Hudson Valley conducting high-tech research and development that stands to greatly improve our ability to diagnose and treat medical conditions,” said Congresswoman Lowey.  “Federal investment in R&D brings innovative products to market that have enormous potential to improve health and create jobs in research and manufacturing.  I am pleased the federal government is supporting HYPRES’ promising efforts to improve MRI machines and protect patients’ health.”

“We’re excited to take a leading role in the development of a new generation of high performance MRI systems,” said Richard Hitt, CEO, HYPRES. “The unparalleled speed of our digital superconductor circuits and sensitivity of our sensors lets us tackle the most demanding challenges with innovative, high performance solutions previously not thought possible.  The MRI is one of the most important diagnostic tools in medicine and improvements are constantly being developed around the world.”

This Phase I project begins a process where HYPRES will develop and produce a new, high dynamic range MRI digitizing module that will feature programmability, flexibility, and modularity for easy integration into a wide class of current and future MRI systems. The result will be higher resolution images and faster scan times in all types of open and closed MRI systems.  The digitizer module will feature HYPRES’ patented Digital-RF™ analog-to-digital converter (ADC) technology, packaged in compact, cryogen-free, cooling systems smoothly integrated with the other electronics in the MRI equipment room.

The Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Program helps stimulate technological innovations by small businesses and help ensure that small businesses received a greater share of federal research and development awards.

Last October, Senator Gillibrand and Congresswoman Lowey visited HYPRES to announce their joint high-tech manufacturing agenda. The lawmakers’ plan creates a “Made In America” competitive grant program to help retool struggling manufacturers for the thriving fields of clean-tech and high-tech manufacturing, supports manufacturers specializing in clean energy technology, and leverages more private investment into New York’s manufacturing hubs that have been hit hardest by the economic crisis.

Headquartered in Elmsford, New York, HYPRES is the recognized leader in digital superconductor technology and features the most accomplished team of superconductor electronics experts in the world. HYPRES develops and commercializes digital superconductor technology and integrates it for the world into everyday systems. The company seeks opportunities to provide unparalleled economic and performance advantages for a variety of mobile network, metrology, advanced computing and medical imaging applications for government, commercial and academia, worldwide.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Contact: Angie Hu (212) 688-9780
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s Office