Figure 1: MicroSphere Creator (Courtesy Tide Microfluidics BV).
Dr. Wim van Hoeve, founder and President of Tide Microfluidics and MANCEF Member
Dr. Steven Walsh, Distinguished and Regents Professor at UNM, Institute Professor of Entrepreneurial Renewal of Industrial, University of Twente, Past President of MANCEF
Last year we we initated in “So You want a Sound Diagnosis” a discussion of the worldwide movement from sick care to healthcare. We focused on the diagnostic portion of the industry. However, the embrace of a healthcare-focused medical care system is forcing the industry to be more peronalised, predictive, preventative and parcipitory than ever. This movement is blurring the line between therapeutics and diagnostics. Tide Microfluidics was a subject in the earlier column and now has embraced even more elements of the healthcare value chain.
Tide Microfluidics is among the growing list of companies which are involved in the paradigm shift from only diagnostics or theraputics to more of a “Theradostics” approach. Their ability to embrace the blurred line between Diagnostois and Theraputics is developed from their multitechnology bsed product paradigm. How did Tide Microfluidics achive these capabilities and competencies?
Tide Microfluidics was born of MEMS manufacturing techniques which initially enabled the production of highly reproducible and functionalized Nanospheres. These Nanospheres in turn have greatly enhanced image contrasting and encapsulation propelling new ultrasound based therapeutics and diagnostics applications. Tide Microfluidics has succesfully blurred the line between diagnostics and therapeutics by utilizing biological, chemical, MEMS, Nanotechnology and other technologies to produce a multi root technology product paradigm. They are moving for example the drug carrier market from mass production to the manufacture mass customization for personalised drug carriers systems. Finally they place this mass customisable product at the “Point of Care” supply chain location. Tide Microfluidics is now a centerpiece in over ten research and product development consortia’s. The movement from sick care to healthcare is currently powered by consortia’s rather than individual corporate efforts.
In the last article we stated that “Detection (Diagnosis) is not enough” to fully transition from a mass production “sick care” based medical system to one based on mass customisation based Healthcare system. Forward thinking diagnostic firms are utilising multi rooted technology based innovations to increase their value to the pharmaceutical industry. Last time in the article we provided a figure of a uniform phospholipids’ encapsulated air bubbles generated by Tide Microfluidics stating that this “combines all of the advantages that will be found in the next generation of ultrasound based products” but we were wrong. The ultrasound industry has progressed more quickly that projected. Tide Microfluidics BV is not simply providing value to one or two consortia’s and moving on a sequential value proposition. They and other diagnostic suppliers have crossed into fully-fledged therapeutic development with firms and organizations large and small.
Tide Microfluidics like other emerging diagnostic manufacturers have ‘branched out’ and are now utilising the new medical business model of consortia’s to: provide value to many firms, cogenerate new competency and capability bundles and obtain market verticals. We provide micro fluidic technology for the creation of pharmaceutical products tailored to the patient’s needs in term of ‘right-sized’ dosing and customized formulation. This is where Tide Microfluidics is playing a key role. Tide Microfluidics’ “MicroSphere Creator” platform table top micro fluidics apparatus (see figure 1) is designed to aid the pharmaceutical industry in the new development of next generation drugs. Once the drug development stage is over Tide Microfluidics is able to offer this complete solution. MicroSphere Creator provides a flexible and mobile system for the production of these personalized medicines at the patient’s bedside. All these steps are supported by their patented technology that enables fast, reliable and high volume production of uniform and size-controlled Nanospheres.
This embodiment of the latest Tide Microfluidics competences in the MicroSphere Creator has allowed for the development of both research and productisation consortia’s. Further they many more inquires concerning consortia opportunities than ever before. The multi technology based product has acted as a accelerator for business opportunities not only for them but for their consortia partners, which will lead to even more consortia.
The Tide Microfluidics MicroSphere Creator has moved from prototype to a fully CE marked production product. It has become the basis for a number of consortia opportunities for Tide Microfluidics.
Tide Microfluidics
Dr. Wim van Hoeve is the founder of Tide Microfluidics with primary responsibility for the day-to-day work. Wim van Hoeve has worked for many years within the field, both as a PhD student and, more recently, as an accomplished researcher focusing purely on this technical innovation. He has the belief in this product which is underscored by the fact he has established this company, Tide Microfluidics, to bring the technology successfully to the medical market by applying his experience and knowledge, developed through collaborations within the network set-up around the technique.
Dr. Steven Walsh is a Distinguished professor at UNM, where he also holds the Regents professor at UNM’s Anderson School of Management. He also is the institute professor for entrepreneurial renewal of industry at the University of Twente. He has many business service awards, including the lifetime achievement award for Commercialization of Micro and Nano Technology Firms from MANCEF. He has also been named as a Tech All Star from the State of New Mexico Economic Development Department and has been recognised by Albuquerque the magazine as a leader in service to the economic community. He is a serial entrepreneur that has helped attract millions of dollars in venture capital to many firms.