Sonostics Becomes Example for BU Students

3/7/2013 (Updated 10:16:53 PM)

This local company uses innovative technology spun out of BU's bioengineering department.

Vibromyography is designed to help people with knee problems.  Sensors detect muscle imbalance, allowing technicians to form appropriate exercise programs for clients.

"This is pretty much what we want to see in a healthy knee."

Sonostics opened as a  commercial venture in November, and has treated over 50 people, many Broome County employees.

"To date we've experienced about an 80 to 90 percent improvement rate," said Sonostics CEO Chuck Schwerin.

Founders say they use the company as a way to inspire BU students.

"We are trying to get young people particularly here in upstate NY, which is suffering economically, to think of entrepreneurship as a viable career option," said BU Bio-engineering Professor and Sonositcs Founder Ken McLeod.

Part of their lesson is showing students how to translate their research into a business.

"We teach the students how to combine existing technologies to create new technology.  And that can then be commericalized very quickly," said McLeod.

And they hope students see the benefit of doing business locally.

"These new ventures-- these spinoffs-- could be started by the students or the students get hired by these companies," said McLeod.

Sonostics is expanding it's business to New York City later this month. In Binghamton, Samantha Mcdonald, Fox 40 HD News.



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