#829: SmileSonica: Inventing A New Dental Ultrasound Gel

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Cristian Scurtescu

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It took Cristian Scurtescu of SmileSonica over eight years to develop and commercialize his product – the Aevo System.

This is a medical device which uses ultrasound to enhance the effectiveness of dental braces.

Ultrasound doesn’t work without a good slathering of gel to provide a connection.

But  Cristian discovered he even had to invent the unique gel to work with his product’s mouth piece.

CRISTIAN SCURTESCU:   It was quite an interesting experience.  This is a gel that we had to develop from scratch because it is used in the mouth and it’s going to be used for coupling ultrasound, so it has to have special properties.  So we  had to test it, had to make sure it’s good for transmitting ultrasound, and it’s also something the patient can safely use everyday, and it helps with the ultrasound therapy.   Actually, the gel has no taste.  We did a number of focus groups and we found out that a gel with no taste is the best gel for our application because if you don’t have a taste, you’re not generating saliva.  And if you don’t generate saliva, you’re not going to wash away the gel.    And that actually also helps with the comfort, because having the gel firm and staying in place inside the mouhguard , you know, you wouldn’t have your mouth full of gel.

Cristian Scurtescu says the next step for SmileSonica is to expand into the United States.

Thanks today to ALBERTA INNOVATES

FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY
I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

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Alberta Innovates

Alberta Innovates is a provincially funded Corporation with a mandate to deliver 21st century solutions for the most compelling challenges facing Albertans. We do this by building on our province’s research and technology development strengths in the core sectors of health, environment, energy, food and fibre and platforms such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and omics. We are working with our partners to diversify Alberta’s economy, improve our environmental performance and enhance our well-being through research and innovation. 

The Alberta Innovates system has roots stretching back almost 90 years

In March, 2016 the consolidation of Alberta Innovates was announced and on November 1, a single, integrated innovation powerhouse, Alberta Innovates, was formed. Two applied research subsidiaries – Innotech Alberta and C-Fer Technologies –  serve public and private sector interests.

The Alberta Innovates system was first created in January 2010, as part of an overall innovation framework developed within the Alberta Research and Innovation Act. At that time, four corporations were established:

  • Bio Solutions
  • Energy and Environment Solutions
  • Health Solutions
  • Technology Futures.

The Alberta Innovates system has a 90-year legacy. Our expertise is built on the successes of:

  • Alberta Institute for Agriculture
  • Forestry and the Environment
  • Alberta Agricultural Research Institute
  • Alberta Forestry Research Institute
  • Alberta Life Sciences Institute
  • Alberta Ingenuity
  • Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
  • Alberta Research Council
  • iCORE
  • nanoAlberta
  • Alberta Water Research Institute (AWRI)
  • Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI)
  • Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA).

 

Program Date: 2016-12-06