COLUMBIA, SC—SC Launch!, an affiliate of SCRA, is investing $200,000 seed money in SensorTech, a company developing a contact sensing technology that may find initial uses in prothetics such as artificial joints.

The patent-pending technology creates polymer “SmartSheetSystems” that can accurately measure force, pressure, torque, or impact, and has the ability to be formed into any shape and size.

It has been successfully tested on an artificial knee.

The Clemson University spinoff evolved from work by Dr. Andrew Clark at Clemson University’s Bioengineering School. During his graduate work, he found a method for conducting electricity through a polymer, which allows it to become a sensing material that can be used for multiple applictions.
The initial discovery was used to form trial tibial inserts for knee replacements. The replacement prototype put Clark in discussions with local doctors and engineers and further solidified the technology. A patent application was filed by Clemson University naming Dr. Clark as co-inventor, along with Dr. Martine LaBerge.
Clark started the SensorTech company in May 2007, in Clemson, SC.

SensorTech, Inc was established in July just outside of Clemson, in Pendleton, at the university incubator facility. The company has an exclusive option to license the contact sensing technology that was developed at Clemson University’s Department of Bioengineering.

Throughout the past 12-18 months, SC Launch! has provided more than 50 companies with seed funding in the form of grants, loans or equity investments and provided counsel and support to more than 80 start-ups.

SC Launch!-supported companies have to date secured more than $42 million in follow-on venture capital and private equity financing.

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