Eight Ohio biomedical companies have received a total of $8 million in grants from the state’s Third Frontier technology support program.

The grants, which awarded about $1 million to each firm, are aimed at accelerating the growth and development of Ohio’s burgeoning biomedical industry, which saw its number of jobs grow by 20 percent during the last decade.

The recipients are:

• Arteriocyte: The Cleveland-based stem cell company will further develop its NANEX technology, which uses stem cells to create (pdf) “universal-donor” red blood cells
• AtriCure: The publicly traded Cincinnati-area cardiac device maker will adapt its AtriClip device to be used in minimally invasive procedures
• Bettcher Industries: The Birmingham-based manufacturing company will adapt its products for use in the fields of tissue and bone recovery, burn treatment and plastic reconstructive surgery
• OrthoHelix Surgical Designs: The Medina-based orthopedic implants firm will launch a new product line it calls the “pocket plating system,” which would involve foot and ankle implants
• PercuVision: The Columbus-area urological catheterization company will develop the next generation of its product, which is designed to improve catheter insertions into the urethra
• U.S. Endoscopy: The Mentor-based endoscopic products maker will expand its product offerings in the urological market
• VasoStar: The Mentor-based company will conduct a safety study on its guide wire system designed to help cardiologists penetrate blood-vessel blockage to place stents in the heart
• Imalux: The Cleveland-based company will improve its imaging device that’s used to detect cancer

Case Western Reserve University also received a nearly $1 million biomedical grant for a project with Cleveland Clinic and Proxy Biomedical to improve the manufacturing processes around a device to reduce stress urinary incontinence.

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