Pindi continues patents quest

Pindi Inc. of Reno just filed a massive patent application it includes 104 separate claims that covers much of its basic technology.

For all the intricacies of the patent application, however, Pindi Chairman Scott Armstrong says it's intended to meet a simple, yet critical need of the company:

"It allows us to speak freely," he says. "We have been flying under the radar. But now we can start negotiating licensing agreements and strategic partnerships."

The company has developed a scanning system that allows doctors to analyze blood without pricking the skin or drawing blood.

Pindi thinks a more immediate use for the technology may be in security applications such as biometric identification.

Assuming the new patent is approved Pindi already has two in place the next job for the privately held company will be finding the capital to begin bringing products to market.

Armstrong said the company is examining several alternatives and expects to meet in coming weeks with representatives of large companies that might license the technology or strike some other deal with Pindi.

Tim Casey of Silversky Group LLC, which is handling the patent application for Pindi and providing consulting on business development, called the company's technology "revolutionary."

"Nobody else is doing anything close to this," Casey said.

Use of the technology in medical applications non-invasive glucose monitoring for diabetes patients, for instance would require long and expensive approval from the Food and Drug Administration, Casey said.

But Armstrong said the company believes it can move more quickly into other applications ranging from security to water-purity testing to consistency assurance for manufacturers.

Erin Looney, president and chief technology officer of Pindi, said he expects the company to file many patent applications in coming years as it develops specific uses for the technology.

In the short run, he said the current round of patents increase the value of the company for its shareholders.