September 2021 - Physical Sciences Inc.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc., in collaboration with the Department of Radiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), has been awarded a research program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop an automated Smart Multi-grid-guidance Template (SMT) technology that will enable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided transperineal focal therapy improvement of prostate cancer (PCa).

Focal therapy that targets localized PCa lesions is a growing therapeutic option for PCa patients with unifocal, low- and intermediate-risk cancer. Various energy therapy modalities such as cryoablation, laser ablation, radiofrequency ablation, and high-intensity focused ultrasound have been clinically investigated with regards to improving post-treatment preservation of sexual and urinary function while focally treating PCa. Although these PCa focal therapy modalities have widely been utilized in conjunction with the imaging-guided approaches for precise localization of PCa lesions, accurate placement of the therapy needles within the PCa lesions remains a major challenging problem in improving the PCa therapy success rate. Therefore, PSI is addressing a clinical need for a technology that can provide highly accurate placement of multiple therapy needles onto the targeted PCa lesions during focal therapy.

The central focus of this project is to improve the therapeutic accuracy of MRI-guided transperineal focal treatment in prostate cancer by providing precise therapy needle placement using a Smart Multi-grid Template technology. The device will improve the prostate cancer therapy success rate, reduce the risk of overtreatment for early-stage prostate cancer, and ultimately improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Nicusor Iftimia
Area Manager, Biomedical Optics Technology
iftimia@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in partnership with the Department of Defense’s Office of Industrial Policy (IndPol), recently kicked off the “Critical Minerals from Coal Ash” prototype pilot project. This $4 million, 30-month project funded under IndPol’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program will develop and demonstrate next generation technologies for recovery of critical minerals, including rare earth elements/rare earth oxides (REE/REOs), from coal ash using a domestic supply source.

A pilot-scale facility designed, constructed, and operated by Winner Water Services of Sharon, Pennsylvania will employ PSI’s patented extraction technology to produce over 12 kilograms (kg) of mixed REO concentrate from over 50 tons of ponded coal ash supplied by Southern Company Services of Birmingham, Alabama. Three 1 kg samples of the concentrate will be shipped to PSI team member Neo Performance Materials in Sillamäe, Estonia for proof-of-concept REE separation and refinement.

The Director of the IBAS Program, Ms. Adele Ratcliff stated, “As per the recommendations in the 100-day assessment on critical minerals under Executive Order 14017, the Department of Defense fully supports interagency research and development. This effort originally started under funding from the Department of Energy and we are thrilled to help advance this novel technology.”

This pilot project operates as a public-private partnership under the IBAS Program and brings together industry innovation leaders such as PSI with technology materials companies at home and abroad.

PSI’s Principal Investigator and Project Manager, Dr. Dorin V. Preda, stated, “This project will demonstrate and optimize key operations at the pilot-scale to enable rare earth products to be readily inserted into the supply chain, reduce commercialization risk, and improve overall process profitability.”

Many of these rare earth elements and oxides are critical to numerous defense and commercial applications, including technologies critical to our green future including electric vehicle drive motors. Additional applications include hard disk-drive motors used in data storage centers; satellites and lasers; magnets used in precision-guided munitions, optics and audio systems; petroleum refining; and glass additives. The refinement process will result in individual oxides achieving a purity level exceeding 90 percent.

“The U.S. needs to continue to push the scientific envelope to develop secure, reliable, and affordable domestic source critical minerals used in defense and commercial manufacturing in order to reduce its dependence on foreign sources in a time of great power competition,” said Mr. Jesse Salazar, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy.

For additional information on this project, please email the IBAS team at osd.pentagon.ousd-a-s.mbx.ibas@mail.mil

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a program from the U.S. Army to develop a lightweight, low-cost phased array antenna system enabling beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) communications for command and control of the Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS).

PSI’s Lightweight Wideband Satcom Phased Array (LWSPA) antenna system leverages advances in high-bandwidth communications antenna design and digital signal processing to achieve a multi-beam electronically-steered array. This flight-proven antenna design is also lightweight and inexpensive. PSI is leveraging several years of research and development in ultrawideband, miniaturized antenna elements to develop a phased array antenna meeting the Army’s requirements.

Satellite communications is of strong interest for both commercial and DoD applications. Increased capabilities of small UAS platforms means that high-data-rate satcom will be a requirement on future Army platforms. On the commercial side, autonomy for crop inspection, weather monitoring, and Internet of Things (IoT) all benefit from fast, frequency-agile communications. PSI’s LWSPA antenna system will address these needs by providing a lightweight, low-cost phased array targeted at aerial applications.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Sean Torrez
Area Manager, Deployable Technologies
storrez@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a program from the Naval Air Warfare Center to develop a COMbined BAckground multi-band Target-Scene Projector (COMBAT-SP) to address the Navy’s need to simulate countermeasure performance through hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) testing.

The key innovation of PSI’s approach is the use of modified Digital Micromirror Devices to create flickerless target sources with high apparent temperature and controllable multi-spectral infrared signatures. The COMBAT-SP system includes an imbedded, opaque primary target aperture in a wide field simulated sky background and an ultraviolet/visible and infrared split band beam combining and steering concept. The split band beam combination allows for steering of a translucent secondary target against the fixed primary target and sky background.

Anticipated benefit of the COMBAT-SP is an extension of existing infrared target generation table capabilities including high temperature, controllable multispectral sources, and the addition of a wide field ultraviolet/visible background. PSI’s system will be beneficial for HWIL testing to facilitate next generation, seeker and counter measure development. HWIL provides crucial end-to-end system testing that is not afforded by direct injection of targets into focal plane arrays. Furthermore, the architecture of the COMBAT-SP is flexible and customizable to a wide array of units under test and testing platforms. The technology could also be used to test next generation electro-optical and infrared sensors with applications outside of munitions testing.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Julia Dupuis
Vice President, Tactical Systems
jdupuis@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003