SBIR-STTR Award

A Blubber or Dorsal Fin Piercing Tag Attachment System for Remotely-Deployed Cetacean Tags
Award last edited on: 7/8/2019

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOC : NOAA
Total Award Amount
$518,982
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
8.2.4
Principal Investigator
Steve Jacobson

Company Information

American Benchmark Machine Works

926 Unit A 79th Avenue S E
Olympia, WA 98501
   (360) 584-9303
   N/A
   www.benchmarkmachine.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 10
County: Thurston

Phase I

Contract Number: 1305M218CNRMW0063
Start Date: 7/17/2018    Completed: 1/16/2019
Phase I year
2018
Phase I Amount
$119,108
Animal-borne electronic instruments (tags) are critical tools for monitoring the behavior and ecology of cetaceans, providing data needed for managing their populations and mitigating the threats they face. Although remote-deployment of tags onto cetaceans that cannot be captured has provided valuable data, attachment durations have been frustratingly short and variable. Our Phase I objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of an alternative tag attachment element for remote deployment of tags, onto small- to medium-sized cetaceans, that eliminates implanted sharp surfaces, has a compliance closer to tissue than the current generation of rigid metallic implants, and decreases the chances of attachment element breakage. We propose a truly biocompatible tag attachment element that pierces only blubber or dorsal fin tissue. Our approach will include CAD, finite element analysis, and production of prototypes for conducting static and dynamic force testing. The biomaterial offering the best combination of strength, flexibility, elasticity, and biocompatibility, while still functioning effectively to anchor an external tag package will be determined. This innovation would be readily commercialized, as we have done for many other biomedical/surgical products, and it would realize the goal of longer and more consistent attachment durations while minimizing the impact on tagged whales.SUMMARY OF

Anticipated Results:
We will expand on our preliminary results and demonstrate that a blubber- or dorsal fin-piercing attachment element provides greater resistance to detachment when exposed to external forces, while minimizing the transfer of forces to the implanted element. This will reduce the mechanical irritation of tissues, and decouple the extreme forces of con-specific interactions, resulting in longer, more consistent attachment, beyond multi-month. A successful Phase I and II study will result in a vastly improved product for attaching and securing a wide variety of biotelemetry tags to cetaceans, and that product will be beneficial to cetacean scientists in academia and in the Federal Government, especially the NOAA Fisheries regional science centers.

Phase II

Contract Number: 1305M219CNRMW0022
Start Date: 6/27/2019    Completed: 6/23/2022
Phase II year
2019
Phase II Amount
$399,874
Animal-borne electronic instruments (tags) are critical tools for monitoring the behavior and ecology of cetaceans, providing data needed for managing their populations and mitigating the threats they face. Although remote-deployment of tags onto cetaceans that cannot be captured has provided valuable data, attachment durations have been frustratingly short and variable. Our Phase II goal is to develop an alternative tag attachment system for remote deployment of tags, onto small- to medium-sized cetaceans, that includes a fully-piercing implanted element with no sharp surfaces and a compliance closer to tissue than the current dart technology. It will also significantly decrease attachment element breakage risk. We propose a truly biocompatible tag attachment element that pierces only blubber or dorsal fin tissue, and a device for remote attachment of the system. We will build upon our Phase I results by refining our fully-piercing tag attachment system design, build prototypes of the full system, including implant elements, the connection to the external tag package, and the apparatus for remote deployment. Critically, in Phase II we will conduct rigorous testing and subsequent design iterations, ultimately allowing us to conclude Phase II with a prototype system that is ready for application to cetaceans, and successful commercialization.