Charles Redmond
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                                     
July 12, 1993
(Phone:  202/358-1757)


RELEASE:  93-125

NASA and Supra Medical Corp. To Develop Ultrasound Detector


     NASA and Supra Medical Corp., Chadds Ford, Pa., announced 
today that they will jointly develop advanced ultrasound 
instrumentation which NASA will use for non-destructive 
evaluation of a new class of woven composite materials and Supra 
Medical will use to extend its high resolution capability for 
the non-invasive examination of the breast.

     The collaboration began late last year at NASA's Langley 
Research Center, Hampton, Va., under the NASA-Industry 
Fellowship program.

     Dr. Thomas Yost, a Langley senior research physicist, said, 
"We are optimistic about the capability of the proposed 
instrumentation.  It will allow us to locate and monitor small 
cracks throughout the life of some new aerospace materials."

     Evelyna Dyson-Cantwell, President of Supra Medical, added 
"We are developing techniques and ultrasound instrumentation 
which will allow safe, low cost, radiation-free, painless and 
verifiable diagnostic capabilities for detecting cancerous 
breast tumors at very early stages of growth."

     The Supra Medical president added that the firm's goal 
ultimately is to develop breast imaging technology which will 
serve all age groups of women from pre-adolescent to 
post-menopausal.  The firm also intends to produce a final 
marketable design incorporating image pattern recognition 
technology in the device, enhancing its utility to medical care 
professionals.

     Langley has worked with Supra Medical on prior technology 
development projects.  Supra Medical develops and markets 
specialty medical devices for the diagnosis, monitoring and 
continuing treatment of skin disorders including cancers, burns 
and other kinds of wounds.

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