About Us
Wicab is a biomedical engineering company focused on developing and testing the investigational BrainPort® vision device, a visual prosthesis for the blind and visually impaired. In addition, we have developed the BrainPort balance device, a training device for which preliminary studies indicate it may improve the balance, gait and postural stability of people with chronic balance disorders. We are exploring additional commercial opportunities for the BrainPort technology including sensory-motor training for other medical conditions and navigation in environments that deprive use of typical sensory inputs.
Robert A. Beckman
President and CEO, formerly Vice President for Finance at Lunar Corporation, a medical device company, from 1986 to 2000 and Vice President for Finance at Bone Care International, a pharmaceutical company, from 2001 to 2003. Mr. Beckman joined Lunar Corporation during its early years and helped build the company to more than $100 million in revenues. Lunar Corporation completed an initial public offering in 1990 and was sold to GE Medical in 2000. Mr. Beckman also directed the successful tax-free spinoff of Bone Care International, a pharmaceutical company subsidiary, to Lunar shareholders in 1995. Genzyme acquired Bone Care in 2005 for $600 million plus Bonecare's cash balance. Mr. Beckman is a CPA and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Lewis University in Lockport, Illinois.
Richard A. Hogle
Vice President and Director of Product Development. Rich Hogle has been Vice President since January 2008 and Director of Product Development since 2005. Mr. Hogle has been designing hardware and software for embedded products over 25 years and has developed systems for a wide range of applications including ultrasonic inspection, magnetic source imaging, nuclear waste assay, optical and thermal control, sensory substitution, and cardiac x-ray fluoroscopy. Prior to joining Wicab, Mr. Hogle held lead positions with similar early-stage technology companies and was a member of the senior research staff at GE's Corporate Research and Development Center (now Global Research). Mr. Hogle holds an MS degree in Computer Systems Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY), is a member of the IEEE, and holds 4 US Patents. Mr. Hogle's primary focus at Wicab is to lead the development team in the implementation of BrainPort device technologies .
Aimee Arnoldussen, Ph.D.
Neuroscientist. Dr. Arnoldussen is a specialist in BrainPort vision substitution applications. Her background includes brain imaging studies of visual object recognition as well as applied technology development for those with disabilities. Since 2006, Dr. Arnoldussen has been Principal Investigator and Experimental Scientist on a number of current and completed grants and contracts focusing on BrainPort technology. Dr. Arnoldussen received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, her Masters degree in Biology (Neuroscience) from University of Southern California, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Cognitive Science from University of California, San Diego.
* Research studies are conducted under Institutional Review Board approved protocols and with participant consents.
The BrainPort® vision device is an Investigational Device and its use remains limited by U.S. Federal Law to investigational uses only. THE BRAINPORT VISION DEVICE HAS NOT YET BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) FOR CLEARANCE OR APPROVAL AND IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SALE. WICAB MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE DEVICE SAFETY OR EFFICACY.
In the United States, the BrainPort balance device is an Investigational Device and its use remains limited by U.S. Federal Law to investigational uses only. The US FDA 510(k) PreMarket Notification for the BrainPort Balance device is currently pending.