American Mammographics


Above: Dr. Hixson displays his latest invention, the S.O.F.T. Paddle (TM).

This year, the American Cancer Society estimates that 211,300 women will receive the frightening diagnosis of breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death among women in America.

Thanks to an increased awareness, breast cancer is being caught at earlier stages, improving women’s chances of beating the disease. In fact, more than 96 percent of women who are diagnosed in the early stages survive for more than five years.

Mammograms are one of the best weapons to fight breast cancer, detecting tumors in the breast years before they can be felt. And now an innovative device called the S.O.F.T. Paddle(TM) is bringing more hope to women worldwide.

American Mammographics is a Chattanooga-based company that develops, manufactures, and markets accessories for mammography, including its newest product, the S.O.F.T. Paddle. The company was founded in 1991 by Gordon Hixson, MD, a radiologist who specializes in women’s imaging.

"Mammograms are essential tools in the detection of breast cancer," says Dr. Hixson. "But the technology does have shortcomings. Conventional mammography fails to detect cancer in as many as 50 percent of women with unusually abundant glandular tissue."

In mammography a device called a breast compression paddle reduces the breast’s thickness to obtain better image quality. With traditional mammography, the paddle is horizontal and compresses the back of the breast. In contrast, the S.O.F.T. Paddle is curved and slopes downward to conform to the natural contours of the breast, improving imaging accuracy and increasing patient comfort--at no additional cost to the patient.

"The new paddle provides better image quality to catch cancer in the front part of the breast, which is the most common location for cancer to be missed," says Dr. Hixson. "We’re hoping to find more cases of breast cancer earlier in more women and save more lives."

After receiving FDA marketing approval in December 2002, Dr. Hixson began distributing his new product to hospitals and centers around the world, including the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and locally at the Women’s Diagnostic Center and Memorial Hospital.

As an innovator, Dr. Hixson has helped shape the field of mammographic technology, improving on the existing equipment to provide better patient care and more accurate results. Dr. Hixson displays his latest invention, the S.O.F.T. Paddle(TM).

Flex-Trax Inc.


Above: Tony Bright with his new Flex-Trax SnoClaws.

During a visit to an auto parts store, Tony Bright, CEO of Flex-Trax, Inc., examined the tire chains hanging on the display in front of him. "Why does anyone bother with these things, anyway?" he wondered to himself. "They’re difficult to put on, won’t stay put, and can damage your vehicle and the road when they come off."

The tire chains are cumbersome, but mud/snow tires--another traction alternative for inclement conditions--have hang-ups of their own. These tires rely on protuberances, or knobbies, to provide traction in sand, snow, or mud. But when the grooves become filled with a solid, they no longer provide the traction they’re intended to provide.

For an innovator like Bright, the dilemma sparked a search for a solution.

"At that moment, a light bulb went off in my head, and I determined that I wanted to find a better automotive traction device," says Bright, a single father of five children. "Though it took considering many different angles, I was able to use my knowledge of material handling, conveyors, and hydraulics to find an answer to the problem."

His solution? Tread-faced mud and snow elements that can be quickly and easily secured to a vehicle’s tires. By combining 18th century physics principles with 21st century materials and technology, Bright created a completely revolutionary alternative to traditional traction-enhancing products.

Flex-Trax SnoClaws outperform other products because they provide a smoother and safer ride and are self-cleaning, self-tensioning, and self-tracking. In addition, they last anywhere from five to 50 times longer than chains.

Bright acknowledges that the pursuit of product improvement wasn’t without its challenges.

"It was difficult to market my product and to attract qualified personnel without a big budget behind me," he explains. "Fortunately, I found some great people who believe in the product almost as much as I do and who have stood with me in support of the company."

Flex-Trax SnoClaws were released on the national market in April of 2003, and already the device has generated considerable interest from major distributors and buyers--including the United States government. The product should be available locally by the end of this year.

And what advice does one successful inventor give to the others who dare to dream? "Be persistent and stand by what you believe in," Bright says.

Innovative Spirit Empowers Chattanooga Economy



By: F. Duane Ackerman

It’s been a rough ride in recent months, economically speaking, for the nation and region. Although the immediate economic outlook may still be a bit volatile, the Chattanooga region has added a potent weapon to its economic arsenal that promises to pay major dividends in long-term growth and productivity. Chattanooga is investing in innovation.

As the Chamber’s third annual Kruesi Spirit of Innovation Award competition shows, the community recognizes the very real benefits that innovation can bring to all of its citizens. Simply put, innovation fuels economic competitiveness, builds the economic stability that contributes to a more secure nation, and creates a higher standard of living, regionally and nationally.

The economic landscape in which we live and work has changed dramatically in recent years. That’s why regions that understand and encourage innovation--like Chattanooga--have a jump-start on the future.

A quick look at our past offers an explanation. A hub of river and rail transportation in the mid-19th century, Chattanooga fell on difficult times after the Civil War. However, with the arrival of the machine age, relying on a vast pool of interchangeable workers, the city enjoyed a new era of productivity. Abundant natural resources and low-cost labor helped build the major manufacturing center known in the 1930s as "the Dynamo of Dixie."

But times changed for Chattanooga and many other manufacturing-based cities in the latter part of the 20th century. Now the machine age is gone, and so are the old rules.

As extensive studies by the Council on Competitiveness and its new National Center on Regional Innovation have shown, in today’s economy, a specialized well-educated workforce able to apply cutting-edge research and an entrepreneurial culture are part of the critical mix. At the base, it is human ingenuity--transforming new ideas and knowledge into valuable products, processes, and services--that drives productivity and, in turn, improves the quality of life.

Regions with higher innovation rates enjoy better-than-average wages, productivity, and business formation. Companies operating in these regions do better globally, too, with better access to world-class suppliers, research, talent, and a supporting infrastructure.

Certainly the federal government plays a role, setting the legal, fiscal, and regulatory policies that contribute to the overall national environment for innovation. But as President Bush said recently, "The role of government is not to create wealth; the role of government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which minds can expand, in which technologies can reach new frontiers."

In fact, the real key to success or failure is local--it is the ability of regions to leverage local talent and resources to support the innovation that creates economic growth. Recognizing this, the Council on Competitiveness, with members who are corporate, academic, and labor leaders, has identified innovation as a first tier economic imperative, and is partnering with the nation’s governors, through the National Governors Association, to foster greater regional innovation. The governors see the benefits of building their innovation capacity and are developing comprehensive plans--including funds to support university research, business support services, and early- and late-stage venture capital--to take advantage of their economic strengths and remedy weaknesses.

Chattanooga’s Kruesi Spirit of Innovation Award provides a tangible example of this region’s embrace of innovation. The Chamber of Commerce has created a program that is, in its own right, an innovative approach to celebrating and incentivizing innovation. Judges from around the country look at both the competitive advantage of innovation in area businesses and the ability of innovative methods to serve as benchmarking models for other sectors. They also look for innovation that builds on and reflects the strength of the Chattanooga region, another key element in boosting economic growth and productivity.

A look at Kruesi Award past winners shows the breadth, ingenuity--and real- life benefits--of this region’s innovative accomplishments. For example, 2001 winner Collins and Aikman Floorcoverings used new technology and patented manufacturing processes to recycle used carpet into new products. In 2002, winner U.S. Xpress was cited for bringing the trucking industry into the electronic age by being an early adapter of such technologies as satellite communications, dynamic dispatch systems, document imaging, and Internet-based freight tracking. This year’s three "Innovation Laureates" have designed breakthrough solutions for better tire traction on snow, mud, and sand; improved breast cancer detection and patient comfort; and produced an effective home-based alternative to institutionalized nursing care.

BellSouth is helping sponsor the Kruesi Award because we are committed to the success of this region, and we see innovation as a clear path to that success. We believe strongly in good corporate citizenship. Corporations that benefit from a region also have a strong responsibility to be part of the life of the community and its future.

We know national innovation derives its strength from regional innovation. If our nation is to maintain national economic strength and security, it must thoroughly engage the private and public sector in the innovation process at the local level.

It’s worth noting that Chattanooga’s Spirit of Innovation Award program is the only community-based award of its kind in the country. It can--and should--serve as a model for other cities across the nation to encourage and applaud the ingenuity of their businesses and organizations. Innovation brings together all elements of the community--business, education, and the workforce--to build a better community and, in turn, attract new businesses and innovation partners. In short, innovation offers the greatest return on investment in any market.

F. Duane Ackerman is chairman and CEO of BellSouth Corporation and chair of the Council on Competitiveness.