major health care related firms include: Accellent – Medical devices American Biosystems – Direct-fed microbials used in waste treatment, feed and aquaculture products Attention Point – R&D of assessment tools for the diagnosis of ADHD Emtech Laboratories – Hearing care products Excel Prosthetics – Custom-made prosthetics and orthotics Foot Levelers – Custom orthotics, pillows and exercise equipment for spinal stabilization Intrexon – DNA control systems to enhance safety and outcomes of biological therapeutics Ion Healthcare – Products and services for sleep apnea diagnosis Keraderm – Medical device to treat nail infections Luna Innovations – Biotech instrumentation, nanotechnology McAirlaid's – Non-woven composite materials for absorbency end uses Microscope.com – One of the largest Internet retailers of microscopes in the world Nature Diagnostics – Performs genetic diagnostics of agriculture products Novozymes Biologicals – Enzymes for industrial cleaning, odor control, turf/plant health OcuCure Therapeutics – Ophthalmic eye drops to treat age-related macular degeneration Pixel Optics – Spectacle lenses for the correction of presbyopia Plastics One – Cochlear implants, other medical devices Precision Fabrics – Surgical drapes ProGenetics – R&D, production of biologically produced therapeutics Revivicor –Regenerative medicine, R&D of treatments for diabetes and whole organ transplantation (xenotransplantation, stem cells) Schultz-Creehan – Contract R&D, materials science, and industrial engineering Smart Perfusion – R&D of organ perfusion and transplant systems Surgical Tools – Distributor of high-quality German surgical tools TechLab – Develops, manufactures, distributes intestinal diagnostic assays Virginia Prosthetics – Custom-made prosthetics and orthotics Wireless MedCARE – Wireless and web-connected medical devices and applications Geography and Climate The Roanoke Region covers approximately of land, and approximately . of water. The region is located within the Appalachian Mountains, specifically the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. There are also two major rivers, the James River and the Roanoke (Staunton) River, that pass through the Roanoke Region. There are several small lakes, including Lake Moomaw and Carvins Cove, as well as one major lake, Smith Mountain Lake. The region is in the temperate broadleaf and mixed forest biome. Smith Mountain Lake, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Appalachian Trail, the rivers and streams, Dixie Caverns, the Botetourt County blueways, and the mountains attract thousands of visitors to the region each year. The climate of the Roanoke Region is humid subtropical with four distinct seasons. The average temperature in January is ; July is 75.6 degrees. The average yearly rainfall is and snowfall is 27.2 inches. History Early History The