The medtech development is revolutionizing the healthcare sector. Each innovation opens new doors to more effective and personalized treatments. The INVEST event in Chicago highlights these fascinating advancements.
This event, scheduled for May 20-21 at Willis Tower, welcomes innovators and investors passionate about the future of medical technologies. At the heart of this event is the Pitch Perfect startup competition, an essential showcase for emerging companies. Among the four tracks of the competition, the one for medical devices and diagnostics stands out with its theme on chronic diseases and their management. Renowned experts such as Charity Tarn from Arboretum Ventures and Jenni Le from Venture Investors Health Fund will judge the innovations presented. Participants will bring innovative solutions to improve patients’ quality of life. Register for INVEST and explore the complete program.
Among the participating companies, Biometry Inc. has developed a patented sensor allowing individuals with asthma and COPD to predict crises up to 20 days in advance. Using a test strip and a connected device, the company measures inflammation in the airways via exhaled fractional nitric oxide. This technology assesses crisis risk, treatment adherence, medication effectiveness, and exposure to environmental triggers. Combined with digital solutions and evidence-based self-management programs, in exclusive partnership with the American Lung Association, it offers comprehensive patient management.
Micro-Leads Inc. aims to relieve individuals suffering from chronic pain, diabetic neuropathy, sleep apnea, urological disorders, and migraines through its intelligent implant technology. The company has developed “smart programmable electrodes” that open a new era of implants. Utilizing hermetically sealed electronics in each electrode network, these shape-memory electrodes automatically deploy and offer minimally invasive, injectable delivery paradigms, extending the therapeutic area 3 to 5 times.
Highland Instruments designed its ElectroSonic Stimulation (ESStim™) technology to address unmet clinical needs in addiction, chronic pain, and movement disorders. By combining independently controlled electromagnetic and ultrasonic fields, ESStim™ concentrates and amplifies stimulation in neuronal tissues. This technology has already been successfully used in the treatment of chronic pain and Parkinson’s disease, and it is currently being studied for treating opioid-related disorders.
Leuko Labs has developed PointCheck™, the first non-invasive monitoring device for white blood cells. By eliminating the need for blood draws, millions of immunocompromised patients can be tested more frequently, thus improving their quality of life and clinical outcomes. PointCheck™ allows for regular home monitoring, combining microscopy and artificial intelligence to analyze blood flow in superficial capillaries, helping to detect infection risks before they occur.
Rapid Nexus addresses an unmet need in healthcare: the lack of products designed to repair nerve damage due to peripheral neuropathy and to treat surrounding wounds. Its technology promotes microbial control and nerve repair, ensuring faster and more effective healing.
Xpan aims to improve minimally invasive surgery with a device designed to reduce the time needed for routine surgical closure. It has developed an expandable trocar that reduces complications, speeds up recovery, and increases versatility for laparoscopic and robotic surgeries. This device has received FDA approval, attesting to its effectiveness and safety.
In the ever-evolving landscape of medtech, innovation plays a crucial role in improving human health. Every year, companies emerge with revolutionary solutions that transform medical care. This year’s flagship event, INVEST Pitch Perfect, holds its finals at the prestigious Willis Tower in Chicago on May 20-21. This article takes you into the heart of the finalists of the Pitch Perfect competition in the medical devices and diagnostics category, revealing the technologies shaping the future of healthcare.
Why is medtech essential for the future of healthcare?
The medtech encompasses a wide range of medical technologies, from innovations in brain surgery to devices for detecting bacteria and viruses. These advancements have a transformative impact on human health, enabling earlier diagnostics, more effective treatments, and better management of chronic diseases. For example, new wound healing technologies and disease detection offer promising solutions to improve patients’ quality of life.
Moreover, the collaboration between startups and investors plays a key role in the development of these technologies. At the INVEST event, innovators from diverse backgrounds come together to showcase their projects, foster partnerships, and accelerate the development of innovative medical solutions. This stimulating environment nurtures the emergence of technologies that can meet the urgent needs of the healthcare system.
By integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and connected devices, medtech also enables more proactive disease management. For instance, smart sensors can monitor patients’ health status in real time, allowing for early and personalized interventions. This approach contributes not only to improving clinical outcomes but also to reducing overall healthcare costs.
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What is the Pitch Perfect competition and its importance in the medtech ecosystem?
The Pitch Perfect competition is at the heart of the INVEST event, serving as a platform for innovative startups in the medtech sector. Every year, promising companies present their projects before a panel of expert judges, aiming to win the title of best innovation. This competition highlights solutions that can revolutionize healthcare, emphasizing creativity and the effectiveness of proposed technologies.
This year, the competition focuses on four main tracks, including that of medical devices and diagnostics. The theme of this category centers on chronic diseases and their management, a crucial area given the rise of diseases such as diabetes, asthma, and neurological disorders. The finalists in this track are selected for their ability to offer innovative and practical solutions that can enhance long-term disease management.
This year’s judges include renowned experts such as Charity Tarn from Arboretum Ventures and Jenni Le from Venture Investors Health Fund. Their expertise ensures that only the most promising and viable solutions are awarded. Through their rigorous evaluation, the Pitch Perfect competition ensures a high level of quality and relevance of the projects presented.
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Who are the finalists in the medical devices and diagnostics track?
The medical devices and diagnostics track in this year’s Pitch Perfect competition showcases a diverse range of innovations aimed at improving chronic disease management. Here’s an overview of the finalists who stand out due to their advanced technologies and their potential impact on the healthcare sector.
Biometry Inc.: Predicting asthma and COPD crises
Biometry Inc. has developed a patented sensor and device for individuals with asthma and COPD. This device allows for the identification of crisis risk up to 20 days before symptoms appear. Using a test strip and a connected device, it measures inflammation in the airways through exhaled fractional nitric oxide. This technology provides a biological determination of crisis risk, promotes treatment adherence, assesses medication effectiveness, and identifies exposure to environmental triggers.
In addition, Biometry Inc. offers digital solutions and evidence-based self-management programs, carried out in exclusive partnership with the American Lung Association. This holistic approach not only enhances disease management but also improves patients’ quality of life. To register for INVEST and discover the full agenda, click here.
Micro-Leads Inc.: Smart implants to relieve chronic pain
Micro-Leads Inc. specializes in managing chronic pain, diabetic neuropathy, sleep apnea, urological disorders, and migraines through its intelligent implant technology. The company has developed smart programmable electrodes that pave the way for a new class of implants. By utilizing hermetically sealed electronics within each electrode matrix, these shape-memory implants are self-expanding and provide minimal, injectable delivery paradigms. This technology allows for treatment of a therapeutic area 3 to 5 times larger, thus offering less invasive and more effective solutions.
The advancements from Micro-Leads Inc. represent a significant step in treating chronic pain, providing more personalized and less burdensome management options for patients. For more information on medtech innovators, visit Ethik IA.
Highland Instruments: Electrosomic stimulation to treat neurological disorders
Highland Instruments has developed ElectroSonic Stimulation (ESStim™), a brain stimulation technology aimed at meeting unmet clinical needs in treating addiction, chronic pain, and movement disorders. The technology combines independently controlled electromagnetic and ultrasonic fields to target and amplify stimulation in neuronal tissues. In clinical trials, ESStim™ has demonstrated effectiveness in treating chronic pain as well as Parkinson’s disease and is currently under investigation for treating opioid-related disorders.
This innovation offers a new approach for patients suffering from neurological disorders, improving precision and effectiveness in brain stimulation treatments. Highland Instruments is actively participating in the evolution of neurostimulation, paving the way for more targeted and effective therapies.
Leuko Labs: Non-invasive monitoring of white blood cells
Leuko Labs has developed PointCheck™, the first non-invasive monitoring device for white blood cells. By eliminating the need for blood draws, this device allows millions of immunocompromised patients to be tested more frequently, thus improving their quality of life and clinical outcomes. PointCheck™ enables regular home monitoring, essential for patients undergoing chemotherapy, by combining microscopy and artificial intelligence to analyze blood flow in superficial capillaries.
This innovative technology allows for early detection of infection risks, triggering preventive treatments before infections develop. Leuko Labs is revolutionizing the monitoring of immunocompromised patients, providing safer and more comfortable solutions for managing their health.
Rapid Nexus: Repairing nerves and controlling microbes for fast healing
Rapid Nexus addresses an unmet need in healthcare: the lack of products designed to repair nerve damage due to peripheral neuropathy and treat adjacent wounds. The technology of Rapid Nexus is designed to provide microbial control and nerve repair, ensuring faster and more effective healing. By combining advanced biomaterial solutions with targeted therapeutic agents, Rapid Nexus offers an integrated approach to treating wounds and nerve damage.
This innovation is particularly crucial for patients suffering from peripheral neuropathies, where nerve regeneration and infection prevention can significantly improve clinical outcomes and quality of life. Rapid Nexus provides a multifunctional solution that addresses the complex challenges of wound healing and nerve regeneration.
Xpan: Revolutionizing minimally invasive surgery
Xpan aims to enhance minimally invasive surgery with a device designed to reduce routine surgical closure time. The company has developed an expandable trocar that reduces complications, allows for faster recovery, and offers greater versatility for laparoscopic and robotic surgeries. This innovative device has received FDA approval, demonstrating its safety and effectiveness.
By reducing the time and complications associated with surgical closure, Xpan enables surgeons to operate more efficiently and helps patients benefit from shorter recovery times. This advancement is particularly beneficial in surgical procedures where speed and precision are essential for optimal results.
How to register and participate in INVEST Pitch Perfect?
For innovators interested in presenting their solutions at the Pitch Perfect competition, registration is straightforward and open to all stakeholders in the medtech sector. Participating in INVEST provides a unique opportunity to showcase your innovations before an audience of investors, expert judges, and industry leaders. Additionally, it allows for strategic partnerships and valuable feedback to refine your products.
The complete agenda for the event includes conferences, workshops, and networking sessions, offering multiple opportunities to learn about current and future trends in medtech. To register for INVEST and discover all the planned activities, click here.
By participating in this event, innovative companies can not only gain visibility but also access essential resources and knowledge to propel their solutions to success. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the future of medtech.
