Babalung Apnea Monitor
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Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?
Founding Story
Jordan
Schermerhorn
Breath Alert Team, Rice University
, TX, Houston, Harris County
, XX, Namitete
Less than a year
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Still in idea phase, but looking to launch soon
We hope to cut instances of death from apnea in premature infants by 40% in wards that have adopted our system, improve the diagnostic capacity of doctors in rural clinics, and increase ward productivity by saving time in vital sign collection.
Most of our time to date has been spent in actual device production: as engineering students, we stared from scratch in October and at present we have a functional prototype. We've assessed the mechanical durability of our sensors and the limitations of battery life, network capacity, and product life, and we've conducted informal tests of both vibratory stimulation and respiratory data collection on healthy full-term infants - both to great success. On the business front, we've constructed a concrete plan for launch and expansion and we have addressed regulatory conditions for testing and sales of medical devices in the U.S. and abroad.
Over the next year we hope to conduct field testing and obtain approval to begin a clinical trial. Should a conclusive, replicable study indicate that our device improves diagnosis and reduces infant deaths over the standard of care (visual monitoring & foot tapping), we will have a basis for mass production. Our goal within five years is to have 500 neonatal wards fully equipped with an army of our monitors throughout Africa and Latin America, with at least one government partner.
Complete modifications based on feedback from field testing in preparation for clinical trial.
Complete app development for three platforms (text-based mobile phone, smartphone, and tablet)
Successfully obtain funding for summer field testing in Malawi
Achieve IRB approval and file patent application
Begin clinical trial at one project site, with early distribution to 3 others.
Refine device into final form suitable for mass production.
Identify distribution channels and long-term cost profile.
Forge relationships with partner nonprofits for post-trial distribution.
Rice University has provided us access to partner clinics for field testing, including St. Gabriel's hospital in Malawi and centers run by the Baylor College of Medicine Pediatric AIDS Initiative in Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland.
Our innovation is not location-specific - it could be implemented anywhere. We intend to begin by targeting mid-sized hospitals and clinics with flexible, trained staff in the Least Developed Countries, where need for such a device is greatest.
Our technical expertise and clinical experience are our prime advantages: we can make changes to our software, applications, and physical structure on the fly, and we have a strong intuitive grasp of user needs. We're beginning as students with university support, and can therefore afford to advance the project without a steady revenue stream for three more months.
We could also offer technical expertise.