CNYBAC Selects 2020 Medical Device Innovation Challenge Participants
CNY Biotech Accelerator, Upstate Medical University
2020 Medical Device Innovation Challenge (MDIC) Participants Selected
Upstate Medical University’s CNY Biotech Accelerator (CNYBAC) has completed selection of their 2020 Medical Device Innovation Challenge (MDIC) participants. The MDIC Review Committee has chosen the five teams below who will participate in the Empire State Development grant-supported mentor-intensive program, now in its 4th year. MDIC participants receive 6-months of Innovation Law Center commercialization research, free work space and use of equipment in the CNYBAC Creation Garage and access to academic medical center expertise and CORE facilities. MDIC has graduated 16 early stage startup companies to-date, many of which have moved into incubation, gained funding, and marketed their product.
Please join us in welcoming our 2020 MDIC Innovators:
Advanced Fetal Monitoring founded by innovator Kimberly Flomerfelt-Puc R.N., B.S.N., C-E.F.M. is working to develop and market a novel approach to fetal and uterine monitoring to address the Maternal Morbidity Crisis in the United States. Per Kimberly, “the majority of current fetal monitor systems were developed in the 1950’s and are bulky, unreliable, uncomfortable and require frequent readjustment. Wearable, wireless, disposable, fetal and uterine surveillance will allow for a more comfortable, reliable and hygienic approach which can translate into healthier outcomes.” Mrs. Flomerfelt-Puc co-invented a patented monitor to address this need through a collaboration with Syracuse University Syracuse Biomaterials Institute. Mrs. Flomerfelt-Puc completed the NYCRIN I-Corps Spring 2020 course and has submitted to participate in a NSF National I-Corps to further customer discovery and next steps.
Vita Innovations is an undergraduate team from Cornell University including CEO Longsha Liu, Ray Wei, Jason Chen, Julia Isakov, Rishi Singhal and Kristen Ong. Their technology, a smart respiratory mask that blocks viral particle transmission and measures vital signs, was developed in response to several access and use issues that became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The product reduces risk for hospital administrators by providing continuous, portable monitoring during the ER process where patients are not observed, but still have liability. The team has recently won the NYC Health Hackathon, completed the NSF regional I-Corps program, and received mentorship and support from the Blackstone LaunchPad at Cornell. They are currently validating their product design, building a MVP for beta testing, and developing their business plan.
BioFlow is a team from Albany Medical College including founder John T. Moon, and team members Dan Lannan, Brendan Laing and Amy Johnson. BioFlow has developed a novel indwelling percutaneous nephrostomy catheter, which aims to reduce the healthcare burden of repeat catheter infections. Their drainage catheter includes a novel anti-occlusion functionality which would allow for prophylactic removal of a disposable film, atop which biofilm accumulation and encrustation occur.
Icarus Biomedical CEO & founder, Daniel Santos and CFO, Carlos Zamora plan to develop a prototype for their technology, an optokinetic nystagmus mobile application to detect mild traumatic brain injuries. The market size includes nearly 2 million first responders, roughly 200,000 sport coaches and millions of parents with children who play organized sports in the US where more than 1.5 million sports-related concussions are reported every year, with an estimated 2.3 million concussions not reported. There are also applications in the military, first responders, law enforcement and others as a tool for diagnosis.
Sharon Stansfield, Carole Dennis and Chuck Schwerin of Assistance in Motion have developed the WeeBot, a powered mobility device that can be used by infants as young as 5 months of age. The WeeBot is meant to provide early mobility to babies with permanent or delayed motor impairment due to conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida and Down syndrome. This team has completed the NSF national I-Corps program and would like to validate their product design, build a prototype and develop a product development plan.