Inca Medical Systems
INCA is developing a groundbreaking device for direct monitoring of lung functionality. The device is aimed at mechanically ventilated patients in critical or chronic conditions as well as ambulatory patients suffering from acute or chronic lung disease. INCA's proprietary technology was developed by Dr. Y. Bar-Lavie (MD, FCCP), director of the Department of Critical Care Medicine at Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) of the human lung is known to be a substantial physiological indicator of lung performance. Currently, there is no practical procedure for fast, real-time FRC measurement in mechanically ventilated patients. Physicians set ventilation parameters using physical measurements as pressure, flow and volume. These parameters do not represent the lung area available for gas exchange. Over-inflation may cause severe lung damage up to tissue disruption. Under-inflation may cause atelectasis (lung collapse) hypoxemia and severe physical consequences. "Real-time" FRC data will improve ventilation quality, and prevent further lung damage. Target Market INCA's FRC measurement device targets primarily ventilated patients. It is also targeted for lung functionality monitoring in spontaneously breathing patients suffering from acute or chronic lung diseases and healthy individuals (sports medicine). The estimated total available market for ventilated patients is $1B. The market for independently Breathing Patients is Estimated at few $B’s. The Product The system includes a monitoring device and sensors in a disposable tube connected to the patients' breathing circuit. The volume of the FRC is automatically calculated by the monitoring device, based on measurements of the breathing gases, using calculus based formulas. Advantages >Currently there is no practical method for real time FRC monitoring >Stand alone product- can work with any available ventilator >Very accurate and shows minimal variance between repeated measurements >measurement takes few seconds, does not interfere with patients treatment >Easy regulatory process >Short time to market Development status The company holds a working prototype, and showed proof of concept in mechanically ventilated anesthetized pigs. Furthermore the device was tested in a comparative study against a commercially available device and showed a significant superiority. Regulatory The device will require a short 510k FDA review IP Status Provisional patent application has been submitted in April 2008. Business Model INCA's monitoring system will be assembled as an add-on device fitting any common ventilation system. The company will seek OEM agreements with major ventilator manufacturers during the development process or subsequently. The team Yaron Bar-Lavie, MD- Founder Director, Department of Critical Care Medicine Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel Zur Feldman- Chairman. Holding years of experience in the high tech and VC industry in Israel and US. Sivan Tali CEO, holding vast experience in managing life science startup companies Mark Shahar Chief technology Officer, a serial entrepreneur, involved in the development of various devices targeting the respiratory system Contact Details Tali Sivan Mobile: 054-6833173 Email: sivant@technion.ac.il |
