Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Finger Port (A non-invasive portable device that measures and tracks several physiological parameters in real-time to determine cardiovascular and health conditions)
Período documentado: 2018-12-01 hasta 2019-03-31
Elfi-Tech Ltd. was founded in 2006 in Israel, with the mission to become a leader in providing innovative sensing technology for monitoring cardiovascular (CV) conditions. The company is addressing this goal with the Finger Port, a novel mobile health platform for advanced personalized medicine at the tip of a finger. Step-by-step, Finger Port will be used to boost Elfi-Tech's growth in terms of targeted markets and beyond. Finger Port is a non-invasive, pocket size AI mobile health platform for real-time monitoring and collection of CV parameters. It captures blood flow characteristics from the tip of a finger, thanks to a patented optical sensing system, enclosed in a ring-shaped device.
The team is now working towards developing an upgraded Finger Port, increasing accuracy in detection of key CV parameters like continuous blood pressure, heart rate and pulse wave velocity. The key objectives of the development are to miniaturize the device, optimize the software to increase accuracy of extracted CV parameters and complete the optimisation of the data collection and management system including the user interface; transfer the production line to a Contract Manufacturing Organisation (CMO); execute a clinical validation, leading to CE Mark application; and finally, explore the reimbursement landscape across Europe to address the best approach for the most widespread market access.
The team is now working towards developing an upgraded Finger Port, increasing accuracy in detection of key CV parameters like continuous blood pressure, heart rate and pulse wave velocity. The key objectives of the development are to miniaturize the device, optimize the software to increase accuracy of extracted CV parameters and complete the optimisation of the data collection and management system including the user interface; transfer the production line to a Contract Manufacturing Organisation (CMO); execute a clinical validation, leading to CE Mark application; and finally, explore the reimbursement landscape across Europe to address the best approach for the most widespread market access.
Within the duration of the project, Elfi-Tech defined the users’ requirements for hardware and software implementation, defined the specifications and reviewed its development plan, and scouted for hospitals and Contract Manufacturer (CMO) to support in the validation and production stages. Also, the Company established contact with regulatory companies for preparing CE mark and reimbursement documentation. The market segments and opportunities were evaluated, defining the TAM and SAM. Elfi-Tech established a commercialisation strategy. The Phase 1 feasibility assessment has established that a development plan for Finger Port is technically and commercially viable, and that implementation of a commercialisation plan should be pursued. SME Instrument Phase 2 funding could provide the correct amount of funding and support to allow the stated activities to be implemented successfully
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number 1 cause of death with over 17.9 million deaths worldwide and over 3.9 million in Europe every year. Population aging (more than 22% of global population is above 65 years old), stressful lifestyle, smoking, alcohol, drug abuse, food disorders and physical inactivity are the major factors responsible for development of CVDs. As a result, ~30% of the global adult population is living with some form of CVDs including coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke and hypertension (high blood pressure (BP)).
The “Healthcare System challenge” is to find an intelligent and more effective way to enable CVDs monitoring and event prevention. In fact, specific preventive actions must be taken by healthcare systems in order to reduce such a high economic burden. Elfi-Tech addresses the challenge by guaranteeing timely and personalized treatment based on accurate and affordable, continuous, remote assessment of the patients’ cardiovascular conditions. For instance, in the case of high BP patients, this indication can be obtained only via daily measurements of the blood pressure. However, until now, physicians have only been able to accurately measure this parameter while the patient is at the hospital or at their offices, since daily home-based monitoring is often inaccurate.
The “Technological challenge” is to invent a safe method for taking accurate and continuous measurements of a set of cardiovascular parameters on a daily basis. Elfi-Tech’s concept has been to create a miniature, compact and wireless fingertip blood flow measurement device that can accurately transmit and track recorded data to an application available on PC, smartphone and tablet of both physicians and patients. Nowadays, existing solutions for CV monitoring present several drawbacks that reflect on healthcare systems and the people dealing with CVDs
The “Healthcare System challenge” is to find an intelligent and more effective way to enable CVDs monitoring and event prevention. In fact, specific preventive actions must be taken by healthcare systems in order to reduce such a high economic burden. Elfi-Tech addresses the challenge by guaranteeing timely and personalized treatment based on accurate and affordable, continuous, remote assessment of the patients’ cardiovascular conditions. For instance, in the case of high BP patients, this indication can be obtained only via daily measurements of the blood pressure. However, until now, physicians have only been able to accurately measure this parameter while the patient is at the hospital or at their offices, since daily home-based monitoring is often inaccurate.
The “Technological challenge” is to invent a safe method for taking accurate and continuous measurements of a set of cardiovascular parameters on a daily basis. Elfi-Tech’s concept has been to create a miniature, compact and wireless fingertip blood flow measurement device that can accurately transmit and track recorded data to an application available on PC, smartphone and tablet of both physicians and patients. Nowadays, existing solutions for CV monitoring present several drawbacks that reflect on healthcare systems and the people dealing with CVDs