Description du projet
Un nouvel appareil de détection des polypes auquel rien n’échappe
Le cancer colorectal est hautement évitable avec la détection et l’élimination des polypes, qui en sont les précurseurs. Cependant, la coloscopie — la méthode diagnostique la plus utilisée — ne détecte pas tous les polypes. Près de 22 % de ces polypes ne sont pas détectés, notamment à cause des limites visuelles de la caméra de coloscopie. Le projet MiWEndo, financé par l’UE, commercialisera un nouvel appareil bon marché conçu pour être fixé à l’extrémité d’un coloscope conventionnel. Fondé sur l’imagerie par micro‑ondes, il automatise la détection des polypes en émettant une alarme lorsqu’un polype est détecté. Il accroît en outre le champ de vision et est en mesure de différencier les polypes malins des polypes bénins, sans modifier la pratique clinique actuelle. D’ici la fin du projet, cet appareil aura obtenu le marquage CE ainsi que l’approbation de la FDA.
Objectif
Every year 1,4 million new cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) are diagnosed. Polyps and early-stage CRCs are usually asymptomatic or have symptoms that can be easily confused with other mild ailments. This cancer can be cured in more than 90% of cases if precancerous polyps are detected and removed. Colonoscopy is the most effective method to remove polyps in the entire colon. However, 8% of CRCs are diagnosed after a negative colonoscopy, and 22% of polyps are not detected due to visual limitations of the colonoscope camera. MiWEndo Solutions is a medical device startup focused on bringing innovative technologies to practical diagnosis of diseases related with tumor processes. Its first product is MiWEndo, a low cost and safe electromagnetic device designed to be attached to the tip of a conventional colonoscope. MiWEndo automatizes polyp detection emitting an alarm when a polyp is sensed, increases the field of view to 360º and provides quantitative differentiation between malignant and benign polyps without changing current clinical practice. Its core technology is based on microware imaging, and we have developed algorithms that can differentiate between healthy colon mucosa, cancer, and different histological types of polyps based on their dielectric properties. Our technology is protected with European patent EP3195786A1. After CRC detection, additional applications of our technology will include other bowel disorders. We have a financial need of 3,8 M€ between 2020 and 2023 (product launch). Of these, 1,5 M€ will be provided as a grant from the European Commission within the EIC Accelerator Program (2020-2022), corresponding to 70% of the project budget. At the end of the project MiWEndo will have reached TRL8, including a clinical validation in a clinical trial, and will have obtained CE mark and FDA approval prior to product launch in early markets.
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SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2Coordinateur
08021 Barcelona
Espagne
L’entreprise s’est définie comme une PME (petite et moyenne entreprise) au moment de la signature de la convention de subvention.