Awardees Announced in Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids! Competition

Focused on pediatric cardiology, the chosen cohort of six innovators receive grants of $50,000 each.

Katie Hobbins, Managing Editor

October 16, 2024

4 Min Read
Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids! Awardees
Image courtesy of Children’s National Hospital

Children’s National Hospital yesterday announced the six pediatric cardiology medical technology innovators selected to received grants of $50,000 each in the “Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!” competition in Toronto, CA.

Presented by the Alliance for Pediatric Device Innovation (APDA), a nonprofit consortium led by Children’s national Hospital and funded through FDA, and Additional Ventures, a nonprofit focused on accelerating research progress and improving clinical care for those born with single ventricle heart defects, the competition was held in conjunction with the Symposium on Pediatric Device Innovation.

Totaling $300,000 in total grants, the six awardees were selected from a group of 10 finalists. The awardees include:

Bloom Standard

Bloom Standard

The company, based in Minneapolis, MN, was chosen for its autonomous, hands-free ultrasound technology. The ultrasound enables simple hands-free RAPID scans for earlier detection of heart or lung abnormalities in maternity, primary care, underserved, under-rescourced, humanitarian, and front-line health settings, according to its website. The device offers AI-driven onboard image interpretation, including “real time decision support, timely referrals, lifesaving interventions, [and] conservation of essential health resources,” according to Bloom Standard.

Compremium AG

Compremium AG

Based in Bern, Switzerland, this awardee was chosen because of its noninvasive central venous pressure estimation for pediatric patients. Currently boasting one FDA approved device that analyzes musculoskeletal conditions, called CPMX1, Compremium AG is currently investigating its CPMX2 device for noninvasive central venous pressure estimation of vascular conditions. The technology measures the relative change in the depth of a compartment when external pressure is applied, assessing pressure at the point of occlusion for any vessel of interest.

MIT

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Cambridge, MA based institute was chosen for its polymeric auxetic stent to treat pediatric aortic coarctation. In a research study dubbed the Polycoarct project, MIT — in collaboration with other institutions — designed and developed a new polymeric stent adapted to the arterial growth needs of children affected by aortic coarctation, reducing or avoiding new surgical interventions.

OxiWear

OxiWare

The Arlington, VA, company made the awardee list because of its home measurement technology of oxygen levels in pediatric congenital heart disease. The device is an ear-wearable continuous oxygen monitor and emergency alert accessory still in its investigative stage.

PyrAmes

PyrAmes Inc.

Based in Cupertino, CA, the company made the list for its improved, wearable, noninvasive pediatric blood pressure monitor. Called Boppli, the device is ideal for fragile neonatal infants in the NICU and provides an option for moderately and mildly sick patients who require continuous blood pressure measurements without the potential complications of an arterial line, according to its website.

Sibel Health

Sibel Health

The Chicago, IL, company was chosen because of its hospital-to-home monitoring for pediatric heart conditions. Its Anne One device is designed for fragile neonate skin and has lightweight sensors that offer comfort and unrestricted movement. The technology is designed with soft and gentle materials and the sensors ensure a soothing experience for pediatric patients. The device also comes with the Anne One App, called the Anne View App. Anne View is an FDA-cleared app that “leverages advanced wearable sensors to provide comprehensive continuous monitoring,” according to the website.

Along with the grant funding, awardees also gain access to support services and technical expertise provided by APDI and Additional Ventures in areas like engineering, regulatory, reimbursement, clinical trials study design, and data science services.

"Congratulations to our awardees, whose innovative technologies show great promise in advancing care for pediatric heart patients," said Kolaleh Eskandanian, PhD, MBA, vice president and chief innovation officer at Children's National and APDI program director and principal investigator, in the press release announcing the awardees. "We are thrilled to welcome this new cohort into our pediatric device accelerator, where they will have the opportunity to collaborate with clinician-scientists at Children's National and connect to Additional Ventures’ network. Along with these collaborations, the awardees will benefit from a full range of APDI wraparound services designed to support the development of devices specifically for pediatric patients, helping them navigate the complex path to market."

About the Author

Katie Hobbins

Managing Editor, MD+DI

Katie Hobbins is managing editor for MD+DI and joined the team in July 2022. She boasts multiple previous editorial roles in print and multimedia medical journalism, including dermatology, medical aesthetics, and pediatric medicine. She graduated from Cleveland State University in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and promotional communications. She enjoys yoga, hand embroidery, and anything DIY. You can reach her at [email protected].

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