pulsify.medical | https://pulsify-medical.com monitoring technology Thu, 20 May 2021 14:23:00 +0000 nl-NL hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 Kanaal Z: Leuvense start-up werkt aan slimme echografiepleister https://pulsify-medical.com/uncategorized/kanaal-z-leuvense-start-up-werkt-aan-slimme-echografiepleister/ Thu, 20 May 2021 13:48:30 +0000 https://pulsify-medical.com/?p=1062

Pulsify Medical, een spin-off van de KULeuven en onderzoeksinstituut imec, haalt ruim 5 miljoen euro op voor het ontwikkelen van een revolutionaire pleister. Hartpatiënten zullen die op hun borstkas geplakt krijgen, om continu hun hartfunctie in de gaten te houden. Dus ook thuis, niet alleen in het ziekenhuis. Het is een huzarenstuk, want in de pleister zit een miniatuur-echografietoestel.

Video in de link hieronder:

Bron: https://kanaalz.knack.be/nieuws/leuvense-pulsify-medical-haalt-5-4-miljoen-euro-op-voor-ontwikkeling-hartpleister/video-normal-1732599.html

 

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Press release May 2021 https://pulsify-medical.com/uncategorized/press-release-april-2021/ Thu, 20 May 2021 12:57:15 +0000 https://pulsify-medical.com/?p=1055

Leuven, Belgium, 4 May, 2021

 

Pulsify Medical closes second round Series A funding of EUR 5.4 million for wearable ultrasound heart monitor patch

Pulsify Medical is developing wearable ultrasound patches to monitor vital human organs such as the heart. The company has announced the second closing of the Series A funding round with EUR 3.75 million in equity and EUR1.65 million as a non-dilutive grant.

 

Leuven, Belgium, 4 May 2021 – Pulsify Medical is a digital medical technology company developing wearable ultrasound patches which will monitor vital organs in real-time. The new and disruptive technology will address a serious unmet need for continuous cardiac monitoring in ICUs, hospitals, and homes across the world.

 

Today, the company announced the second closing of their first funding round, having raised an additional EUR 3.75 million in equity bringing the total of the series A to EUR 6.35 million. Investors in the first Series A closing imec.xpand, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven are joined by PMV, the Gemma Frisius Fund and imec. The company also secured a non-dilutive research grant of EUR 1.65 million from the Flanders Innovation and Entrepreneurship Administration (VLAIO).

 

Pulsify Medical continues to build on unique and IP-protected technology, combining imec’s unique flexible ultrasound transducer technology with KU Leuven’s world-class expertise in cardiac ultrasound imaging algorithms to build ‘the Smart Patch’.

 

The Smart Patch: changing lives of heart disease patients

Pulsify Medical aims to build a smart and flexible ‘Smart Patch’ containing thousands of sensors that monitor a variety of health parameters. The patch will be developed to reveal critical data about a patient’s cardiac health, such as changes in heart function. The information is relayed to both patients and physicians, in order to enable earlier medical intervention and prevention of an adverse cardiac event should an anomaly be detected.

 

Chris Japp, independent chairman of the Board of Directors: “Pulsify Medical has assembled an expert team with the mission of transforming cardiac healthcare through real-time remote ultrasound monitoring.  By combining new breakthroughs in ultrasound technology with the convenience and benefits of a wearable medical device, Pulsify Medical has the potential to significantly improve the lives of patients worldwide.”

 

Diane Lejeune, Business Manager, MedTech and eHealth, PMV: “Thanks to first-class technology and knowledge originating from Flemish strategic research centers, and a very experienced internal team, Pulsify Medical works on building products aiming to change the way heart function is being monitored, thereby improving care and allowing shorter hospital stays. We are convinced that such goals will have a tremendous impact in the ICUs and hospitals, not only in Flanders but worldwide, and are therefore delighted to join the group of investors supporting Pulsify Medical.”

 

Iwan van Vijfeijken, CEO of Pulsify Medical: “Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death globally. Continuous cardiac monitoring and early warnings can save lives and improve health outcomes, which is our biggest motivator at Pulsify Medical. I’m proud to say that we’ve made great progress since our start in 2019: the team has optimized the algorithms that analyze the enormous datasets obtained during monitoring, and the patch has been designed to accommodate patients’ mobility as much as possible while accurately monitoring cardiac performance. This creates valuable information for patients and doctors that can be used to keep patients safe.”

 

Steve Stoffels, VP Technology of Pulsify Medical: “Ultrasound technology produces images with inimitable details, revealing critical information about a patient’s health. However, ultrasound monitoring tools aren’t yet widely available in hospital ICU’s, let alone in ambulatory settings like the home. Pulsify Medical will change this, allowing for better monitoring of vital organs as well as an improved patient experience.”

 

About Pulsify Medical

Pulsify Medical is a digital medical technology company developing wearable ultrasound patches to monitor vital organs in real time. The company was founded in 2019 as a spin-off of both imec and KU Leuven (Medical Imaging Center). Pulsify Medical’s cardiac patch will be the first device to continuously and directly measure and monitor heart performance in real time in both a hospital and home setting. https://pulsify-medical.com/

 

About PMV

PMV is an investment company that shapes the economic future of Flanders by financing promising companies from the very start to growth and internationalization. With over EUR 1 billion in assets under management and led by experienced professionals, PMV offers tailor-made financial solutions for entrepreneurs with a solid business plan and a strong management team, including venture capital, loans and guarantees. More info about PMV can be found on www.pmv.eu.

 

About Gemma Frisius Fund

Gemma Frisius Fund (GFF) is a seed capital fund, established in 1997 as a joint venture between KU Leuven, KBC Bank and BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity. It combines the research and technology transfer expertise of the university with the financial and investment expertise of the two financial partners. GFF provides seed capital in the early development phases of innovative, research-based spin-off companies originating from all technology domains and provides support in their further growth process. For more information, please visit https://lrd.kuleuven.be/en/spinoff/gemma-frisius-fund

 

About VLAIO

The Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) is an organisation of the Flemish government for all entrepreneurs in Flanders. In 2016, the previously existing agencies Enterprise Flanders and the company-directed activities of IWT were merged into VLAIO. The research activities of IWT were taken over by the Flemish Research Council (FWO). The mission of VLAIO is to stimulate and support innovation and entrepreneurship and to contribute to a favourable business-climate in Flanders.
The activities of VLAIO comprise stimulating growth and innovation by financially supporting businesses through subsidies, inspiring entrepreneurship by collaborating with different parties that can guide SMEs with the (pre)start from growth until maturity or take-over; supporting clusters and enhancing environmental factors such as facilitating the development of business areas. www.vlaio.be

 

 About imec.xpand

Imec.xpand is an early stage and growth fund with a game-changing approach to turn hardware driven nanotechnology innovation into successful global companies. The fund is independently managed by a team of entrepreneurs, seasoned venture capitalists and business experts, and is targeting ambitious tech start-ups that meet all the criteria to become a successful, scalable ventures with the potential to change the world, and where imec knowledge, expertise and infrastructure can play a determining role in their success. For more information about imec.xpand, please visit www.imecxpand.com.

 

About imec

Imec is a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. The combination of their widely acclaimed leadership in microchip technology and profound software and ICT expertise is what makes them unique. By leveraging their world-class infrastructure and local and global ecosystem of partners across a multitude of industries, they create groundbreaking innovation in application domains such as healthcare, smart cities and mobility, logistics and manufacturing, energy and education.

As a trusted partner for companies, start-ups and universities they bring together more than 4,500 brilliant minds from almost 100 nationalities. Imec is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium and has distributed R&D groups at a number of Flemish universities, in the Netherlands, Taiwan, USA, and has offices in China, India and Japan. In 2020, imec’s revenue (P&L) totaled EUR 680 million. Further information on imec can be found at www.imec-int.com.

Imec is a registered trademark for the activities of IMEC International (a legal entity set up under Belgian law as a “stichting van openbaar nut”), imec Belgium (IMEC vzw supported by the Government of Flanders), imec the Netherlands (Stichting IMEC Nederland, part of Holst Centre which is supported by the Dutch Government), imec Taiwan (IMEC Taiwan Co.), imec China (IMEC Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.), imec India (Imec India Private Limited) and imec Florida (IMEC USA nanoelectronics design center). For more information about imec, please visit www.imec.be.

 

About KU Leuven

As the number one European university for innovation, KU Leuven actively invests in launching innovative technologies in the commercial market by creating spin-off companies, securing and licensing intellectual property, and collaborating with industry. KU Leuven supports researchers and students in transforming their innovative ideas and technologies into commercial products and services that impact people’s lives worldwide. As such, KU Leuven encourages young entrepreneurs to develop a solid business plan, to validate the market and build a coherent team. Since its creation in 1972, KU Leuven Research & Development has supported the creation and growth of 142 spin-off companies, directly employing more than 7,000 people. KU Leuven’s spin-off companies constitute a huge economic leverage for the Leuven region. In the period from 2005 to 2020, KU Leuven invested EUR 16.5 million in its spin-off companies, and EUR 1.2 billion of external capital was raised. 115 of KU Leuven’s spin-off companies, of which the first was established in 1979, are still active today. Many have an international leading position. Seven spin-off companies have had an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the stock exchange. Please visit lrd.kuleuven.be/en/spinoff for more information.

 

About University Hospital Leuven

University Hospital Leuven has nearly 2,000 beds, making it the largest university hospital in Belgium. Every day, more than 9,500 enthusiastic employees do their utmost to provide diverse and specialist patient care, and work continuously on improving and updating that care. The University Hospital Leuven’s strength lies in combining top quality patient care, excellent innovative scientific research and high-standing academic training.

 

For enquiries contact:

Mr. Iwan van Vijfeijken

CEO Pulsify Medical

iwan.vanvijfeijken@pulsify-med.com

www.pulsify-medical.com

M: +31 6 34275990

 

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Pulsify Medical to develop a wearable heart monitor patch https://pulsify-medical.com/uncategorized/pulsify-medical-to-develop-a-wearable-heart-monitor-patch/ Thu, 14 May 2020 09:44:43 +0000 https://pulsify-medical.com/?p=751

Pulsify Medical, a joint imec and KU Leuven spin-off, has closed a seed funding round of €2.6 million. The investment, led by imec.xpand and KU Leuven, will be used to develop a wearable ultrasound patch to non-invasively monitor organs like the heart.

Measuring a beating heart

When a patient is rushed into the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital, every second counts. One of the first things the medical staff will do is check the patient’s vital signs, such as their pulse, breathing and blood pressure. Obtaining a fast, accurate readout of physiological parameters can make the difference between life and death in emergency situations.

Along with basic heart rate and blood pressure, another important indicator of the heart’s performance is its cardiac output. This is a measure of the volume of blood being pumped by the heart, usually denoted in liters per minute (L/min).

Despite the importance of the measurement, current methods for obtaining the cardiac output come with serious drawbacks. For continuous monitoring, doctors can either insert a catheter intravenously, a risky and time-consuming procedure, or they can insert a probe via the esophagus, which is less invasive but highly uncomfortable for the patient.

The product we are developing… will be filling an unmet need in ICUs and hospitals across the world. – Iwan Van Vijfeijken, Pulsify Medical

Traditional ultrasound is a far less invasive alternative but doesn’t allow for continuous monitoring. It involves using a probe, the same way as when examining a fetus during pregnancy, meaning that a well trained professional needs to be present at all times, to position the probe and interpret the results. This method therefore is not practical in an emergency setting like the ICU.

A digital healthcare solution

There is clearly a need for a better heart monitoring option. This is where the Pulsify Medical patch can make a lifesaving difference. Iwan Van Vijfeijken, CEO of the start-up, explained:

“The product we are developing will allow doctors in ICUs to quickly attach a patch to the patient’s chest and continuously monitor their cardiac output. This disruptive technology will be filling an unmet need in ICUs and hospitals across the world.”

The Pulsify patch is simple enough in principle: the basis is an array of ultrasound transducers, each consisting of essentially a speaker and a microphone, contained in a patch roughly the size of a postcard. The soundwaves generated by the speaker penetrate the chest and reflect back from different tissues, including the heart muscle. The microphone then picks up the echoes and uses a set of algorithms to build up a 3D picture of the heart in action.

We need both the semi-conductor technology from imec and the smart software from KU Leuven. The combination of imec’s technology and KU Leuven’s expertise is a world first. – Steve Stoffels, Pulsify Medical

A calculation of the cardiac output can then be done, with a monitor displaying a simple numerical readout (like with blood pressure or heart rate) for the doctors. These algorithms are optimized to extract the critical physiological parameters, in the most efficient fashion, before presenting the output to the health care professionals in a succinct manner. The whole system is a perfect example of digitalization of healthcare.

Powered by a unique partnership

Deceptively simple, the Pulsify patch has nonetheless only been made possible through the collaboration between the high-tech powerhouse imec and imaging experts at KU Leuven. Though there are other big international players in the ultrasound space, such as Phillips and Siemens, the specific expertise and proprietary technology required to make this patch is unique to imec and KU Leuven.

Imec’s flexible ultrasonic transducer technology, originally conceived by Dr. Xavier Rottenberg, and patented chip technology are what enable the integration of the sound wave system of a small-scale ultrasound device into a flexible structure, such as the skin patch.

 For the first time, we will have access to long-term continuous monitoring data [for cardiac output]. I’m convinced that, over time, these data will be extremely valuable. – Iwan Van Vijfeijken, Pulsify Medical

One of the Pulsify’s founders, Professor Jan D’hooge (KU Leuven, University Hospitals Leuven) is world famous in the field of ultrasound imaging of the heart. The development of a smart algorithm to interpret ultrasound images of the heart and convert them into quantified parameters, was made possible thanks to D’hooge’s academic team. Cardiologist Lieven Herbots of the Jessa Hospital (Hasselt) is also working closely with Pulsify Medical on the clinical aspects.

Dr. Steve Stoffels, VP of Technology, elaborated on the synergy of the partnership:

“Imec and KU Leuven bring unique knowledge, competency and intellectual property that is needed to make this system work. We need both the semi-conductor technology from imec and the smart software from KU Leuven. The combination of imec’s technology and KU Leuven’s expertise is a world first.”

A range of applications

With proof of concept and their initial funding established, the next steps for Pulsify Medical will be to develop the technology further, before moving into product development and clinical validation with patients. Van Vijfeijken, who has over 25 years of experience in medtech and the life sciences, is expecting this to take a typical 3-4 years.

For more on medical devices, read this previous BioVox article on a lazer-based technology for diagnosing cardiovascular disease.

Although the primary application for the Pulsify patch is cardiac monitoring in the ICU, a wireless version of the patch is also being developed for patients in hospital wards and in a home setting. Furthermore, Van Vijfeijken hinted at a potential consumer application: the patch has the potential to improve training regimes for elite athletes who compete in endurance sports like cycling or marathon running.

Whether it is being used to save lives or improve athletic performance, Van Vijfeijken is convinced that the information being gathered by the patch will be invaluable for future cardiological research:

“This device will generate a lot of data that will be very interesting for the medical and scientific community. For the first time, we will have access to long-term continuous monitoring data. I’m convinced that, over time, these data will be extremely valuable.”

Of course, the number one priority is improving conditions in ICUs, where the Pulsify patch will undoubtedly save lives.

Header Image: Standing (left to right): Dr. Xavier Rottenberg, Scientific Director at imec, Mr. Iwan van Vijfeijken (CEO at Pulsify Medical), Prof. Jan D’hooge (KU Leuven, University Hospitals Leuven). Kneeling (left to right): Dr. Steve Stoffels (VP Technology at Pulsify Medical), Dr. Lieven Herbots (Jessa Hospital, University Hospital Leuven). Courtesy of Pulsify Medical.

Source: https://biovox.eu/pulsify-medical-to-develop-a-wearable-heart-monitor-patch/

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HLN: Leuvense spin-off Pulsify Medical haalt 2,6 miljoen euro op. https://pulsify-medical.com/uncategorized/leuvense-spin-off-pulsify-medical-haalt-26-miljoen-euro-op-slimme-pleister-gaat-levens-redden-zegt-xavier-rottenberg-van-imec/ Mon, 14 Oct 2019 12:00:56 +0000 https://pulsify-medical.com/?p=576 Een pleister die je leven kan redden…Het lijkt science fiction maar dankzij de Leuvense spin-off Pulsify Medical wordt het realiteit. Zopas haalde het bedrijf 2,6 miljoen euro op voor de ontwikkeling van een slimme pleister die je vitale functies opvolgt, thuis of in het ziekenhuis. “Als de prestaties van het hart veranderen, zal de arts een signaal ontvangen zodat die kan interveniëren”, zegt CEO Iwan van Vijfeijken.

In Europa lijden ongeveer 70 miljoen mensen aan hart- en vaatziekten waarvan 15% elk jaar naar het ziekenhuis moet voor één of andere behandeling. Kostelijke zaak maar wat als je geen gespecialiseerde artsen meer moet inzetten voor elk onderzoek? Met die vraag ging Pulsify Medical, een spin-off van imec en KU Leuven, aan de slag. Zopas haalde het bedrijf dat in juni 2019 werd opgericht 2,6 miljoen euro op voor de ontwikkeling van een zogenaamde ultrasone pleisters. Of in eenvoudig Nederlands: een slimme pleister die via de huid de vitale functies van de patiënt kan opvolgen. Imec.xpand en KU Leuven namen het voortouw in deze investering in samenwerking met UZ Leuven. Als spin-off zal Pulsify Medical verder bouwen op de unieke technologie van beide onderzoeksinstellingen.

Intensieve zorg

“Onze ambitie is een doorbraak in ultrasone medische beeldvorming”, zegt CEO Iwan van Vijfeijken. “Accurate opvolging van het hart zal de medische praktijk in afdelingen voor intensieve zorg in ziekenhuizen veranderen. Met behulp van onze technologie kunnen we de belangrijkste gezondheidsindicatoren van patiënten volgen in het ziekenhuis en thuis, zonder zeer gespecialiseerde medici te moeten inzetten om de resultaten uit te lezen en te interpreteren. Als de prestaties van het hart van de patiënt veranderen, zal de arts een signaal ontvangen zodat die kan ingrijpen.”

“We zullen de levenskwaliteit verbeteren en een korter verblijf in het ziekenhuis mogelijk maken. Het gaat ook levens redden”

Xavier Rottenberg, wetenschappelijk directeur bij imec

Xavier Rottenberg, wetenschappelijk directeur bij imec, gelooft enorm in het nut van ultrasone beeldvorming in de medische wereld. “Ultrasone beeldvorming is een veilige techniek om gedetailleerde beelden te krijgen en verschaft belangrijke informatie over de gezondheid van de patiënt. De technologie is momenteel niet breed beschikbaar voor monitoring in afdelingen voor intensieve zorg, laat staan voor ambulante zorg buiten het ziekenhuis. Pulsify Medical zal hier verandering in brengen. We zullen de levenskwaliteit verbeteren door achteruitgang van de gezondheid te voorkomen en een korter verblijf in het ziekenhuis mogelijk maken. Het gaat ook levens redden.”

Andere toepassingen

Frank Bulens, partner bij imec.xpand, is het daar volmondig mee eens. “Wij zijn trots dat we een uitmuntend team konden samenstellen om deze slimme draadloze pleisters te ontwikkelen voor een accurate opvolging van vitale functies van het menselijk lichaam. Dit creëert nieuwe mogelijkheden in het ziekenhuis en in de thuisomgeving die vandaag de dag nog niet bestaan.” Volgens professor Jan D’hooge van de KU Leuven en UZ Leuven zal de pleister van Pulsify Medical in de toekomst ook andere medische problemen kunnen monitoren. “Pulsify Medical’s product zal ook nieuwe ultrasone toepassingen mogelijk maken die verder gaan dan de diagnose van de hartfuncties”, klinkt het hoopvol. 

Bron: https://www.hln.be/in-de-buurt/leuven/leuvense-spin-off-pulsify-medical-haalt-2-6-miljoen-euro-op-slimme-pleister-gaat-levens-redden-zegt-xavier-rottenberg-van-imec~a4efd6a0/?referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

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De Tijd: Leuvense start-up werkt aan slimme echografiepleister https://pulsify-medical.com/uncategorized/leuvense-start-up-werkt-aan-slimme-echografiepleister/ Sat, 12 Oct 2019 12:00:05 +0000 https://pulsify-medical.com/?p=586

De nieuwe Leuvense spin-off Pulsify Medical werkt aan een wereldprimeur: een in een pleister ingebouwd slim echografietoestel. Pulsify krijgt van Imec.xpand, de KU Leuven en het UZ Leuven een startkapitaal mee van 2,6 miljoen euro.

Imec, het Leuvense onderzoeks- en innovatiecentrum rond nano-elektronica en digitale technologie, geniet wereldfaam. Eén van de vele specialisaties waarmee Imec vooroploopt, is flexibele ultrasone omvormertechnologie, oorspronkelijk bedacht door dr. Xavier Rottenberg, wetenschappelijk directeur van imecDat is gepatenteerde chiptechnologie om het geluidsgolvensysteem van een echografietoestel in het klein en kostenefficiënt in te bouwen in een flexibele structuur, zoals een pleister die op de huid kan worden aangebracht.

Die innovatie ligt mee aan de basis van het medisch-technologische product waaraan Pulsify Medical werkt. De spin-off van Imec en het UZ Leuven werd in juni in stilte opgericht. Een van de grondleggers is professor Jan D’hooge van het universitaire ziekenhuis die ook wereldfaam geniet, op het vlak van ultrasone beeldvorming van het hart. Het team van D’hooge ontwikkelde bijvoorbeeld een slim algoritme om echobeelden van het hart te interpreteren en om te zetten in becijferde parameters. Cardioloog Lieven Herbots van het Jessa Ziekenhuis (Hasselt) werkt ook nauw samen met  Pulsify, om de klinische aspecten te benadrukken.

Intensieve zorgen

Pulsify Medical gaat nu de hardware van Imec en de software van het UZ Leuven combineren voor zijn ultrasone pleister. Die kan in een eerste fase worden gebruikt in de afdeling intensieve zorgen van een ziekenhuis om patiënten met hartproblemen te monitoren.Er is geen enkel instrument om continu de pompprestaties van het hart te volgen. Onze pleister moet dat gat in de markt afdekken.

‘Het is van belang, soms van levensbelang, dat artsen bij problemen snel weten of het hart nog wel goed pompt. Er zijn wel hulpmiddelen om dat acuut te meten, maar er is geen enkel instrument om continu de pompprestaties van het hart te volgen. Onze pleister moet dat gat in de markt afdekken’, zegt Iwan van Vijfeijken, de CEO van Pulsify Medical die een ruime ervaring heeft, onder meer in de sector van de medische apparaten.

Productievolume

‘De pleister zal werken met beelden als basis, maar de software haalt daar cijfers uit over de cardiac output, het productievolume van het hart, waardoor de arts meteen de juiste informatie heeft. We willen evolueren van een diagnose- naar een monitoringtool die bovendien kan waarschuwen als er iets mis is’, vult dr. Steve Stoffels van Imec aan, een van de medeoprichters en de technologiedirecteur van Pulsify. We willen evolueren van een diagnose- naar een monitoringtool die bovendien kan waarschuwen als er iets mis is.

Dat heeft tal van voordelen. Niet het minst het redden van levens. Voorts kunnen ziekenhuisverblijven op termijn worden ingekort en zal het minder nodig zijn om topmedici in te zetten die de meetresultaten moeten uitlezen en interpreteren. Een bijkomende troef is dat de ultrasone technologie veilig is en de pleister niet-invasief. Het is voor de metingen dus niet nodig het lichaam binnen te dringen.

Commercieel product

Er zullen wel nog meerdere jaren overheen gaan voor het zover is. ‘We moeten het product eerst verder ontwikkelen. Dan volgen testen in een veilige omgeving. Pas daarna kunnen we met een commercieel product de markt opgaan’, zegt van Vijfeijken.

De mensen achter Pulsify Medical. Vlnr Xavier Rottenberg (Imec), Jan D’hooge (UZ Leuven), Steve Stoffels (Imec, technologiedirecteur Pulsify), Lieven Herbots (Jessa Ziekenhuis) en CEO Iwan van Vijfeijken.

Pulsify Medical heeft geen weet van vergelijkbare technologie, ook niet na uitgebreid onderzoek. Er zijn wel bijvoorbeeld pleisters die de bloeddruk meten. ‘Maar dat is eenvoudiger. Hier gaat het om het hart en vooral om de hartkamer die de pompbeweging moet maken’, zegt Stoffels.

Draadloos

De pleister zal mogelijk relatief klein worden, bijvoorbeeld 10 op 10 centimeter. In de eerste fase ligt de klemtoon op hartmetingen in de afdeling intensieve zorgen. Vandaar dat de eerste pleisters nog niet draadloos zullen zijn omdat de patiënten daar aan meerdere toestellen hangen. Maar in een volgend stadium is het wel de bedoeling dat ze dat worden. ‘Later kunnen we de technologie ook inzetten voor andere organen en voor ambulant of thuisgebruik, zelfs bij atleten en duursporters’, zegt van Vijfeijken.

Pulsify Medical heeft net zijn eerste financieringsronde van 2,6 miljoen euro achter de rug. Het geld komt vooral van Imec.xpand, het aan Imec gelieerde investeringsfonds en de KU Leuven. Maar ook het UZ Leuven, een onderdeel van de universiteit, brengt geld aan. De juiste verdeling tussen de drie financiers wordt niet bekendgemaakt. 

Bron: https://www.tijd.be/tech-media/wetenschap/leuvense-start-up-werkt-aan-slimme-echografiepleister/10171324.html?openGallery=0-0

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Press release October 2019 https://pulsify-medical.com/uncategorized/press-release/ Sat, 12 Oct 2019 10:00:35 +0000 http://pulsify-medical.com/?p=1

Leuven, Belgium, 12 October, 2019

 

Pulsify Medical, a joint imec and KU Leuven spin-off, closes first-round funding, led by imec.xpand

 

Pulsify Medical will develop wearable ultrasound patches for non-invasive, real time monitoring of physiological parameters inside the body

Leuven, Belgium, 12 October, 2019. Pulsify Medical, a digital medical technology company focused on the development of wearable ultrasound patches, announced the first closing of its seed funding round, raising € 2.6 million euro. Imec.xpand and KU Leuven led the investment together and were joined by University Hospitals Leuven.

As a spin-off of imec and KU Leuven, Pulsify Medical will build on the unique and IP-protected technology of both research institutes: on the one hand, imec’s unique flexible ultrasound transducer technology and design know-how for transducers, thin film transistors and system architecture, and on the other hand, KU Leuven’s world-class expertise in cardiac ultrasound imaging.

Pulsify Medical was founded as Carpatchiot B.V. in June 2019 by professor Jan D’hooge (KU Leuven, University Hospitals Leuven), dr. Lieven Herbots (Jesse Hospital, University Hospitals Leuven), dr. ir. Xavier Rottenberg (imec) and dr. ir. Steve Stoffels (imec). Iwan Van Vijfeijken and Chris Japp are joining as CEO and independent Chairman of the Board, respectively.

Pulsify Medical brings together a very seasoned and experienced leadership team. Mr. Chris Japp, independent Chairman of the Board, is a 30 year veteran of the medical device industry, having worked around the world at large healthcare companies such as GE, Boston Scientific, Pentax Medical, and Hitachi Medical in senior leadership capacities. He has also served on several company boards, and has a successful track record in early and mid stage company development. Chris also has extensive experience in ultrasound technology, products, and solutions in multiple clinical areas, particularly in cardiac applications. He is currently the CEO and Managing Director of Keeler Ltd, based in the UK.
Mr. Iwan van Vijfeijken, CEO, has over 25 years of professional experience in a very broad set of industries including MedTech & Life Sciences, Semiconductors and Electronics. He has led several medical device companies, including start-ups.
Mr. Steve Stoffels is VP Technology, with over 15 years’ experience in researching and developing cutting edge micro-technologies. He has extensive experience both in the field of micro-mechanics as well as semiconductors, bringing new concepts from incubation in the lab to manufacturable technologies in the fab.

Iwan van Vijfeijken, CEO of Pulsify Medical, said: “We envision a breakthrough in ultrasound-based medical imaging. Accurate and non-invasive cardiac monitoring will change current practice at intensive care units. In Europe, approximately 70 million people suffer from cardiovascular diseases of which each year 15% are hospitalized. Our technology will follow patients’ basic health parameters all over the hospital and at home, without requiring the intervention of specially trained individuals to obtain and interpret results. Changes in the functioning of the heart will be signaled, allowing doctors to intervene.”

Xavier Rottenberg, Scientific Director at imec stated: “Ultrasound imaging is a safe technique to produce images with exquisite details revealing critical information on a patient’s health. However, it isn’t yet widely available as a monitoring tool in intensive care units, let alone in ambulatory settings. Pulsify Medical will change this. We will improve life quality, by preventing adverse events and allowing shorter hospital stays, and we will even save lives.”

Frank Bulens, Partner at imec.xpand, added: “We are extremely pleased to have a stellar team in place to develop a smart device for accurate, continuous monitoring of vital functions of the human body non-invasively and wirelessly, and hence generate opportunities in the hospital and home setting which do not exist today.”

Professor Jan D’hooge, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, concluded: “Pulsify Medical will integrate and mature state-of-the-art technologies from two world-class Leuven-based research institutes. The technology platform provided by KU Leuven is based on over ten years of research and has extensively been tested at University Hospitals Leuven. Pulsify Medical’s product will open up new application domains for ultrasound that go well beyond cardiac diagnostics.”

 

About imec.xpand

Imec.xpand is an early stage and growth fund with a game-changing approach to turn hardware driven nanotechnology innovation into successful global companies. The fund is independently managed by a team of entrepreneurs, seasoned venture capitalists and business experts and is targeting ambitious tech start-ups that meet all the criteria to become a successful, scalable venture with the potential to change the world and where imec knowledge, expertise and infrastructure can play a determining role in their success. For more information about imec.xpand, please visit www.imecxpand.com.

 

About imec

Imec is a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. The combination of our widely acclaimed leadership in microchip technology and profound software and ICT expertise is what makes us unique. By leveraging our world-class infrastructure and local and global ecosystem of partners across a multitude of industries, we create groundbreaking innovation in application domains such as healthcare, smart cities and mobility, logistics and manufacturing, energy and education.

As a trusted partner for companies, start-ups and universities we bring together more than 4,000 brilliant minds from over 97 nationalities. Imec is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium and has distributed R&D groups at a number of Flemish universities, in the Netherlands, Taiwan, USA, and offices in China, India and Japan. In 2018, imec’s revenue (P&L) totaled 583 million euro. Further information on imec can be found at www.imec-int.com.

Imec is a registered trademark for the activities of IMEC International (a legal entity set up under Belgian law as a “stichting van openbaar nut”), imec Belgium (IMEC vzw supported by the Government of Flanders), imec the Netherlands (Stichting IMEC Nederland, part of Holst Centre which is supported by the Dutch Government), imec Taiwan (IMEC Taiwan Co.), imec China (IMEC Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.), imec India (Imec India Private Limited) and imec Florida (IMEC USA nanoelectronics design center).

 

About KU Leuven

As the number one European university for innovation, KU Leuven actively invests in launching innovative technologies in the commercial market by creating spin-off companies, securing and licensing intellectual property, and collaborating with industry. KU Leuven supports researchers and students in transforming their innovative ideas and technologies into commercial products and services that impact people’s lives worldwide. As such, KU Leuven encourages young entrepreneurs to develop a solid business plan, to validate the market and build a coherent team. Since its creation in 1972, KU Leuven Research & Development has supported the creation and growth of 128 spin-off companies, directly employing more than 6,700 people. KU Leuven’s spin-off companies constitute a huge economic leverage for the Leuven region. In the period from 2005 to 2018, KU Leuven invested € 12.5 million in its spin-off companies, and € 1 billion of external capital was raised. 103 of KU Leuven’s spin-off companies, of which the first was established in 1979, are still active today. Many have an international leading position. Seven spin-off companies have had an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the stock exchange. Check out https://lrd.kuleuven.be/en/spinoff for more information.

 

About University Hospitals Leuven

University Hospitals Leuven has nearly 2,000 beds, making it the largest university hospital in Belgium. Every day, more than 9,500 enthusiastic employees do their utmost to provide diverse and specialist patient care and work continuously on improving and updating that care. The University Hospitals Leuven’s strength lies in combining top quality patient care, excellent innovative scientific research and high-standing academic training.

 

For enquiries contact:

Mr. Iwan van Vijfeijken
CEO Pulsify Medical
iwan.vanvijfeijken@pulsify-med.com
www.pulsify-medical.com
M: +31-(0)6-34275990

 

 

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