The Biolapis heart monitor is a handheld computer device for screening cardiovascular disease, which achieves sensitivity currently available only in high-end imaging equipment, while maintaining the accessibility of a blood pressure monitor.
It offers general practitioners, clinicians, and cardiologists an affordable method to reliably diagnose and monitor cardiovascular risks. The test protocol is easy to conduct, does not require any other equipment, and can be done at point of care, using a non-invasive finger sensor. With a simple test that takes five minutes, a doctor can get immediate accurate information on the danger of cardiovascular complications.
The device has already attracted global attention by receiving a silver medal in the medical category at the 52nd Global Exhibition for Technological Innovation held in Belgium last year. Representatives of Israel’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor presented the device at the Israeli pavilion.
Since winning the medal, "I've been very busy," Dr. Nitzan Yaniv, who developed the device told Israel21c.com. Yaniv has been approached by several large corporations including a Korean delegation representing Samsung as well as Radio Shack. "Every cardiologist who has seen this device is excited by its potential," he said.
The device is currently undergoing tests at the Heart Unit of the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva. The tests focus on monitoring coronary diseases by registering changes in pulse, and compares to existing procedures the efficacy of the Biolapis heart monitor at identifying patients and predicting coronary complications.
The monitoring ability it offers is extremely valuable for monitoring and continued care for heart patients who have already had a heart attack or have had an angioplasty. Despite its simplicity, the test has been found to be more reliable than more complex and uncomfortable checks such as EKG stress tests.
Its attractiveness to the medical community is enhanced by its low cost. With costs a key consideration in medical care today, this device maintains the efficacy of premium diagnostic solutions, such as nuclear and ultrasound imaging.
After its use for monitoring current cardiac patients is established, its developers say that the device can be used to estimate the danger of the development of heart disease in healthy people, particularly those who suffer from risk factors such as high blood pressure or who are overweight, but don't yet know that they have heart disease.
The fact that the test is quick, easy, and comfortable, will make it an optimal screening device, and the fact that it is sophisticated and compact means that it will be possible to integrate it into devices such as cell phones. Negotiations are currently underway with Samsung to produce a new line of cell phones incorporating the new technology. A South Korean delegation from Samsung arrived in early December and has been monitoring the progress at Soroka Medical Center.
Biolapis has received financing by Office of the Chief Scientist of the government's Ministry of Industry and Trade and the founders, and is in various stages of due diligence by a number of financial and strategic investors. The government funding and investment by the founders allowed for the creation of a prototype that has been made that is currently undergoing clinical trials in hospitals.
Yaniv told Israel21c.com that once his device proves itself in Israel, the move to marketing it overseas should be exceptionally speedy. "We don't need FDA approval in the United States, because our device is not something new, it already exists but is used for other purposes. I believe that I could sell it tomorrow over the counter."
It offers general practitioners, clinicians, and cardiologists an affordable method to reliably diagnose and monitor cardiovascular risks. The test protocol is easy to conduct, does not require any other equipment, and can be done at point of care, using a non-invasive finger sensor. With a simple test that takes five minutes, a doctor can get immediate accurate information on the danger of cardiovascular complications.
The device has already attracted global attention by receiving a silver medal in the medical category at the 52nd Global Exhibition for Technological Innovation held in Belgium last year. Representatives of Israel’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor presented the device at the Israeli pavilion.
Since winning the medal, "I've been very busy," Dr. Nitzan Yaniv, who developed the device told Israel21c.com. Yaniv has been approached by several large corporations including a Korean delegation representing Samsung as well as Radio Shack. "Every cardiologist who has seen this device is excited by its potential," he said.
The device is currently undergoing tests at the Heart Unit of the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva. The tests focus on monitoring coronary diseases by registering changes in pulse, and compares to existing procedures the efficacy of the Biolapis heart monitor at identifying patients and predicting coronary complications.
The monitoring ability it offers is extremely valuable for monitoring and continued care for heart patients who have already had a heart attack or have had an angioplasty. Despite its simplicity, the test has been found to be more reliable than more complex and uncomfortable checks such as EKG stress tests.
Its attractiveness to the medical community is enhanced by its low cost. With costs a key consideration in medical care today, this device maintains the efficacy of premium diagnostic solutions, such as nuclear and ultrasound imaging.
After its use for monitoring current cardiac patients is established, its developers say that the device can be used to estimate the danger of the development of heart disease in healthy people, particularly those who suffer from risk factors such as high blood pressure or who are overweight, but don't yet know that they have heart disease.
The fact that the test is quick, easy, and comfortable, will make it an optimal screening device, and the fact that it is sophisticated and compact means that it will be possible to integrate it into devices such as cell phones. Negotiations are currently underway with Samsung to produce a new line of cell phones incorporating the new technology. A South Korean delegation from Samsung arrived in early December and has been monitoring the progress at Soroka Medical Center.
Biolapis has received financing by Office of the Chief Scientist of the government's Ministry of Industry and Trade and the founders, and is in various stages of due diligence by a number of financial and strategic investors. The government funding and investment by the founders allowed for the creation of a prototype that has been made that is currently undergoing clinical trials in hospitals.
Yaniv told Israel21c.com that once his device proves itself in Israel, the move to marketing it overseas should be exceptionally speedy. "We don't need FDA approval in the United States, because our device is not something new, it already exists but is used for other purposes. I believe that I could sell it tomorrow over the counter."