Ohio State Startups - Medical Devices, Diagnostics & Imaging

Description: Adaptive Sensory Technology (AST) provides advanced, quantitative tools for clinicians to detect changes in functional vision. The company’s first product, the AST Manifold Platform, utilizes AST’s Quick Contrast Sensitivity Function algorithm to bring increased precision to vision assessment. This technology is expected to improve clinical research, clinical trials and the clinical practice for vision and eye health. The company is currently applying this platform technology to measuring contrast sensitivity deficits in low vision, age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and congenital and adult cataract disease.

Description: Bionymer Inc. is commercializing a sensor that uses a novel, electrochemical technique capable of capturing ions from a surrounding solution and providing a real-time electrical output directly related to the number of ions captured. The company’s initial product is a sensor that continuously monitors the sodium and potassium levels of hyponatremia and hyperkalemia patients and display the information to healthcare providers in real-time. Currently, clinicians do not have the tools to be able to make an accurate and timely diagnosis of these conditions, resulting in increased mortality. This technology will allow clinicians to actively intervene and potentially significantly improve the treatment and outcome for these patients.

Description: Capture Collective was formed to bring innovative biodosimetry solutions to the market, specifically focused on applications for national and global emergency response to nuclear radiation events. In March 2020, Capture expanded its mission to respond to the global coronavirus outbreak and developed optimized protocols, testing solutions and technology to address critical pandemic needs. Capture delivers customized, scalable, quality testing, vaccine verification and technology solutions to safeguard communities and manage a crisis. Capture is a trusted emergency preparedness partner helping to navigate the complexities of COVID-19, and has a proven track record serving Fortune 100 companies, Government Agencies, States, Cities, non-profits and international organizations.

Description: Capture Medical  was formed in tandem with Capture Collective. Capture Medical is focused on the use of the Radiation Biodosimetry Technology for medical center applications. Specifically, 40% to 60% of all cancer patients receive some sort of combined radiation treatment along with chemotherapy depending upon the type of cancer. The Capture Medical mission is to more accurately advance personalized medicine by creating accurate and patient-specific targeted radiation therapies and treatment plans by using the results from the radiation Biodosimiter to more accurately dose the radiation prescribed to each individual patient.

Description: Cogen is a biopharmaceutical company developing a tumor-antigen-directed platform of products for cancer-specific imaging and detection. The company’s imaging methods allow for pre- and post-operative imaging, along with intraoperative imaging for better detection of cancer during surgery to improve patient survival. Learn more about Cogen Bioscience in this video. 

Description: Core Quantum Technologies (CQT) develops nanoparticles for use in biomedical optics and imaging applications. CQT’s MultiDot technology is a nanotechnology-based platform consisting of semiconductor quantum dot nanoparticles encapsulated in polymer-based micelles. This product enables the user to continuously track tagged molecules with increased brightness and photostability compared to standard quantum dot technology.

Description: HDO Health is a medical device portfolio company dedicated to bringing life-saving technologies to the world that help prevent people from bleeding to death. The company's core values are to be heart-led, data-driven and outcome-focused. HDO Health aims to provide the world with the most effective, affordable and easy-to-use junctional tourniquet to help prevent people who have suffered a junctional wound from bleeding to death. The HDO Health Junctional Tourniquet (The Journiquet) is a novel, class II medical device that innovates on current junctional tourniquet products to stop bleeding more quickly and effectively in hard-to-reach and treat junctional regions.

Description: HuMed Life Sciences seeks to develop and commercialize a hybrid system of dental implants allowing for the delivery of therapeutics, stimulating bone growth and reducing patient costs.

Description: Entvantage Dx is commercializing a proprietary collection device and bacterial assay kit as a rapid, in-office diagnostic test for differentiating viral from bacterial sinusitis. The first-of-its-kind, class II diagnostic test kit will provide primary care and ENT physicians with a simple and accurate point-of-care test for sinusitis that takes 10 minutes to achieve results. The device has 16 issued patents in the US, Europe and Japan and four patents pending. Learn more about Entvantage Dx in this video. 

Description: IR Medtek’s primary care skin cancer diagnostic tool is based on infrared optics technology developed at Ohio State and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. The diagnostic tool is non-invasive, quick operating and easy to use. As a result, this diagnostic tool increases referral effectiveness by doctors, generates revenue for primary care facilities and reduces patient anxiety by eliminating both the diagnosis waiting times and lengthy referral process.

Description:  Lentechs is a privately-held, clinical-stage ophthalmic medical device company focused on developing a new generation of soft, suspended contact lens, with a platform of offerings to span the patient lifecycle. Its flagship contact lens platform, APIOC™ has a patented design that leverages a unique, anatomically inspired feature that allows for free, translational eye movement behind a rotationally stable lens. 

Description:  LiveFocus is developing an affordable scanner that turns a smartphone into a digital whole-slide scanning microscope, enabling pathologists to acquire and transmit whole-slide imaging (WSI) in a convenient, timely and affordable way. The LiveFocus™ whole-slide scanner utilizes an adaptive liquid lens technology to reduce the complexity, size and cost of WSI equipment. Using the combination of a smartphone for imaging and a disposable liquid lens for magnification reduces operational issues and maintenance cost by eliminating the need for replacement lens components or samples. In addition, the image acquisition is performed using personal smartphones in-situ, reducing the cost of microscope and camera.

Description: OcuDoc is a medical diagnostic software company with a primary software application that tests, records and transmits vision assessments, including eye alignment and auto refraction. An estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide need glasses, but currently lack access to vision care. The company’s proprietary smartphone app requires no additional hardware and provides access to efficient and affordable vision care.

Description: Pneumocool LLC offers a bladeless, personal cooling device to help treat patients with dyspnea, or shortness of breath. Dyspnea is a common symptom of patients with chronic respiratory disorders, congestive heart failure, respiratory infections, allergic reactions, anxiety and even pregnancy. Studies show that reducing dyspnea and avoiding intubation can cut hospital stays by nearly 50%. The advantages of this technology include that it is disposable, small, inexpensive and can easily be used by patients with limited dexterity or mobility.

Description: RegenFix LLC is developing devices to assist in the healing of damaged bones. Cancer, trauma, osteopenia and reconstructive surgery often result in bone resection. Current clinical methods rely on bone tissue transfer combined with metallic implants. These metallic components are stiffer than normal bone and can lead to changes in the tissue architecture resulting in implant failure. The company’s implants are made of NiTi (nitinol), which is biocompatible and provides a bone-like stiffness. The devices can be built through 3D printing to create cost-effective and patient-specific implants to improve skeletal surgery and joint replacement outcomes.

Description: S4 Medical is a medical device company focused on innovative solutions for cardiac procedures to treat atrial fibrillation (Afib). Afib is an irregular heartbeat affecting 30 million people worldwide. Catheter ablation is an effective treatment for Afib, but carries a risk of esophageal injury due to the close anatomical position of the heart and esophagus. The company’s initial product is a simple, yet comprehensive, solution for reducing complications to the esophagus during catheter ablation treatment for Afib, resulting in improved patient outcomes.

Description: SolitonReach is a system of drift-free motion capture sensors that performs inertial measurement sensing of functional movement and range of motion analysis. The company’s sensors are wireless and have a long battery life with negligible drift, making them useful for repeatable measurements in clinical and sports applications. The company is focused initially on developing sensors for total knee, partial knee and total hip replacement surgical applications. The SolitonReach sensors can be added to patient-specific implant kits, making outcomes of traditional knee replacement procedures more competitive with robotic outcomes at a significantly reduced cost. 

Description: Spirosure is developing devices using novel, breath-based analysis technology to diagnose and manage respiratory diseases. The company’s breath-analysis devices focus on providing cost-effective, non-invasive products to diagnose and manage chronic respiratory disease, such as asthma, COPD and chronic pulmonary hypertension. The company uses novel sensors, proprietary algorithms and consumer technology, enabling medical researchers to detect biomarkers in a patient’s breath to diagnose and monitor respiratory conditions. Spirosure aims to ultimately improve health outcomes through preventative healthcare.

Description: Spot Biosystems is a biotechnology company commercializing extracellular vesicle research conducted at Ohio State. The company’s first product to market is an exosome-based liquid biopsy platform for detection and treatment of cancer. In addition, Spot is developing a therapeutic suite of intellectual property around gene therapy for cancer treatment, which is currently being tested in pre-clinical models.

Description: TegoSens is building fluid detection devices for the early detection of fluid buildup in a patient’s chest cavity, primarily for the early detection of heart failure. The technology, developed by Drs. Bill Abraham and Emre Ertin, is non-invasive, easy to use and reliable, enabling point-of-care and at-home use to drive guideline-based therapies. This disruptive technology will accelerate market adoption of data-driven solutions for remote patient management, improve quality of life of these patients and add value to their care continuum while reducing the overall care cost.