IKC Annual Review 2016 1 | Page 13

ANNUAL REVIEW | 2016 | 13 COMPANION TECHNOLOGIES IAP device to assist keyhole surgery The intra-abdominal platform (IAP), a device to assist keyhole surgery in the abdomen, enables surgeons to grasp and retract tissues within the operating site, minimising the need for assistants. Originally funded with an IKC proof of concept grant and led by surgeon Professor David Jayne from the University of Leeds and Dr Pete Culmer from the University’s School of Mechanical Engineering, IAP secured £0.5m from the NIHR’s i4i scheme in 2015, which aims to take proof of concept projects through to market. The team has been working with product design consultancy, Pd-m, to Creavo launches from quantum spin-out A former spin-out company, set up at the University of Leeds, has flourished into a multi-award winning medical technology company, securing nearly £5m investment in the past 12 months. Creavo Medical Technologies, previously known as Quantum Imaging, was set up to develop and commercialise diagnostic technology that could revolutionise the way the NHS diagnoses patients with suspected heart-related problems. The underpinning technology was developed with funding and professional support from the Medical Technologies IKC. Creavo has now recruited 15 staff and opened a 5000 sq ft commercial facility in the Midlands – as well as being recognised in three national awards. “Creavo is growing pretty rapidly now and we’ve made a definite transition from being a quantum physics company working in healthcare to a fully credible rationalise the prototype design, with input from a clinical advisory group of surgeons and clinicians and a ‘box trainer’ has been produced to demonstrate the device. For commercial feasibility purposes, IAP’s initial prototype design concept has progressed from a complex-structured, stainless steel, reusable device to a streamlined single-use, injection moulded polymer device which can support the weight of the retracted tissues – and crucially, is much cheaper to manufacture. “With Health Economics and manufacturing cost reports completed, we’ve had significant commercial interest,” says Dr Culmer. “We’re supporting licensing opportunities with extended testing with cadaveric models and surgical users and producing technical documentation to secure regulatory approval.” healthcare company,” says CEO Steve Parker. The company is set to trial its first device, Vitalscan, in a 750-strong patient study, carried out across the UK’s foremost emergency department research sites. A multi-centre US study will follow, which will provide the basis for the company to launch the scanner into the market. Further recruitment is planned during 2016 and 2017 and the company is also developing a second commercial line for the scanner, for use in cardiology departments to support research into cardiac arrhythmia. n