Consumer Health & Technology

Texting to Save Children's Hearts & Lives

2010-08-30T09:24:00.000-04:00

The Pediatric Heart Transplant Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital is partnering with CareSpeak Communications to bring mHealth (mobile health) to its teenage heart transplant patients and their families. The CareSpeak system uses 2-way text messaging to ensure patients take their medications on time and as prescribed, significantly decreasing the likelihood of organ rejection due to medication non-adherence. The system's efficacy was demonstrated in research published in the November 2009 issues of Pediatrics. Read Press Release

New York Times Press Coverage About CareSpeak and Mt. Sinai work on compliance

2009-11-12T17:37:00.002-05:00

Last week the New York Times Health on-line publication wrote an article about the work CareSpeak has been doing with the Mt. Sinai Medical Center's pediatric liver transplant patients. Read more here

Mobile Phone Application For Juvenile Diabetes Monitoring

2009-07-11T21:09:00.011-04:00

About a year ago my neighbor was telling me how frustrating it is for her to call her 12 year old diabetic son 5 to 6 times per day on his cell phone to check his Blood Glucose Levels (BGL), and how annoyed he gets with her calls. She also talked about how uncomfortable her son would feel when the nurse would pull him from class to measure his BGL. That conversation sparked the idea of expanding CareSpeak's 2-way text messaging platform to help parents like her manager her child's Type-1 Diabetes --- DiabeText was born!

After more then a year of work I am happy to announce that DiabeText public beta has launched. DiabeText is like an "Intelligent Logbook" on your cell phone that makes it easy to track glucose, insulin and carbs using simple text messaging. It works on any cell phone, with any carrier, anytime, anywhere. All recorded values are automatically forwarded to any cell phone and charted on an on-line account. If you already subscribe to an unlimited text-message plan with your carrier, you will not incur any additional charges using DiabeText.

Please spread the word about DiabeText to anyone who you think might benefit from using it. Although it has initially been designed with children in mind, it can also be used by adults.

Please note that graph function in MyDiabeText dashboard only works on the following browsers: Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome. Internet Explorer should be available shortly.

Thank you so very much for your interest and for spreading the word!

Try DiabeText beta by clicking here.

Liver disease: Better monitoring, better prognosis

2009-06-01T21:34:00.001-04:00

Liver disease: Better monitoring, better prognosis

Shared via AddThis

Mt. Sinai Study Follow up

2009-02-16T16:40:00.002-05:00

I apologize for being off-line for so long, but I am done with all my 2008 consulting projects so I can get back to my passion of mobile health care.

We completed the Mt. Sinai study that I wrote about earlier and we've had some fantastic results. Fourty one (41) pediatric liver transplant patients who had very poor compliance were signed up our MediM AS system for nearly a year, and we compared the data to the 12 month period prior the study. In the period prior to the study 12 out of the 41 patients had an episode of organ rejection due to non-compliance. In the 9 to 12 month period during the study only 2 episodes were recorded!!! To read the abstract of the study click here.

MediM Significantly Improves Medication Compliance

2008-09-25T09:01:00.016-04:00

Mt. Sinai Medical Center's pediatric GI department located in New York City recently published the 6 month results of a clinical study conducted with liver transplant patients using MediM AS communications platform provided by CareSpeak Communications.

Liver transplant patients have to take immuno-suppressant medication for the rest of their livers in order to ensure the body does not reject the transplanted organ. A group of patients with low compliance was entered into the study. Each patient received daily text messages with reminders and instructions to take their medications. In case the patients didn't confirm intake via a return text message, a caregiver (usually parent) would be notified via text messaging so they could intervene. Patients monthly blood work was checked for medication levels. Initial 6 month results show that compliance improved by more then double.

Final study results will be presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) conference in San Francisco (October 31 to November 4th).

[DOWNLOAD STUDY ABSTRACT]

CareSpeak Communications, Inc. is the developer of the MediM Adherence System which uses text messaging (SMS) to help patients, caregivers and health care professionals ensure proper compliance with complex medication regiments.

T+ (Think Positive) Diabetes

2007-05-10T21:28:00.000-04:00

What they do…

Think Positive Diabetes Wireless is a UK based company that has a put together what I think appears to be the most comprehensive solution for diabetes management in the convergence space.

How they do it…

The think positive diabetes management system equipment includes a mobile phone, a OneTouch® Ultra® meter and depending on model of mobile phone, a BlueTooth TM cradle or a data cable.

As soon as the reading is taken, your phone gives you immediate feedback on your recent measurements as a bar chart or a scatter graph. The color coded graphs easily show you whether or not your readings are falling within your personal blood glucose targets. Simultaneously, your latest reading is sent to the server for secure storage along with all your previous readings.

As a subscriber to the think positive diabetes management system you will receive monthly printed reports as well as being able to access your own secure web page. The printed reports and your web page contain detailed graphs, similar to those you receive on your phone and will provide you with information on all your past readings and diary information.

How it’s different…

T+ has done a few things right in my mind…

Graphic reports appear to be easy to use and intuitive both on the phone and on-line (although it’s hard to know how user-friendly they are compared to others unless you can test drive them all).
Direct access to a live person, health care professional (nurse in this case) who is specialized in diabetes management and education (I assume).
Ability to give access to reports to caregiver(s), whether it’s healthcare professional or family member
Ability to re-order supplies directly from the retail pharmacy provides an added benefit in terms of convenience, and could lead to other benefits such as loyalty point, etc.

Business model…

It is not clear to me from their web site who pays for this service, i.e. if it’s the end user or insurance company or a combination of both.

Potential positives…

Compared to some of the other services, T+ has two things that stand out for me:

· First, the ability to talk to a live person is a huge benefit because technology will never be able to replace the ‘human touch’ assuming the customer service quality is outstanding.

· Second, a direct tie-in with a retail pharmacy provides additional benefits in terms of convenience and through different innovative promotional vehicles it could also bring financial benefits to users in the form of loyalty points, discounts, etc.

Potential negatives…

· I am still a bit concerned with the potential complexity of pairing a blue tooth device. I do not think that blue tooth has gotten to the point where it’s truly seamless.

· As with other java based applications for cell phones I am concerned with the ability to scale the service given that the application has to be ported to each device. It takes time and it’s expensive.

· Last but not least, I am concerned with GPRS applications because of lack of wide coverage. This however might be more of a problem in the US then in Europe.

Additional thoughts…

· I noticed that the web site offers a Turkish and Arabic language version of the web site, which could potentially mean that this service is available in some Middle Easter countries.

· The company seems to have a relationship with Johnson & Johnson’s Life Scan division which makes blood glucose meters.

Investors… No information available

Discussion…

Please tell us what you think in the comments section below

Body Tel [diabetes]

2007-04-05T09:35:00.000-04:00

What they do…

BodyTel Scientific is a publicly traded US company that develops and markets wireless health care products. Their flagship product is the GlucoTel, a diabetes monitoring & management system. GlucoTel is also working on blood pressure and weight management applications.

How they do it…

· The GlucoTel system consisting of a Bluetooth enabled glucose meter that automatically transmits the results of a blood glucose test using a patient’s cell phone. From there the information gets transmitted to a secure website that can be accessed by the patient and/or health care provider/caregiver to analyze and recommend treatment.

· The user can enter additional information (e.g., weight, meals, workouts, etc.) directly into the cell phone, which allows for multi-dimensional “picture” of how the user is managing their diabetes affected lifestyle.

· It is my understanding that there are 3 parts to this system:

Glucose meter
Java based application on cell phone
Web based reporting and feedback system

· It appears that their web site has networking capabilities build into it which could lead to “virtual support groups”.

How it’s different…

There are a few companies we can compare BodyTel to:

· Compared to WellDoc, which has entered into a partnership with J&J’s LifeScan division (makes blood glucose meters) for the hardware, BodyTel has developed their own meter, making them both a hardware and software player.

· Compared to HealthPia which has achieved full convergence by incorporating the glucose meter into the phone, the user needs 2 devices.

Business model…

· The company is still in a pre-revenue stage and it’s not entirely clear what their business model is going to be.

Potential positives…

· I like the fact that the data transfer can be achieved by both GPRS and SMS. This gives a wider coverage especially in areas where GPRS is still not present, and also allows people who are not on a data plan for GPRS to use this with SMS.

· I also like the fact that they are giving users the opportunity to track all the key behaviors around diabetes such as nutrition and exercise.

Potential negatives…

· I would like to see them incorporate a medication management component to this solution as diabetics frequently are on other medication too (e.g. hypertension).

· The company is still in it’s development stage so it’s unclear what their business model is going to be, however, one of the obstacles that I see is going to be the need to port their java application for every phone model they want it to work on.

Investors…

· Over the Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) under Stock Symbol: BDYT

*Source: Company website

WellDoc [diabetes]

2007-03-15T11:59:00.000-04:00

What they do…
from the company web site… WellDoc Communications is an endocrinologist owned and operated diabetes management company. We are leading the development and implementation of innovative technology solutions for the management of diabetes and revolutionizing the way diabetes is treated to close currently existing quality of care gaps. WellDoc is closing the gaps by simplifying data collection and analysis, providing continual motivation and feedback, and improving patient-physician communication. Our solution gives patients more control over their health, provides physicians with time saving tools, and reduces systematic health care costs.*

WellDoc is currently conducting a pilot study in the Baltimore area.

How they do it…

· WellDoc has developed a software solution that runs on cell phones. It uses the cell phone’s wireless Bluetooth connectivity to exchange data with a Bluetooth enabled blood glucose meter.

How it’s different…

· WellDoc’s application appears to be very comprehensive in that it not only record and track the blood glucose meter readings, but it has a suite of other tools (I assume things such as web based reporting, messaging, etc.) that enables the patient and the physician to manage it including motivational messages, and more.

Potential positives…

· Strong R&D team, i.e. there is a whole team of endocrinologist who have experience dealing with all age groups of diabetics. Also, some of them have day-to-day patient care experience and should be able to understand the consumer needs and behaviors very well.

· Unlike the other solutions I have seen, WellDoc talks about “providing continual motivation”. Just like with other chronic illnesses, helping the patient on the emotional level is one of the key variables to a successfully long-term treatment plan.

Potential negatives…

· Unlike HelathPia where everything is contained within one device and true convergence has been achieved, a WellDoc solution requires two separate devices, i.e. lacking the elegance in the solution.

· Wireless Bluetooth connectivity, also known as ‘pairing’ can be a very frustrating process, especially for people who are not tech savvy, especially seniors.

Business model…

· Not sure at this point, but it appears that they are considering the direct-to-consumer model. It’s going to be interesting to see what business model and distribution channels they choose.

Additional thoughts…

· The word is that WellDoc is working with Johnson & Johnson’s LifeScan division and AT&T/Cingular. LifeScan makes blood glucose meters, etc., and sells them over the counter in national retail chains. One of the options for WellDoc is to act as a re-seller of Cingular’s service and bundle the phone and LifeScan blood glucose device into one offer directly to consumers. The other option is to start partnerships with clinics. Given their background and current management team, I think they should stick to clinics. I don’t think the 2-device solution is user friendly enough for the mass market.

· I am under the impression that they have management gaps in the business / marketing areas.

Investors…

· It appears that to date they have been self-funded and probably some angel money. It is unclear if they have any financial support from J&J or AT&T/Cingular.

*Source: Company website

Mayo Clinic's "Mobile First Aid Kit"

2007-03-15T11:09:00.000-04:00

The Mayo Clinic recently announced that it was launching "Mayo Clinic In Touch" software application for mobile phones. For a $2.99 monthly fee, wireless phone subscribers can use the service to get first-aid tips, self-care guidelines and advice on emergency care, as well as access to short health-news videos, health alerts and drug watches.

Enter your city or ZIP code to search for nearby emergency and urgent care facilities from a list of more than 3,800 providers. If your cell phone has a GPS (Global Positioning System) feature, it automatically finds the nearest facility. The information is then displayed in list format and shows the facility's name, address and estimated travel distance.

Following is a video clip of the demo....

Monitoring Your Heart via the Internet [cardiology]

2007-02-28T14:22:00.000-05:00

Today's Wall Street Journal has an interesting article on implantable devices with wireless connectivity. Specifically Medtronics has developed a device, the Chronicle, which looks like a pacemaker but their sole purpose is to monitor specific symptoms in people with congestive heart failure. The idea is that the device would notify the monitoring service before the patient's health has deteriorated to the point where they need to be admitted to the emergency room. Some of the other companies developing similar devices are St. Jude Medical, CardioMEMS and Remon Medical Technologies. The implantable devices could be also used for monitoring patients with hypertension (high blood pressure) and aneurysms.

A family member of mine has a pacemaker that couldn't be implanted in their upper chest but had to be placed in the abdomen which required for the wires to be tunneled underneath the skin to the heart significantly increasing the risk of wire breakage. Unfortunately the wire did recently break and we didn't know for a few days that there was no pacing of the heart. Luckily in this case the heart was not pacer dependent so it wasn't as big of an issue as it is with patients who are pacer dependent to whom it could be life threatening. This was a perfect example where a pacemaker with a wireless connection could have alerted the caregiver or physician that the pacemaker is not functioning. Biotronik, a German company, has already received FDA approval of their Home Care System which offers this wireless connectivity and data transmission.

Living Independently - QuiteCare [safety monitoring]

2007-02-26T18:41:00.001-05:00

What they do…

Living Independently has developed the QuietCare system to for the safety monitoring of older adults who live alone.

How they do it…

QuietCare functions as a 24 hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week early detection and early warning system that lets caregivers and family members know that a loved one is safe. It recognizes emerging problems before they become emergencies.

The system utilizes small, unobtrusive, strategically-placed wireless sensors to monitor the senior in their own home. It is virtually invisible. No video camera or audio intrudes on the seniors' lives.

· Small, wireless motion sensors are strategically placed in key areas, including the senior's bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and meal prep and/or medication areas.

· Each sensor transmits information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week about the senior's daily living activities to a book-sized base station.

· The base station gathers this information and regularly transmits it to QuietCare's computers, using existing telephone lines.

· Changes in the senior's activities are analyzed so caregivers can be alerted to problems by call center professionals, or via e-mail, cell phone, text message or pager, or by checking a password-protected web site.*

How it’s different…

Basically the system needs a few days to learn the senior’s behavior pattern. Once it has registered the baseline behavior it can detect any deviations. For example…

· If the senior goes to the bathroom two times per night, and all of a sudden he/she starts going to the bathroom 5 times per night, the system would detect the change in the pattern and notify the caregiver alerting him/her that there might be some underlying health issues that need to be looked into.

· If the senior falls in the bathroom, the system would detect that they have been in the bath longer then their let’s say 10 minutes, and it could alert caregiver immediately.

Potential positives…

· For a monitoring service, this is probably as unobtrusive as it can be, giving the caregivee the appropriate amount of privacy while providing both caregiver and caregivee peace of mind.

· What I like about it is the potential to detect change in patterns and alert caregivers about potential health issue, i.e. it has the potential for proactive vs. reactive involvement.

Potential negatives…

· I don’t think the system is discreet enough yet for a broader audience, but this should be something that the company can solve over time with improvements in technology.

Business model…

Living Independently distributes the product and monthly subscription service via ADT and their sales force.

Additional thoughts…

· The management team has a predominantly financial industry background and it doesn’t appear that they have any significant operating experience in the mass consumer services sector, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they don't have a good common sense for the consumer. I still would like to see a strong consumer marketer on their team.

· While I understand the appeal of partnering with ADT to distribute and install the system, as a consumer II would also like to have the option to buy it BestBuy and install it myself. Think of it as a starter package for $99 that allows me to try the product/service before I make a major commitment to ADT. Once I experience the technology, and if I conclude that it works for me, I should be able to upgrade to the ADT service.

· Also, if I am an ADT sales person, I am probably incented by ADT to sell the ADT service first before pushing QuiteCare to potential buyers, but I could be wrong, i.e. maybe there is an appropriate incentive system for the sales force.

Investors…

$10.1 million Series B equity funding led by Valence Capital Management, LP. Also participating in the round were Loeb Partners and current investors. The new funding brings the total investment to date to $22 million.

9/24/08 UPDATE: U.K.-based health-care division of General Electric signed a technology and distribution agreement with Living Independently Group, the New York-based creator of QuietCare systems, which use wireless sensors to track daily activities of the elderly. [more]

*Source

Company website

HealthPia [diabetes]

2007-02-23T14:36:00.000-05:00

What they do…

HealthPia America has licensed from HealthPia (Korea) the exclusive license for North America to market the GlucoPhone, a cell phone with a built-in glucose monitor for people who suffer from diabetes. HealthPia (Korea), founded in 2002, developed the GlucoPhone in a partnership with Seoul National University and LG Electronics, and launched it in Korea in 2004.

How they do it…

· HealthPia has developed a glucose meter ‘module’ that can be fitted onto regular cell phones, and can be used just like any standard glucose meter that you buy in your local pharmacy.

· In addition to the hardware, HealthPia has software that is downloaded onto the cell phone which enables it to ‘talk’ to the GlucoPack™ module to test and read glucose levels.

· These results are then stored in the cell phone memory and also sent to medical management database via the phones data connection. The patient can also choose to have the results automatically sent to his/her physician, caregiver, or monitoring service so they can monitor it in real-time, and if needed act on it.

How it’s different…

There are already solutions being worked on that utilize the cell phone for diabetes management, however they have not achieved true convergence, i.e. all-in-one device. Unlike the HealthPia solution the alternatives are a two-device execution -- they have device #1 (glucose meters) that utilizes wireless Bluetooth connectivity to ‘talk’ to separate device #2 (cell phone).

Potential positives…

HealthPia’s GlucoPhone offers an elegant and user friendly solution that is portable and discreet, and offers real-time data exchange without ongoing direct intervention from the user.

Potential negatives…

· I can’t really think of any from the user perspective, but once there is someone out there who has been using it maybe they can tall us about both the positives and negatives.

· I am not sure I fully understand how the hardware is fitted on to the cell phone; more specifically does this execution require that different versions are made for each cell phone model? If so, I am concerned that it is going to be a challenge to scale this because of the potential need to customize the ‘module’, and port the software for each phone model.

Business model…

For now it appears that HealthPia is going to market the product to the consumer themselves and they seem to have entered into a strategic alliance with Logic Mobile, which I believe is a MVNO.

Additional thoughts…

· HealthPia (Korea) is a company that really gets the omnipresence of the cell phone in consumers’ lives and subsequently in their health and wellness. Their focus is on helping consumers manage chronic illnesses and their health & beauty needs. For more information about their future vision go to http://www.healthpia.co.kr/medi_e/pro03.html

· To manage diabetes optimally patients need to attack it from a few angles: (a) monitoring, (b) medication, (c) nutrition, and (d) exercise. The challenge for HealthPia and other companies trying to offer a complete solution in diabetes management is to incorporate all 4 levers in a simple yet comprehensive and easy-to-use consumer solution.

Source

Company website

KinderGuard [safety monitoring]

2007-02-19T11:16:00.000-05:00

What they do…

KinderGuard is developing a technology that can remotely monitor in real time the geographic position of a person and their vital signs.

How they do it…

KinderGUARD^TM will contain a miniature chip with its own power source that calibrates a GPS signal. This signal can then be accessed from any Internet-connected device, and over-laid onto a digital map of the area to indicate physical spatial location anywhere in the world.

Parents and carers can, through the KinderGUARD^TM secure application software, define the weekly calendar of events and locations for their child / children, and then subsequently monitor and report their exact position in real time. The system will also be capable of monitoring and reporting the previous locations of the child over a specified period of time. *

How it’s different…

It appears that the key differentiation versus devices that currently exist (GPS locators) is that:

· It is discreet - A number of products to suit a range of applications will be developed with embedded KinderGUARD^TM technology – these will include jewellery, in-pocket devices, etc.*

· It a has bio-sensors: KinderGUARD^TM will also contain the unique capability to generate and transmit a "biometric signature" that is unique to the wearer– this will enable parents to monitor attributes such as skin temperature, heart signal, stress level, etc. This will also act as confirmation that the device continues to be worn by the intended child – and if removed (and / or an attribute of the biometric signature or spatial location changes suddenly) a software alarm can be raised, and a message sent to the parent or carer immediately via the KinderGUARD^TM Management and Control Centre.*

Potential positives…

The scenario of an abducted child is a parents worst nightmare and it’s something no one likes to think about, but for those who have a genuine concern, this is probably a very good technology, especially for “high risk” children, i.e. children who are involved in a custody battle where one parent is potentially ‘unstable’, children of high net worth individuals living in countries where extortion through kidnapping is not uncommon, and so on.

I see a bigger opportunity here for a few other segments:

· Patients with dementia who could potentially wonder off. There are many seniors who live alone and their sole caregivers (usually children) live far away and are not able to care for them. Many seniors do not want to accept the fact that they are getting older and potentially need to be monitored, so a discreet device in the form of a bracelet could be very effective.

· Parents of children who have a serious health condition (e.g. epilepsy, heart conditions, asthma, etc.). This would enable the child to conduct their daily life and not be under the constant supervision of their parents, while the parents could have some peace of mind.

· Sports people who go on extreme sports expeditions (e.g. mountain climbing, hiking, whitewater rafting, etc.).

Potential negatives…

I am concerned about those overly protective and paranoid parents who would use this to monitor and control their children to the point where it is unhealthy for the mental health of the child.

Business model…

Based on the company’s web site it appears that they will be pursuing a licensing model.

Additional thoughts…

· It is unclear to me if the biosensor signal is transmitted via the same chip that send the GPS signal or if it’s a separate chip that communicates with the cell phone towers.

· It is unclear how far they have gone in the commercialization of this product.

· Disney offers a similar functionality on their kids phones that let the parents monitor where the child is in real time over the web. The transmitter is located in the phone, not in an accessory and I believe they do not use GPS but rather triangulation technology via the cell towers. Parents of teens love the ability to “monitor” their child, but children hate it.

Investors…

No information available on the company web site other then $1MM private funding round in 2005.

*Source

Company website

DexCom [diabetes]

2007-02-16T10:23:00.001-05:00

What they do…

DexCom is focused on pioneering technologies for the continuous monitoring of glucose in people with diabetes. DexCom has developed a short term continuous glucose monitoring system, the DexCom™ STS^® System which includes the STS Sensor, the STS Transmitter, and the STS Receiver.

How they do it…

A tiny probe-like sensor is inserted by the patient under the skin, and is held in place by an adhesive. Once inserted, the sensor begins continuously monitoring glucose. The transmitter sends the glucose signal from the sensor and wirelessly transmits the data to the hand-held receiver. The receiver processes the glucose signal and with the push of a button, the receiver displays the patient’s current glucose value, as well as 1-hr, 3-hr, and 9-hr trends. The receiver also sounds and alert when a high or low glucose excursion is detected. [Watch video (30 min)]

How it’s different…

A continuous glucose monitoring device measures glucose levels throughout 24 hours a day. These devices can provide up to 288 glucose measurements every 24 hours vs. a traditional glucose monitoring test (such as testing via finger-stick) which is just a snapshot in time.

Potential positives…

1. Trends - shows your glucose trend over a period of time… increase or decrease in glucose, as well as how fast it is happening. This trend information together with the glucose value shows you patterns and problems that traditional glucose testing may miss.

2. Alarms - allows you to set a target range for your desired glucose. When your glucose goes above or below this range, an alert automatically lets you know.

3. All day and night - measures glucose levels throughout the day and night. This device provides many more measurements compared with traditional glucose monitoring in a 24 hour period.

Potential negatives…

Since the dispensing pouch is worn for up to 3 days, I wonder if the inconvenience of having to wear it (if any) is less then having to inject yourself a few times a day. I don’t know the answer to this question, and it can be only answered by patients who have lived through both experiences.

Additional thoughts...

I wonder how long before receiver can be integrated into a cell phone (e.g. clip-on module, Bluetooth connectivity, etc.) so that the patients readings are uploaded in real time and a physician can monitor them, or if there is an alarming trend starting to form, the physician can get a timely alert.

Also, the next logical feature would be for the device to "talk" to an insulin pump so that the pump automatically administers insulin based on the readings making it a fully integrated solution.

Investors…

Publicly traded at NASDAQ: DXCM

Source:

DexCom web site

CardioNet [cardiology]

2007-02-15T15:25:00.001-05:00

What they do…

“CardioNet has developed an integrated technology and service–mobile cardiac outpatient telemetry (MCOT)—which enables heartbeat-by-heartbeat, ECG monitoring, analysis and response, at home or away, 24/7/365.”

Basically think of CardioNet as the next generation of Holter monitors which are portable device for continuously monitoring the electrical activity of the heart for 24 hours or longer. The importance of longer monitoring is that it helps observing occasional cardiac arrhythmias that would be difficult to identify in a shorter period of time. The Holter monitor has electrodes attached to a person’s chest which are connected to a portable device the size of a walkman that records the hearts electrical activity. The downside of the holter monitor is that (a) it’s relatively bulky and not very convenient to carry around, (b) it can’t monitor for longer periods (days) of time continuously, and (c) it doesn’t report data in real time.

How they do it…

To accomplish this CardioNet uses a handheld device that is basically a cell phone with only its data capabilities enabled, i.e. it could function as an actual cell phone for voice communications too. CardioNet partnered with Qualcomm to use its QConnect service (communications network) which is I believe powered by Sprint (think MVNO).

How it’s different…

CardioNet can monitor patients for up to 21 days, 24 hours a day via a small sensor, vs. Holter monitor which usually monitors only for 24 hours at a time. As events occur, patient activity is automatically transmitted to the CardioNet Monitoring Center for analysis and response.

Potential positives…

Longer period monitoring resulting in more accurate real time data based on which, if needed, one can react immediately. Somewhat more convenient (less bulky) then traditional Holter monitor.

Potential negatives…

Other then it probably not being very comfortable for the patient to waer on an extended basis, I don’t know, but if you do please let me know and I’ll post it here.

Additional thoughts…

I am not sure why the voice communication functionality is not enabled on the device. I assume that it has to do with regulatory issues regarding a cell phone converging with and acting as a medical device.

Investors…

Hambrecht & Quist Capital Management, Sanderling, IngleWood Ventures, BioFrontier Partners, IDEO, Boston Scientific, and Foundation Medical Partners.

Source

CardioNet website, Qualcomm web site, other

Therative [dermatology]

2007-02-14T18:28:00.000-05:00

What they do…

Thera tive (formerly DermaCare) is a company focusing on taking medical devices currently used by health care professionals in the office environment and adapting them as over-the-counter (OTC) products for the consumer market. Their first to be commercialized is for the treatment of mild-to-moderate acne (i.e., pimples) marketed under the ThermaClear™ brand name.

How they do it…

“...its similar to laser treatment technology used by dermatologists to treat acne. This proprietary technology works by delivering a controlled burst of heat directly to individual pimples. The healing thermal energy penetrates the skin to neutralize the underlying bacteria that cause pimples – attacking acne at its source and accelerating the healing process. With no medicine involved, ThermaClear heals without over-drying or irritating skin. Clinical results demonstrate pimples treated with ThermaClear clear in less than half the time and with no harmful or lasting side effects.” Watch animation video explaining how it works.

How it’s different…

There is currently no device based treatment in the OTC market that I know of, so it is “new & different”.

Potential positives…

· According to the company web site it’s based on a similar technology that dermatologist use, which I would interpret as it being (nearly/or) as effective at significantly lower cost. Sounds like a good value proposition to me, especially if I am a teenage girl.

· Convenience and control of doing it at your own home when you need it. This gives especially teenagers who are so ‘burdened’ by their appearance the opportunity to ‘fix it’ quickly (according to company’s web site half the time vs. leaving it untreated).

· Consumers can already purchase the device at their e-commerce site for $149.95, and for $179.95 you can get the whole ThermaCare Therapy System which includes the needed cosmetics. Not an inexpensive product, but given how much teenagers and young adults spend on cosmetics, ipod’s, latest models of mobile phones, this seems pretty affordable.

Potential negatives…

Although according to the FAQ section of the company web site, there does not seem to be any danger of major side effects, I would still be concerned about a overly self-conscious teenager ‘overdosing’ on the treatment and creating some look term aesthetic ‘side-effects’. I recognize that many OTC devices could cause some harm to consumers if used irresponsibly, but given that most OTC devices do not target teenagers and young adults, I am a bit more concerned with this target population.

Additional thoughts…

This product could be a big breakthrough for the company given the target market and the fact that they are targeting vanity and delivering not only a functional, but a potentially significant emotional benefit. Also this is a target market (teenage girls) where word of mouth is huge. I can see this very soon being bought out by a J&J Clean & Clear franchise, P&G, etc.

Investors…

All I could find is Foundation Capital, RWI Ventures, but there might be others.

Source

Therative website

iRhythm [cardiology]

2007-02-14T17:33:00.000-05:00

Dan Primack reported recently (2/7/07) on peHUB about an interesting new stealth mode company in the cardiac device market. While there is no details about the company innovation it appears to be a next generation cardiac monitoring device, especially since one of the co-founders came out of CardioNet. Read full article.

If you know more about this please let us know by posting in the comment area below.