PHASE: Pilot
CATEGORY: Health
Saving Lives
North America

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NovoView has developed a revolutionary technology that assesses the risk for stroke by measuring blood flow in the eye for patients with Sickle Cell Disease (orphan disease status). Mortality reduction: up to 92%.

Standings & Awards

422 out of 422 in North America
284 out of 284 in Health
573 out of 573 in Pilot
555 out of 555 in For-Profit
4003 out of 4003 Overall
Reducing mortality & morbidity of sickle cell patients in the US, EU, India, South-America and Africa

Pediatric sickle cell patients are 333 times more likely to experience an ischemic stroke as compared to healthy children. In fact, 11% do suffer a stroke before turning 18. It is a largely underserved patient population as proven by its orphan disease status (12 million affected worldwide).  Disorders can distort red blood cells into a sickle shape, leaving the cell stiff, sticky and inflexible. This may lead to occlusions in small blood vessels causing strokes, potentially ending a child's life before the age of two. Sickle cell patients have a naturally increased intracranial blood velocity, which has proven to indicate an elevated risk for stroke in this population. NovoView has developed a revolutionary technology that can measure the risk for strokes in sickle cell patients by measuring blood flow in the eye building on the proven correlation between cerebral and conjunctival blood velocity. Our working prototype, the EyeFlow, effectively and rapidly acquires images of the microcirculation to measure blood flow. These images are taken using a lighting source equipped with a charge-coupled device camera. This camera captures 60 frames/second, requiring the patient to sit still for only a few seconds in order to gain sufficient images for the subsequent analysis. These images are automatically transferred to a computer where proprietary algorithms calculate blood flow by measuring blood vessel diameter and blood velocity. NovoView has obtained proof-of-concept by completing multiple studies, since its discovery in 2009 (including 60 patients). Confirmatory proof-of-concept studies were born out of numerous publications attesting a significantly high correlation between conjunctival and cerebral blood flow. As opposed to the current technology being used, TransCranial Doppler (ultrasound through the skull), NovoView has a much easier to use, cheaper and quicker approach that will enable more patients to receive the critical stroke risk screening, reducing mortality and morbidity while saving health care systems around the world millions of dollars. With more money in funding, we will be able to conduct further confirmatory studies, followed by a six month clinical trial as well as to develop a more marketable, advanced beta-prototype in preparation of scaling operations in the future.

Roadmap to Success Optional (1 - 3 minutes to upload)

Roadmap to Success: 

FIVE PROJECT QUESTIONS Required (60 - 90 minutes)

1. What is your innovation? 
NovoView is assessing stroke-risk by measuring blood flow in the conjunctival micro-vessels (white part of the eye) building on the proven correlation between blood flow in the eye and brain. Our patent-pending technology, the EyeFlow, effectively and rapidly acquires images of the microcirculation via a biomicroscope slit lamp coupled with a high speed camera. Transferred to a computer, these images are then analyzed using proprietary algorithms to calculate blood flow.
2. Who gains the most? 
Underserved populations with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), who currently do not have access to the current risk screening technology. Eleven percent of children with (SCD) die before they turn 18 years of age resulting in unnecessary morbidity and mortality. Approximately 12 million people in Africa, the Middle-East, South-America, EU and the US combined are affected by this deadly, inherited disease. Reducing strokes will save lives and slash today's tremendous cost burdens for healthcare systems.
3. Who pays? 
So far, our research has been grant funded. NovoView will submit an STTR grant application to fund further data acquisition (proving efficacy of the technology) and software automation of the alpha-prototype. Additional seed-round funding will be provided by angel and / or venture capital investors. Once in the marketplace, teaching and community hospitals will pay for the device. Ultimate payer of the screenings will be medical insurance companies through currently applicable CPT codes.
4. What is your success? 
12 months: Automated software & having developed a technology with proven clinical significance and efficacy that will benefit underserved populations suffering from Sickle Cell Disease 3 years: FDA approval & fewer sickle cell patients in the US suffering, dying from stroke due to better and cheaper access to stroke-risk screenings 5 years: Sickle cell patients in the EU, India and Africa (through partners) will use our technology leading to a significant reduction of mortality in these reg
5. How will you do it? 
12 months: Secure STTR grant funding, prove efficacy of technology through confirmatory human study, automate software for beta-prototype 3 years: Conduct 9-month clinical trial comparing our technology to current gold standard, redesign hardware for beta-prototype, obtain FDA approval, market entry for stroke risk assessment in sickle cell patients (US) 5 years: Market entry EU, Market entry India / Africa (Nigeria) through collaboration with non-profit organizations and partners

Badges & Awards

Semifinalist
Semi-finalist Project 2012
Project Participant DSIC 2012
2012 DSIC Project Participant

Mentors

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Marcelo Grisolia
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