Ventilation management during life-saving resuscitation is being transformed by a local start-up, Abtulus®, who have partnered with the Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) at Flinders University to develop a novel Bag Valve Mask (BVM) guidance system.

Engineered by Dr Siavash Noor (Ahmadi Noorbakhsh) of Abtulus®, VentiWatch is a practical, simple and reusable ventilation management solution supporting medical professionals and first responders with the delivery of precise and efficient ventilation during resuscitation.

The cutting-edge sensor technology eliminates the common challenges associated with using BVMs, including inaccurate placement and incorrect technique of ventilation, which can cause further complications like delivering less than needed ventilations (hypoventilation) or pushing too much air into the lungs (hyperventilation) of patients in critical conditions.

The joint effort to advance CPR ventilation management was achieved with the MDPP team crafting a custom coil and sensing circuit, complete with sophisticated processing algorithm, to provide accurate estimates of air volume delivery and ventilation timing with real-time feedback.

Placed on the outside of the BVM, VentiWatch connects to the ventilation management device which features a user-friendly interface, colour LCD screen, navigation switch, audible alarms, a micro-USB port and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

First responders can then inflate a patient’s lungs with a squeeze of the BVM to obtain the perfect volume and timing for a successful resuscitation and VentiWatch’s continuous ventilation monitoring system then enables the first responders to safely transfer high-risk patients to hospital emergency departments.

“The expertise, resources, and support provided by the MDPP team throughout the program have propelled my device and company to a whole new level,” remarked Dr Noor, Founder and CEO of Abtulus and inventor of VentiWatch.

“Overall, working with MDPP has been an enriching experience. I look forward to a continued partnership as we bring this life-saving technology to the world.”

Professor Karen Reynolds, Director of MDPP, says VentiWatch has evolved the BVM system into a sophisticated tool with the potential to revolutionise CPR ventilation management. 

“Through every stage of the project, our team of experts have consulted with Dr Noor, refining and optimising his initial design, while preserving its simplicity and reusability,” said Prof Reynolds.

“The BVM guidance system we have built for Dr Noor is the optimal choice in ventilation management support for first responders attending life-threatening emergencies.

We are extremely proud to be supporting the development of a novel medical device designed to deliver a solution that ensures optimal patient care during critical resuscitation scenarios.

The MDPP supports the development of new, high-tech medical devices through facilitating collaboration between researchers, industry, end- users and government, and undertaking rapid research projects that demonstrate proof of concept and de-risk ideas.

Revolutionising the landscape of healthcare delivery, innovator Hayley Saddington has joined forces with Flinders University's Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) to build a cost-effective, clinically guided digital software application tailored for supporting in-home rehabilitation.

The co-founder of Peak Medical, Hayley is a visionary in her field who has exploited artificial intelligence to create an innovative technology which empowers in-home patients to progress their rehabilitation with the confidence of precise clinical guidance.

Replicating the physiotherapy experience, the technology employs an evidence-based clinical approach, directing individuals to customised exercises for continuous improvement between appointments.

Hayley says the idea for the transformative technology came to her as a practical solution in addressing the growing demand for physiotherapist support.

“We can’t scale up the number of human physiotherapists, but, with the help of MDPP we’ve been able to completely redefine the paradigm of care delivery,” said Hayley.

Allowing her to tap into “Australia’s critical startup ecosystem” Hayley says the MDPP provided valuable hands-on resources and connected her to university researchers, engineers, industry experts, and investors who helped bring her vision to life.

“The MDPP team are exceptional, and they’ve got the recipe just right,” said Hayley. “With their expertise we navigated the shift from hardware to a software company, which was a smart play, enabling the rapid scalability and delivery of our low-cost healthcare app to a wider audience.”

According to Hayley, the MDPP’s 250 hours of engineering expertise has helped her to create a core technology with incredible expansion potential across various applications from tissue injury through to paediatrics.

“It is exciting for us to be a company that is transforming healthcare - not only in cost and accessibility - but actively empowering our patients to live their best lives,” said Hayley.

MDPP’s Director Professor Karen Reynolds is delighted to see Peak Medical now positioned as a significant player in the broader healthcare landscape and she is eager for other innovators who are keen to explore the synergies of technology and human-centric care to get in touch.

"By leveraging MDPP, innovators gain access to a robust startup ecosystem that validates their ideas and refines their strategies," said Karen. "Collaboratively, we can forge strategic partnerships that redefine the conventional patient experience and mould the future of global healthcare."

MaxM Skate's CEO, Rob Bowden, was interviewed by 5AA's Richard Pascoe on February 10 after attending Arab Health the Middle East’s largest healthcare trade event with 3,500 companies exhibiting from more than 180 countries around the world.

Have a listen to Rob and Richard as they discuss the benefits of using the MaxM Skate to achieve a faster in-home recovery after total knee replacement surgery. 

 Photos:  Right - Rob Bowden with PhD Student Alicia Mitchell

Below - Rob Bowden and Alicia Mitchell with Prof Karen Reynolds (MDPP Director)