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Device for early detection of diabetic neuropathy and predicting foot ulcer development. Amputation Prevention for Diabetics Rosemary French IC2 Institute, The University of Texas at Austin rfrench@ic2.utexas.edu. Market / Problem.
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Device for early detection of diabetic neuropathy and predicting foot ulcer development Amputation Prevention for Diabetics Rosemary French IC2 Institute, The University of Texas at Austin rfrench@ic2.utexas.edu
Market / Problem • Problem: Every year about 25 percent of diabetics (approximately 20 million in the U.S.) develop ulcer-related complications, many resulting in amputation. • Diabetics use glucometers to monitor their blood glucose level at a specific point in time. Glucometers however are incapable of measuring the functioning of an organ that has deteriorated from exposure to high glucose containing blood. • Solution: This non-invasive method detects the onset of neuropathy as early as 7% nerve damage, pin-pointing high risk ulcer prone zones in the feet. • Market Opportunity: 346 million worldwide are diabetic – expected to double in 18 years without intervention • U.S. market for diabetes drugs, devices and monitoring systems expected to exceed $55 billion by 2016.
Underlying Technology • Nerves are one of the earliest parts of the body to be affected by diabetes. • The technology is a device for measuring the progression of diabetic neuropathy (damage to nerves) and predicting foot ulcer development. • Regular screening with this device enables a physician to assess and benchmark progression of neuropathy, then initiate early preventive measures. • Key Benefits: • Noninvasive procedure; ease of training; User friendly software interface. • obtains early (just 7% nerve damage) & accurate (87%) assessment of progression of diabetic neuropathy & pin points ulcer prone zones.
IP Status • Patented By C.Jairaj Kumar ( CHE/1028/2009) • PCT filed • Patent pending In India, North America, Europe. • Patent covers both the hardware and software components of the device.
Competitive Advantage • Current technologies on the market are unable to provide early and accurate detection of ulcer-prone areas • Tactilus by Sensor Products and Podiscan by Diabetik Foot Care India measure foot pressure distribution and magnitude (low sensitivity (30%) & does not measure nerve activity but just identifies high pressure bearing zones in feet). • Biothesiometer: false positives, cannot pinpoint ulcer prone zones in feet, identifies all individuals in developing and under developed world without using foot wear as having neuropathy
Competitive Advantage continued • ANSAR: cannot provide very early detection of the onset of diabetic neuropathy, nor can it locate patient’s ulcer prone zones. • Nerve Conduction Study: painful, identifies after 50% nerve damage, can’t pinpoint ulcer prone areas. • Neuropad provides early detection of sweat gland disturbances as an expression of diabetic neuropathy (Cannot pin point ulcer prone zones, give extent of damage nor track the progression of neuropathy). • Dr. Kumar’s technology is unique: obtains early (just 7% nerve damage) & accurate (87%) assessment of progression of diabetic neuropathy & pin points ulcer prone zones.
Value Proposition and Market Strategy • Physicians conduct regular screening with this diagnostic tool to assess and benchmark the early stages of neuropathy and prescribe preventive treatment • Early adopters: GP champions • Average treatment cost of an ulcer: $8,000, infected ulcer: $17,000, and major amputation: $45,000. • Development strategy: license the technology to a large medical device company, taking advantage of their existing sales and marketing channels • Next steps: Seeking research funding and clinical partner for joint beta-prototype development and preclinical studies
Development Status • Production model ready. $5 million to get necessary regulatory approvals (FDA), infrastructure and production scalability. • Three year, 600 patient data analysis using device: • Control group: 300 with normal glucose tolerance test & no foot ulcer or injury. • Test group: 300 with diabetes mellitus diagnosed in past 5 years: • 150 with no intervention: 87% of predicted points developed into ulcers. • 150 with intervention: 17% of predicted points developed into ulcers.
Management Team • Innovator: Dr. C. Jairaj Kumar, Deputy Director, Justice K.S. Hegde Medical Academy,Mangalore 575001, Phone: +91-9700651386 / +91-9248173223, jairaj.kumar@ymail.com • Additional information: • James Booth (512-475-7790,jbooth@ic2.utexas.edu) • Jim Vance (512-232-3590, jvance@ic2.utexas.edu) IC2 Institute Global Commercialization Group