Creavo Medical Technologies (Creavo) has won two awards at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Innovation awards (15 November, London, UK) for its cardiac imaging device (Vitalscan). The device is designed to help physicians accurately rule-out ischaemic heart conditions in a matter of minutes. The awards aim to celebrate the very best in new innovations in science, engineering and technology, showcasing entries from around the world.
Creavo took home the awards in the Healthcare and Emerging Technology Design categories, which a press release reports acknowledge the technology’s potential to revolutionise emergency department triage of chest pain patients.
The company has already received CE mark registration in Europe, FDA (510k) clearance in the USA for its devices. These approvals have initiated multicentre clinical trials in the UK, raising a further £13.4m in an oversubscribed funding round.
According to the press release, Creavo’s device uses magnetocardiography (MCG) to perform a non-invasive three to five-minute scan to detect abnormal patterns in the magnetic fields of the heart which reflect loss of oxygen to the heart muscle. This can help physicians accurately rule-out ischemic heart disease meaning that patients can go on to the most appropriate care pathway for their needs.
The company’s chief scientific officer Ben Varcoe says: “Historically MCG technology has been restricted to large and immovable devices and, despite its high accuracy, has been impractical for use in emergency departments and routine clinical settings. However, for the first time, we have harnessed the technology into a battery-powered portable device that can be deployed directly to the patient’s bedside, meaning the potential rule out of certain cardiac conditions can become a much quicker process.”
Creavo’s CEO Steve Parker said: “We’re delighted to have been recognised by the Institute of Engineering and Technology.The device continues to impress across the industry and we’re confident that it can help address the huge global challenges hospitals face when it comes to triaging chest pain patients. Ultimately, we aim to save the healthcare industry time, costs and, importantly, improve levels of patient care.”
