Upstate announces winners of 2019 medical device innovation challenge

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Upstate Medical University has announced the six winners of its 2019 medical device innovation challenge (MDIC).

Upstate MIND (medical innovation and novel discovery center) at Upstate’s Central New York Biotech Accelerator (CNYBAC) sponsored the initiative, the medical school said in a news release.

The six-month program seeks to “promote understanding of and build networks for innovative and technology-driven biotech product and service development and commercialization” per Upstate Medical.

The winners include a shoulder-mounted intravenous (IV) system; urinary catheters with improved infection control; the transformation of well-known video games into respiratory therapy exercise; and an inconspicuous breast pump for moms, Upstate Medical said.

With their wins, Upstate Medical provides the firms involved six months of free work space at the “creation garage” at the CNYBAC. They’ll also have access to Upstate Medical research and clinical experts along with use of Upstate’s research facilities.

Participants also have access to “intensive mentorship” from a group of medical-device product development, regulatory, commercialization, and legal experts. Collaborative partners involved in the program include Blackstone LaunchPad, which has a program at Syracuse University (SU); Innovation Law Center at SU’s College of Law; and Upstate Venture Connect of Syracuse.

Additionally, teams are invited to apply to student engineering capstone programs at Syracuse University and Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

“The innovators in our region continue to find new ways and opportunities to enhance the health and well-being of patients or those with medical conditions,” Kathi Durdon, executive director of the Central New York Biotech Accelerator, said in the release. “Through this program, these innovators will find a ready supply of expertise, support and encouragement to move their products and ideas forward.”

Additional support for the program comes from the Empire State Development (ESD) New York State certified business incubator grant.

Central New York Biotech Accelerator, which is located at 841 E. Fayette St., is part of Upstate Medical University. The 52,300-square-foot facility offering wet and dry labs, services, coordinated resources, targeted mentorship and education to individuals and startup companies involved in the commercialization of biotech innovation.

Winning firms

Companies selected as MDIC winners include MedUX, of Syracuse, which is creating a shoulder-mounted portable IV system.

They also include Megan Thomas of Syracuse, which is developing a breast pump that can be used while a women engage in daily activities, whether at the workplace or at home; and Halamine Inc., of Ithaca, which aims to develop a new category of “hydrogel skin” coated urinary catheters with improved infection control.

The winning firms also include ZephyRx of Albany, which designs breath-powered video game controllers so popular video games can be used in respiratory therapy for conditions, such as pneumonia, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;

Revital Therapeutics of New Jersey which is a tissue engineering company dedicated to creating off-the-shelf tissue grafts for a wide range of conditions and surgical procedures; and CathBuddy Inc., of Woodbury, which is making reusable urinary intermittent catheters system for people with neurogenic bladder (the loss of bladder control due to brain or spinal cord or nerve problem).

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com