Case Western Reserve University’s (CWRU) www.case.edu Technology Transfer Office has signed a two year option license agreement with Apollo Medical Devices LLC located in Ohio www.apollomedicaldevices.com to further advance a point-of-care blood tester towards commercialization.
The company will develop a hand-held medical device that has the capacity with one drop of blood to help diabetic patients test their glucose. The device can test for deficiencies in potassium, and also provide information needed for renal dialysis. The blood tester, or analyzer weighs less than a pound and measures about three inches wide and four inches high. A blood sample can be placed on a disposable cartridge in a slot at the top.
Apollo emerged from the Laboratory for Biomedical Sensing which is part of CWRU’s Department of Biomedical Engineering http://bme.case.edu. Biomedical Engineering Associate Professor Miklos Gratzi leading the Laboratory reports, “Apollo seeks to fill a market need for a blood test that produces results within five minutes and requires only a drop of blood from a finger prick, rather than blood drawn from a vein.”
“What we have is a functional prototype blood test analyzer,” said Apollo Chief CEO Patrick Leimkuehler. “We plan to redesign the tester to feature a built-in display screen and make other adjustments.”
According to Punkaj Ahuja, Apollo’s Founder and CTO “The primary market for the product is thought to be hospital emergency rooms and urgent care medical centers. The device would also be useful in outpatient clinics, primary care physician offices, nursing homes, in the military, and by first responders.”
Apollo formed in October 2014 is quickly receiving financial support. In the past month, the company was awarded three grants totaling more than $150,000 to help fund product development.
The funding was provided by the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET) http://manufacturingsuccess.org, the Innovation Fund www.innovationfundneohio.com that backs Northeast Ohio’s startups with pre-seed funds, and the Ohio Third Frontier http://development.ohio.gov/bs_thirdfrontier program which just announced a $100,000 grant. Apollo is also a client of JumpStart’s Burton D. Morgan Mentoring Program www.jumpstartinc.org/entrepreneursupport/services/mentoring.aspx.