Biofilms are aggregations of complex microorganisms adhering on a surface, embedded within a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). These EPS help to facilitate cell-cell communications for biofilm growth and also provide a protective environment against disruptive external influences like antibacterial drugs, shear forces etc. The tenacious nature of biofilms subsequently leads to problems like product contamination, medical infections and equipment damage. Detection of biofilm becomes a critical approach towards effective biofilm control.

We are looking for technological solution(s) which can detect biofilm (aided or unaided by a chemical). This solution needs to be integrated into a portable electronic device.

Technical Specifications:
These are the challenges to the solutions which can detect biofilm under the following circumstances -
1. On complex three-dimensional surfaces
2. Whilst constantly on motion and vibration
3. Providing instant feedback either when biofilm is detected or when biofilm has been removed
4. With potential for miniaturization enough to be integrated in a portable electronic device
5. With ability to function without the need for calibration
6. Accurate on surface area of 5 mm²
7. Efficacious in environments with optical ‘noise’ and reduced visibility

In addition, the solution(s) must not:
1. Be Multistep/multi-process step (no extra handling steps required by the user)
2. Require chemicals which are not food-safe
3. Require any implant, integration or modification of the (to be screened) surface to achieve sensing

Mandatory Requirement:
1. Proven technical feasibility (ideally in terms of prototypes, test data etc)
Protected or protectable by IP

Desirable Requirement:
1. Technology prototypes should be available by Q4 2012 and marketable by 2014.

Preferred Business Model:
Licensing, IP Acquistion

Electrotherapy devices have been around for a number of years, namely Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Other technologies have become available more recently and more research and clinical testing is being performed. Although mainly used in a clinical setting, they are also available direct to consumers. When used at the correct dose for the patient they can have very beneficial effect in terms of pain relief and, dependent on the modality used, additional effects like promotion of healing rate and quality of healing. These can be especially beneficial for chronic pain sufferers who want to limit their drug intake.

We are seeking devices that can be used to relieve pain, particularly electrotherapy devices in the areas of microcurrent, low intensity ultrasound and pulsed shortwave therapy that have been developed to be portable and can be used by consumers rather than healthcare professionals. The device should also be capable of providing additional benefits such as promoting healing and can be used alone or with an additional active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) containing product.

As well as pain relief, devices that can also provide a beneficial tissue repair/healing effect are desired.

The device can be used alone or in combination with a product containing API eg. gel or patch.

Technical Specifications:
Technologies and approaches that provide relief from a wide range of pains using drug-free devices, namely electrotherapies; microcurrent, low intensity ultrasound and pulsed shortwave therapy that are portable and suitable for the direct to consumer market. These devices could be used in the home or on-the-go and therefore miniaturized compared to the devices used in the clinical environment. Relevant indications include back pain, joint pain and arthritic conditions and muscular pain. The device can be re-chargeable, multiple use or single use. It should be developed to at least prototype stage.

Non-portable devices or those that cannot be used safely or effectively by a consumer without the supervision of a healthcare professional are not desirable.

The device should also meet the following requirements for incorporation into a consumer product:

1. Safe for human use
2. Manufacturing process proposed should not be cost prohibitive
3. Overall product cost appropriate for consumer products
4. Technology must not reduce the quality of the user’s experience e.g. skin irritation/burn, overly bulky
5. Ideally offer scope for patent protection with the desired application and format.

Mandatory Requirement:
1. Literature-based evidence for the technology and proposed specifications required. Presentation to detail technology, specification, design, proposed indications and use and supporting evidence and costs.

Preferred Requirement:
1. Sample product for evaluation
2. In vivo clinical research on the actual device showing therapeutic benefit over placebo CE mark approval for sale in Europe for proposed device.
3. Prototypes that are near market-ready are preferred.

Preferred Business Model:
Licensing, IP Acquistion

Many symptoms relating to the upper respiratory tract are caused by differing agents. Some may be viral and others bacterial. In order to ensure that the treatment is appropriate to the underlying cause of the symptoms it is important to determine if bacterial or viral agents are responsible, so that the appropriate treatment may be applied (e.g. if it is viral → symptomatic relief; if it is bacterial → antibiotics).

We are currently seeking diagnostic technologies to allow healthcare professionals, pharmacists, nurses, or patients to perform rapid turn-around tests themselves when presented with symptoms affecting the upper respiratory tract, in order to determine the correct course of action.

Technical Specifications:
Proposed solutions for the respective diagnostic platform must be able to provide data as specified below:-

1. Bacterial Infection Diagnosis – Able to determine the presence of a (non-specific) bacterial infection through sample testing (usually blood or saliva, but could be others).

2. Viral (cold & flu based) Infection Diagnosis – Able to determine the presence of a specific viral infection through a saliva sample. Viruses that represent the highest level of incidence: Rhinovirus, Coronavirus, Adenovirus, Respiratory Syncytial and Flu A/B.

3. Strep A Infection Diagnosis – A specific class of the bacterial test above. Strep A tests already exist, and the need here is to improve considerably the ease-of-use, sampling and increased specificity and selectivity.

4. Flu A/B Infection Diagnosis – A specific class of the viral test above. Flu A/B tests are very useful, especially during outbreaks, but are currently too complex for ease-of-use.

5. Tests should ideally be in a platform that allows ease of use by Healthcare Professionals (Mandatory), Pharmacists / Nurses (Preferred) and consumers (Desirable).

6. It is expected that the platform will be based on conventional Lateral Flow Device technology (LFD), but the company is open to other formats.

7. Tests should preferably be all-in-one, one use and disposable (low cost).

8. The potential for an electronic reader is viable, but it must not require specialized instrument to read/analyze (expensive). Cost implications may make this route a challenge.

9. All proposed tests should provide results within a 10minute window period.

Mandatory Requirement:
1. Literature based evidence for the technology and proposed specification. A clear description of the technology and data to support – in-vitro proof of concept studies.

Preferred Requirement:
1. Products / clinical trials that demonstrate viability of technology. Sensitivity and specificity claims should be substantiated. Costs of reagents/kit required for a single test
2. In-vivo proof of concept studies. Routes to manufacture established.
3. The device should also meet the following requirements for incorporation into a consumer product:
4. Not harmful for human use.
5. Manufacturing process proposed should not be cost prohibitive
6. Overall product cost appropriate for consumer use products
7. Technology must not reduce the quality of the user’s experience e.g. skin irritation/burn, overly bulky
8. Ideally offer scope for patent protection with the desired application and format.

Preferred Business Model:
Licensing, IP Acquistion