Finalists for Children's National Health System pediatric medical device competition announced

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Eight finalists, all representing outstanding innovation in pediatric medical devices, have been selected to present their proposals for a chance to compete for one of two $50,000 top awards at the Sheikh Zayed Institute Second Annual Pediatric Surgical Innovation Symposium hosted by Children's National Health System on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014.

Selected from a competitive field of 56 entries received from across the US and internationally, the finalists are:

• Creative Vascular Inc., Philadelphia, PA – needle-free blood draw device
• REBIScan, Cambridge, MA - pediatric vison scanner for eradication of amblyopia
• Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA – wireless leak detection (WiLD) sensor for pediatric urodynamics studies
• Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, and GE Healthcare, Baltimore, MD – noninvasive pediatric respiration monitor
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI – pre-clinical implantable mechanical device for intestinal lengthening in children with short bowel syndrome
• Children's National Health System, Washington, DC – neonatal EEG monitoring by dry-contact sensors (NEMO)
• LIM Innovations Inc., San Francisco, CA – modular and adjustable prosthetic socket for pediatric patients
• Procyrion Inc., Houston, TX – pediatric-specific implant and control systems for use with a novel catheter-based cavopulmonary support device for management of single ventricle physiologies associated with the Fontan procedure

Each finalist will have five minutes to present their proposal to the judging panel, which includes Charles Berul, MD, chief of Cardiology at Children's National, and three members from venture capital, innovation incubator and accelerator organizations. The format includes a four-minute question-and-answer period following the oral presentation.

"This competition is unique from other venture capital competitions because we are seeking out pediatric medical devices that address unmet needs," said Kolaleh Eskandanian, PhD, MBA, executive director of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children's National. "The desire of our Institute is to see a paradigm shift in pediatric device development so that promising products for children can make their way to market more rapidly."  

The finalists represent a broad range of new diagnostic and treatment devices designed specifically for children. For example, the pediatric vision scanner, developed by REBIScan, could eradicate amblyopia ("lazy eye") one of the leading causes of preventable vision loss in children. Annually over one million children worldwide suffer permanent vision loss because of lack of detection. Amblyopia is fully treatable if caught early; it is irreversible if not corrected by the age of seven.

An important need is devices scaled specifically for children and designed appropriately for their activity levels and growth. Another of the finalists is a prosthetic socket for pediatric patients that is adjustable and comfortable. Developed by LIM Innovations, this device would allow young children with an amputation to engage in an active lifestyle.

The "Make your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!" competition is a part of the Sheikh Zayed Institute Second Annual Pediatric Surgical Innovation Symposium, "Lessons from Drugs to Devices: A Pediatric Perspective," which takes place at The Knight Conference Center at The Newseum in Washington, DC.

The one-day forum will bring together key leaders from the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, medical device industry, law firms, pediatric societies and advocacy groups, along with scientists, engineers, clinicians and policy makers to examine and discuss the challenges surrounding pediatric surgical innovation and the need for greater innovation.

The keynote speaker is Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, the commissioner of the FDA. Also among the line-up of distinguished speakers is Robert Campbell, MD, of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who is best known as the inventor of the Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib (VEPTR) device, which is used to treat rare diseases of the spine and chest wall without inhibiting a child's growth.

For symposium details and registration, visit www.pediatric-surgery-symposium.org. 

About Children's National Health System
Children's National Health System, based in Washington, D.C., has been serving the nation's children since 1870. Children's National's hospital is Magnet® designated and is consistently ranked among the top pediatric hospitals by U.S.News & World Report. Home to the Children's Research Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's National is one of the nation's top NIH-funded pediatric institutions. With a community-based pediatric network, eight regional outpatient centers, an ambulatory surgery center, two emergency rooms, an acute care hospital, and collaborations throughout the region, Children's National is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as an advocate for all children. For more information, visit ChildrensNational.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Children's National Health System