Mechanical Ventilation Innovation Challenge

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier healthcare innovation marketplace, Edison Nation Medical, and the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), today announce a global search to uncover innovations for improving the process, outcomes and comfort for patients requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. This innovation search is open now through October 31, 2015. Additional information can be found at EdisonNationMedical.com/MechVent.

Innovation submissions will be reviewed through Edison Nation Medical's 8-step evaluation and the best ideas will be presented to medical device manufacturers for potential commercialization. Inventors receive an advance of $2500, 50% of licensing royalties or revenues and will be listed on the patent. 

Mechanical ventilation is one of the most common interventions used in the intensive care unit with more than half of the patients in the ICU being ventilated in the first 24 hours after ICU admission.  The expected national cost in year 2020 associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation is $60 billion.

Mechanical ventilation patients are comprised of individuals who have acute respiratory failure, compromised lung function, difficulty in breathing or failure to protect their airway.  Mechanical ventilation supports the patient's ability to breathe – how fast, how often, how deep.  The practitioner must be diligent as the patient's airway resistance and lung compliance may change quickly and patients are vulnerable to infection and machine malfunction while receiving mechanical ventilation. 

"Mechanical ventilation is a critical intervention for the most seriously ill patients and we know there are great ideas out there on how to improve the mode of delivery, safety, outcomes and comfort for patients," said Robert Grajewski, president of Edison Nation Medical. "AARC advocates on behalf of patients as well as respiratory care therapists and they're committed to uncovering innovations that improve patient outcomes."

AARC's Executive Director Thomas Kallstrom MBA, RRT FAARC shared, "The AARC is committed to supporting respiratory therapists by providing them with unique opportunities to share their creative and innovative ideas for consideration to be patented. Many respiratory therapists work extensively with mechanical ventilation and face daily challenges in its administration to patients – making it vital to explore their ideas that might improve processes, technology and overall patient care. We want to encourage our members to submit their ideas to Edison Nation Medical for evaluation, and utilize their membership benefits while contributing to the medical profession."

For more information about the Mechanical Ventilation innovation search or to submit an idea, please go to http://c.aarc.org/go/edisonvent.  Submissions require a minimal investment of $25 for AARC members. This search closes on October 31, 2015.

To learn more about Edison Nation Medical, please visit www.edisonnationmedical.com. Find out more about AARC at www.aarc.org.

About AARC

Founded in 1943, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is the leading national and international professional association for respiratory care. The AARC encourages and promotes professional excellence, advances the science and practice of respiratory care, and serves as an advocate for patients and their families, the public, the profession and the respiratory therapist.

About Edison Nation Medical

Edison Nation Medical is a healthcare innovation marketplace with deep expertise in open innovation, product development, and healthcare. Born out of collaboration with Carolinas HealthCare System (one of the largest public health system in the United States), Edison Nation Medical's mission is to break down the barriers to healthcare innovation. We make this a reality by providing a clear and easy pathway through our open innovation platform for anyone — physicians, nurses, entrepreneurs, even patients and caregivers — to submit a medical invention idea for full evaluation and potential commercialization. Edison Nation Medical innovation headquarters is in Charlotte, NC with satellite offices in San Francisco and New York City. For more information, please visit www.EdisonNationMedical.com or find Edison Nation Medical on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Edison Nation Medical