Children's National Announces Finalists for Pediatric Medical Device Competition

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Eight finalists, representing outstanding pediatric medical device innovations, have been selected to pitch their device concept for a chance to receive one of two $50,000 awards at the Third Annual Pediatric Surgical Innovation Symposium hosted by the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children's National Health System on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015. Selected from a competitive field of 53 entries received from across the US and internationally, the finalists are:

• Healthcare Unbound, San Francisco, Calif. – noninvasive therapy for chest deformities in children
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Media Lab, Cambridge, Mass. –  device that provides improved sensitivity and accuracy of ear infection diagnostics
• Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, Texas – internal, motorized bone lengthener device for children
• Stanford University, Stanford, Calif. – neonatal umbilical catheter stabilization and infection protection device
• AventaMed, Cork, Ireland – pediatric ear tube device that does not require full general anesthesia
• Children's National Health System, Washington, DC – real-time, non-invasive fetal electrocardiogram to diagnose fetal arrhythmias
• Prospiria, Inc., Galveston, Texas – noninvasive device using optoacoustic imaging to monitor endotracheal tube positioning for pediatric life support patients
• Actuated Medical, Bellefonte, Pa. – controlled, micron-scale needle oscillation system to enable oblique access as well as reduce insertion force, anesthesia exposure, and reoperation rates for pediatric bone biopsies and bone marrow aspirations.

"We received so many stellar entries this year that truly address a significant unmet need within the pediatric population – it was quite difficult for the committee to narrow down the top eight finalists," said Kolaleh Eskandanian, PhD, MBA, PMP, Executive Director of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation. "This impressive line-up features eight inspiring ideas that can make a major difference in the care of pediatric patients and we look forward to providing funding support to two of these innovators in the hopes of bringing their device to market faster."

Each finalist will have five minutes to present their proposal to the judging panel, which includes Bryan Vartabedian, MD, of Texas Children's Hospital, who will also serve as moderator; Charles Berul, MD, of  Children's National; Martha Connolly, PhD, of Mtech Baltimore; Mark Fitzgerald of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati; Tiffany Karp of Global Center for Medical Innovation; Peyvand Khaleghian, MD, PhD, of Avicenna Partners Investment Company; and one of the 2014 competition winners, Justin G. Shaka, MBA, of REBIScan. The format includes a five-minute question-and-answer period following the oral presentation.

The "Make your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!" competition is a part of the Sheikh Zayed Institute's Third Annual Pediatric Surgical Innovation Symposium, "Children's Need Must Drive Market Speed," on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015 at the Newseum in Washington, DC. The one-day forum will bring together patient advocates, researchers, innovators, venture capitalists, regulators, and policy makers, including key leaders from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to examine and discuss the challenges surrounding the pediatric market and the need for incentives and legislation to stimulate pediatric surgical and device innovation. Keynote speakers include Robert M. Califf, MD, MACC, Deputy Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco at the FDA, who was recently nominated for FDA Commissioner, and Geoffrey Ling, MD, PhD, leading innovator and Director of DARPA Biological Technologies.

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, DC, has been serving the nation's children since 1870. Children's National is Magnet® designated, and was ranked among the top 10 pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report 2015-16. 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, seven 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

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