Date: May 15, 2013 Author: Ryan Kern Source: 2013 SBIR National Conference
Neurological disorders are among the leading causes of patient morbidity and mortality, particularly in the later stages of life. Due in part to our aging demographics, as well as a rise in traumatic head injuries with active combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, the care for patients with neurological disorders puts a tremendous financial strain on our healthcare system. Tools to automate the analysis of EEG to detect critical changes in brain function can provide more timely diagnoses, more effective treatments, and most importantly improved patient outcomes.
The innovative EEG analysis platform proposed holds promise to be the first such product with the accuracy to support real-time clinical utility. We estimate that the combined market in which Optima’s products and technology will compete is expected to be greater than $1 billion in the US alone. Optima expects to quickly grow the EEG monitoring market as no competing technologies exist that provide reliable neurological function information to clinical decision-makers. Through a close partnership with Tucker-Davis Technologies, Optima has the capability to design, clinically validate, manufacture and sell devices based on this novel platform for applications in both the clinical and neurophysiology research markets.
