In summer 2009, the English, Welsh and Scottish Paediatric Service identified a number of important clinical needs within the service. One of those needs - for non invasive technologies for children - is described below. The Service also suggested desired solutions, the business opportunities they might present and other requirements that might be needed to bring the concept to market.
Description
Suitable non invasive, or minimally invasive, technologies to that could be carried out at the bedside and offer multiple testing capability delivered via the same platform.
So, here's what the Paediatric Service said:
Wouldn't it be great if there were suitable non invasive technologies (or minimally invasive technologies) to replace the current invasive testing methods and which could be carried out at the bedside and offer multiple testing capability delivered via the same platform.
What they said about the need:
Worldwide, many children with long-term conditions require frequent blood tests to assess response to treatment or the progress of their condition. Currently this involves multiple blood tests, which are traumatic for the child both physically and mentally. In addition, this results in increased cost for the family and the health care system.
Currently potassium tests are done through venous stab or a full capillary gas, even though only the potassium value is necessary. Children and families have to travel sometimes tens of miles to the nearest laboratory to get samples done, an unsettling and stressful experience.
The needs is for a series of non invasive (or minimally invasive) tests which can be performed at the bedside, in the community or in the home. This would include basic chemistry such as Potassium and Sodium, urea and creatinine, full blood count, liver function tests as well as more specialised tests for some children.
A key would be to target the test that is needed and to use the same equipment that is portable and lightweight, provides instant results and uses the minimum of resources.
To register, please see:
http://competitions.nic.nhs.uk/ChallengeList.aspx