National Science Foundation Awards Grant to Altrix Medical
Updated: Oct 21, 2022
I am thrilled to announce that the National Science Foundation has awarded Altrix Medical a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant to continue research and development of a miniaturized automated external defibrillator (AED) for smartphones. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) will kill more than 325,000 Americans this year outside of the hospital and can cause death if it is not treated in minutes. A miniaturized AED embedded in a smartphone case could save lives by making these devices more available and ensuring those who carry them are reachable by emergency medical services. Through this research, hundreds of thousands of lives can be saved each year.
This SBIR Phase I project will prove out the concept of a regulatory-compliant miniaturized AED that integrates with a smartphone. The work includes researching and designing components and electronics that will enable creation of this critical medical device. Under this award we will (1) design and develop the miniaturized components, interconnects, firmware and software necessary to implement the hand-held AED smartphone and (2) develop the smartphone software and firmware necessary to implement the device itself, guide a user through the emergency protocol, and send GPS information to EMS to allow them to locate first responders. Research and designs developed as part of this effort will also offer insight into the miniaturization of electronics both within and outside the medical domains.
On behalf of Dan and myself, we’d like to say thank you to everyone for their support. We’re excited to partner with NSF to push the envelop in the immediate treatment of sudden cardiac arrest.
About America’s Seed Fund America’s Seed Fund powered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $1.5 million in non-dilutive funds to support research and development (R&D),helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America’s Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $7.8 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. For more information, visit seedfund.nsf.gov.