Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOGR20250609010
- Term of Validity
- 9 June 2025 - 9 June 2026
- Company's Country
- Greece
- Type of partnership
- Investment agreement
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
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A Greek company is developing a patented series of multifunctional handheld surgical instruments that greatly simplifies operative procedures, reducing operative time and postoperative complications.
The company is seeking a long-term partnership with a surgical instrument manufacturer that has the knowhow to co-develop the company’s instruments through a commercial agreement with technical assistance, an investment agreement or a research cooperation agreement. - Full Description
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Globally, a staggering 310 million major surgeries are performed each year; around 40 to 50 million in USA and 20 million in Europe. It is estimated that 1–4% of these patients will die, up to 15% will have serious postoperative morbidity, and 5–15% will be readmitted within 30 days.
Operative complications occur in 20% of patients who undergo surgery, double when operative duration exceeds two hours and increase by 14% for every additional 30 minutes of operative time.
Their adverse consequences affect patients’ mortality, morbidity, quality of recovery, dependence on care from family and friends, (in)ability to work, in-hospital costs (which increase 25%-175%), out-hospital costs, hospital re-admissions, as well as hospital and healthcare systems’ infrastructure.
The most repetitive and time-consuming tasks in every operation, in all surgical disciplines, are
● Aspiration - for evacuating fluids and coagulation's fumes, with aspiration probes
● Irrigation - for washing out blood clots and debris with irrigation probes or syringes
● Tissue manipulation - with atraumatic forceps
● Haemostasis - with bipolar electrosurgical forceps
● Sharp tissue dissection - with scissors
● Adjustment of illumination, by manipulating ceiling-mounted light sources.
The above tasks need coordinated movements of two or more surgeons, in a confined space, under time pressure. This coordination is difficult, frustrating and time consuming.
Surgical workflow is further interrupted by the need to continuously exchange instruments with scrub nurses, clean charred tissue from bipolar forceps’ distal tips, unblock aspiration probes from blood clots, adjust the ceiling’s light sources, synchronize irrigation with coagulation, adjust its flow rate and direct it exactly at the bleeding, adjust aspiration force, etc. All the above together significantly increase operative time.
With the company’s instrument,these intricate processes have been streamlinedinto a singular, user-friendly device, which renders the surgeon independent from the continuous need of coordination and synchronization with assistants, thus enhancing surgical safety, accuracy and speed.
By consolidating all essential surgical functions, the instrument enables a substantial reduction in operative time upon its adoption. This reduction directly corresponds to minimized operative complications, thereby enhancing clinical outcomes and significantly decreasing overall treatment costs, as well as the operational burden on healthcare facilities.
Given the projected surge in the demand for surgical care globally, the heightened risk of postoperative complications and the escalating economic challenges in healthcare funding, there is an imperative need to mitigate surgical complications.
An annual global mortality of around 8 million patients places major surgery comparable with the leading causes of death: cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer and injury. If surgical complications were classified as a pandemic such as HIV/AIDS or coronavirus (COVID-19), developed countries would work together and devise an immediate action plan and allocate resources to address it.
The innovative instrument is uniquely positioned to champion this cause without demanding alterations to established surgical techniques and practically no learning curve. It simplifies operations by allowing for fewer movements, quicker procedures and thus fewer complications. The innovation aligns with the needs of healthcare, such as efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and improved patient outcomes.
Manufacturers of surgical instruments are sought not only to manufacture the company’s product but to share expertise to develop it and other innovative instruments. This cooperation may take the form of a commercial agreement with technical assistance, an investment agreement or a research cooperation agreement. - Advantages and Innovations
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1. Reduction of Operative Complications: The innovative device effectively combines six instruments into one, minimizing delays arising from instrument exchanges and the surgeon's coordination with assistants. This consolidation of functions translates to less workflow interruptions, less operative complications, higher surgical accuracy and safety, and a better clinical outcome.
2. Efficient Resource Utilization: the reduction of operative time translates into more efficient use of the operative facilities. Also, the anticipated reduction of operative complications translates into more efficient use of hospital facilities and less burden on healthcare system.
3. Cost Savings for Patients: A reduction in postoperative complications is the main way this innovation saves patient costs. The increase in surgery costs associated with postoperative complications ranges from 25% to 175% - without calculating out-of-hospital costs, mortality, morbidity, quality of recovery, dependence on care from family or friends, (in)ability to work, out-of- hospital costs, hospital re-admissions, and the burden for the infrastructure of hospitals, healthcare and insurance systems.
4. Improved Working Conditions: The device's function transforms surgical teams' working conditions, minimizing stress and fatigue imposed by the continuous need of coordinating 3-6 hands, in a small surgical field, under time pressure. Reduced instrument exchanges and need to coordinate their use, alleviate stress during critical moments, enhancing safety, accuracy, efficiency and fostering a more focused and satisfied surgical team.
5. Smooth Market Entry: The device’s user-friendly design and minimal learning curve for both surgeons and nurses facilitates rapid integration into existing surgical procedures. - Stage of Development
- Under development
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- IPR status
- IPR granted
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
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The Greek company is actively seeking a partner in the field of medical device manufacturing with experience in electrosurgical equipment and bipolar cautery manufacturing, especially using modern manufacturing techniques involving use of metallic and plastic components.
The ideal collaborator should be an established manufacturer, with a proven track record in producing similar instruments and obtaining regulatory approvals by EMA and FDA.
The following technical specifications and expertise sought in the context of a commercial agreement with technical assistance, an investment agreement and/or a research cooperation agreement:
1. Experience in surgical instrument manufacturing:
● Demonstrated expertise in crafting high-quality, precision instruments for surgical applications.
2. Proficiency in bipolar cautery equipment:
● Established experience in manufacturing bipolar cautery equipment.
● In-depth knowledge of the design, functionality, and safety standards associated with bipolar cautery devices.
3. Willingness to collaborate on the device’s prototype finalization:
● Openness to actively contribute to finalizing the company’s series of prototypes.
● Ability to provide valuable insights and enhancements to ensure the prototypes meet industry standards and regulatory requirements.
4. Commitment to Collaborate for Regulatory Approval in Europe and U.S. (CE mark, FDA approval):
● Proven experience in navigating regulatory processes.
● Collaboration potential for overseeing and participating in clinical trials to validate the safety, efficacy, and performance of medical devices.
5. Capability to streamline production processes:
● Demonstrated ability to optimize and streamline manufacturing processes.
● Implementation of efficient production methodologies to ensure scalability and consistency in the manufacturing of the final marketable product.
6. Commitment to long-term collaboration:
● Dedication to establishing a long-term collaborative partnership.
● Willingness to contribute ongoing expertise to enhance product iterations and address evolving market needs.
The company’s objective is to form a collaborative partnership that goes beyond the immediate production requirements. A manufacturer is sought who can actively contribute to the refinement of prototypes, ensuring they evolve into final marketable products, and who is committed to a sustained collaboration for developing a full series of surgicalinstruments. - Type and Size of Partner
- Other
- SME 11-49
- Big company
- SME 50 - 249
- Type of partnership
- Investment agreement
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 06001017 - Surgery
- 06001021 - Single Use Products and Consumer Goods
- Market keywords
- 05007007 - Other medical/health related (not elsewhere classified)
- 05004006 - Surgical instrumentation and equipment
- 05007001 - Disposable products
- Sector Groups Involved
- Health
- Targeted countries
- All countries