Science & Technology

3i Nanotech is developing a point-of-care (POC) platform technology to monitor protein biomarkers in human samples (e.g. blood). The primary focus of the device is for monitoring troponin T, a biomarker for cardiac damage in human blood, with the goal of facilitating early diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI, commonly known as a heart attack).

In the US, approximately one million MIs occur annually, and in addition to being one of the leading causes of death in both men and women, they are one of the most expensive conditions during inpatient hospitalizations.

A POC device that could be used in a prehospital setting to diagnose MI would provide a substantial benefit to patients. The customer of the proposed innovation is any individual or institution involved in the transport, treatment, or care of patients suspected to have suffered a cardiac event.

Emergency rooms, ambulances, patient transport services, urgent care facilities, physician offices, and military facilities are key targets for utilizing this innovation. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and doctors and nurses within the emergency room (ER) have all stated that a prehospital POC device for troponin testing would be highly beneficial.