The CSIRO/HD Medical integrated device

HD Medical and CSIRO sign agreement for non-contact heart sensor

Reference: 06/261

CSIRO has announced the signing of a licensing agreement with Melbourne based bio-technology medical device company, HD Medical Group Limited, for commercial application of its non-contact sensor technology.

20 December 2006

The exclusive global agreement will support development of devices that detect, analyse and diagnose structural cardiac faults.

CSIRO and HD Medical envisage a worldwide market for these products which are unique in their applicability to both developed and developing countries.

Mr Jay Jethwa, Managing Director of HD Medical, says that the company has already been awarded a competitive Commercialising Emerging Technologies grant by the Federal Government for its patented and patent-pending breakthrough technology that helps in early detection of cardio-vascular defects.

“The partnership with CSIRO will create further technologies that will bring considerable economic value to Australia, and be of benefit to physicians and patients alike in tackling the global scourge of heart related problems,” says Mr Jethwa.

Clinical trials of the CSIRO/HD Medical integrated device are planned for early next year at the Monash University Centre for Clinical Research Excellence at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne under the direction of world-renowned cardiologist, Professor Henry Krum.

says Mr Jethwa.

CSIRO’s Vital Signs Sensor Technology (patent pending) is the result of research completed by the Wireless Technologies Laboratory in the CSIRO ICT Centre at Marsfield in Sydney, and uses a unique Radio Frequency method to monitor heart and lung conditions without skin contact and over clothing.

Mr Iain Walker, Business Development Manager for the Wireless Technologies Laboratory, says that the
multi-modal research integration planned by HD Medical is targeting a new gold standard for heart diagnostics, which could lead to the creation of a heart failure predictive tool in the future.

“Clinical trials and product development are expected to proceed immediately, with HD Medical targeting the supply of the technology to the global market over the next two years,” says Mr Walker.

“Through CSIRO’s research success, Australia now has the opportunity to establish leadership in this field.”