Technology Development
Business Development
Revenue
Exited
2013
About
Omeq Medical has developed a single-use, smart epidural needle system for safe, accurate epidural injections.
Attached to a standard epidural needle, a special blunted probe repeatedly monitors the dynamic forces exerted by the surrounding tissues and accurately detects needle penetration into the epidural space. Once successful positioning is confirmed with a visual signal, the device’s safety mechanism protects the patient from inadvertent puncture of the spine.
Market Need
Locating the epidural space that surrounds the spinal cord requires extensive physician training and relies heavily on feel. Drugs (“epidurals”) injected into this very narrow space (only 4 millimeters wide) are used for anesthesia and analgesic purposes both during and after surgery.
Inaccurate needle placement occurs in up to 30% of cases, resulting in ineffective drug delivery, multiple insertions, and post-complications such as severe headaches or nerve damage.
