The startup develops transcutaneous electrostimulation technology to enhance respiratory muscle function, aimed at improving extubation success for patients on mechanical ventilation in intensive care units. This approach helps hospitals reduce ICU stays and improves patients' quality of life by facilitating more effective weaning from ventilators.
Funding
$2.9M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Patients in intensive care units who require mechanical ventilation often experience ventilation-induced muscle atrophy in key respiratory muscles, such as the diaphragm, intercostals, and abdominals. This muscle atrophy contributes to breathing difficulties, prolongs ICU stays, and complicates patient recovery.
Solution
Heecap provides a medical device that applies Transcutaneous Electrostimulation of Respiratory Muscles (TERM) synchronized with a patient's breathing pattern. The device stimulates both inspiratory and expiratory muscles to prevent and treat respiratory muscle atrophy. By improving respiratory muscle strength, Heecap aims to facilitate more successful weaning from mechanical ventilation, reduce the length of stay in the ICU, and improve the patient's overall quality of life. The device is currently undergoing validation in collaboration with university hospitals.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes intensive care units in hospitals and clinicians focused on improving extubation outcomes for patients on mechanical ventilation.
Features
- Non-invasive electrostimulation of respiratory muscles (diaphragm and abdominal muscles)
- Synchronization with the patient's breathing during inspiration and expiration
- Designed to prevent and treat ventilation-induced respiratory muscle atrophy
- Aims to improve respiratory muscle strength