Creavo Medical Technologies has announced that electrophysiology expert, Dr Faizel Osman, has accepted an invitation to join its distinguished medical advisory board.
A consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust; he will advise the firm along with other members of the board on the potential applications and research areas for its magnetocardiography (MCG) device.
Creavo’s device is a uniquely-portable diagnostic technology capable of measuring, displaying and storing electromagnetic fluctuations caused by heart activity.
Steve Parker, chief executive officer of Creavo, said: “We’ve done a great deal of work so far looking at the device’s applications within emergency care for the detection of ischaemia, but we know its potential reaches far beyond that.
“We’re delighted to have Dr Osman on board. His extensive expertise in cardiac device implants and cardiac electrophysiology will give us valuable insights into the diverse possibilities within magnetocardiography.
“We’ll be looking to bring in experts in other medical fields to help us maximise the potential for the device to improve healthcare delivery.”
The firm’s medical advisory board is chaired by Dr Richard Charles, Emeritus consultant cardiologist at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, and also comprises:
- Professor John Camm – former chair of clinical cardiology at St George’s University of London
- Dr Robert Henderson - consultant cardiologist at the Trent Cardiac Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals
- Professor Rod Stables - consultant cardiologist and professor of interventional cardiology at the University of Liverpool
- Dr Francis Morris - consultant in emergency medicine and clinical director of the Emergency department and Major Trauma Centre at Sheffield Teaching Hospital in Sheffield
Discussing Creavo’s medical advisory board, Robert Barr, the company’s chairman, said: “It’s rare for a medical company at our stage to have access to such a depth of expertise. But it demonstrates our commitment to exploring the full potential for this device, which is already undergoing clinical trials in five major emergency departments across the UK.”
In emergency medicine, the technology has the ability to meet an urgent clinical need, to help physicians quickly rule out serious heart-related problems at the point of admission to emergency departments.
Identifying these patients early reduces patient anxiety and can save the hospitals valuable time, resources and bed space. Financially, the device has the potential to save the UK healthcare system alone up to £200m a year.
Following initial funding, the company raised £13.4m ($17m) in private equity funding in July 2017 for its MCG device. The round was oversubscribed and exceeded Creavo’s funding target, reflecting strong investor support and endorsement of the firm’s strategy and team.
