Inventor : Ruben Ruiz-Mateos Serrano, Electrical Engineering & Polytecks
Polytecks is a newly-formed spin-out from the University of Cambridge, which has participated in the Maxwell Centre’s impulse programme, Innovate UK’s iCURE and SPARK 1.0. Based on work from the founder’s PhD research, Polytecks is focused on improving the measurements used to diagnose and monitor cardiac and non-cardiac conditions by both doctors and vets.
The technology is based on the concept of smart textiles. It uses multiple small electrodes embedded in fabric, making it easy to position and to wear over a number of days. The fabrication process has been designed to be scalable and low-cost, and novel machine-learning algorithms are used to interpret the data gathered.
In Michaelmas term, an i-Team investigated the use of this technology for monitoring and screening of cardiac conditions in humans and animals, which is the initial target application.
Additionally the technology can be used to monitor any part of the body where electrical signals have an impact. This is expected to include the brain and digestive system, contractions of the uterus, aspects of sight and hearing, as well as surface cancers, and these are the areas where the Medical i-Team will focus.
The challenge for the i-Team is to identify and interview a range of relevant experts, with the aim of investigating the multiple opportunities for using this technology for health monitoring in the medical and veterinary markets. The i-Team will look at which areas have the greatest need for a new technology of this type, and who Polytecks should work with to create a route to market.