IMMERSIVE MINDFULNESS PLATFORM LAUNCHES

Estonia-born MindSpa app, Synctuition has partnered up with haptic sound technology company, Woojer, to create an immersive mindfulness experience for its users.

Synctuition's platform uses 3D sounds recorded in over 2000 locations allowing for accurate replication of those environments. This creates something called environmental psychology, helping its listeners achieve deep relaxation by feeling like they are in these natural dreamscapes.

Co-founder of Synctuition Michael Burich said: “For a long time, we looked at the potential crossover of the mindfulness and gaming worlds, and this is our first of many steps into gaming. When paired with the spectacular audio journeys of Synctuition, we came up with what we feel is almost a new category of entertainment. That’s why this partnership made so much sense.”

CROWDFUNDING TO TAKE SURGICAL ROBOTS GLOBAL

UK-based medical technology company, Freehand has launched a crowdfunding round to support international expansion for its robotic surgical camera controllers.

The company is seeking up to £1 million in investment via Crowdcube to establish a global team of clinical training specialists across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Freehand’s robots are used in keyhole procedures to provide surgeons with images and remove the need for camera-holding assistants to attend operations. Surgeons using Freehand gain control of the image they see using a head-mounted controller.

FIRST NHS TRUST ACHIEVES RAPID GO-LIVE

The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS trust in Greater Manchester has become the first of eight NHS trusts to deploy an imaging IT solution from Sectra.

This is part of a new region-wide approach to analysing X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, mammography, and crucial diagnostic images.

Known as a PACS, or picture archiving and communication system, the imaging solution is used by hospital staff to interrogate patient images digitally. The new PACS replaces ageing IT and is currently delivering benefits to staff such as being able to view and report on images remotely.

Healthcare professionals at the trust have begun using the new imaging solution only weeks after the Greater Manchester Provider Federation Board signed a contract with medical imaging IT and cybersecurity company Sectra in October 2020.

FUND LAUNCHED TO FIGHT DEMENTIA

European life sciences investor, LSP has announced the launch of the LSP Dementia Fund, a fund dedicated to fight neurodegenerative diseases. The fund will be managed by Netherlands-based Professor Philip Scheltens, a dementia scientist and thought leader.

The LSP Dementia Fund focuses on dementia drug and medtech development and offers the combination of LSP's investment experience with Philip Scheltens' scientific acumen and network of dementia experts and research institutions.

The focus will be on finding treatments to battle the different neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, as well as generating a financial return for investors.

NEW PATIENT PORTAL FOR ROYAL FREE LONDON

UK-based healthcare technology company, Induction has announced a contract with the Royal Free London NHS FT (RFL).

Induction Zesty, a provider of patient portals to NHS Hospitals, has delivered the My RFL Care patient portal as the first phase of a roadmap for RFL’s digital patient services in the next two years.

The My RFL Care portal launched in August 2020 and has had over 50,000 patients using the service in the first few months. It has been predicted that 250,000 patients will adopt the service in the first year.

Induction Zesty aims to implement patient-centric technology and reduce whole-system costs for hospitals by alleviating the strain on hospital resources.

EUROPEAN TELEMEDICINE COMPANY EXPANDS GROWTH

German and UK digital healthcare provider, Zava has acquired the German digital health startup, Medlanes, with its network of more than 200 local GPs and specialists across Germany.

Zava aims to continue its growth in the UK and Europe and expand its range of services to include a component for local care. Medlanes has since grown into the German market by arranging private doctors visits in patients’ homes.

David Meinertz, CEO Zava, says: “The acquisition of Medlanes is an important step in our growth strategy. With Medlanes’ strong network of doctors, we can bridge the gap between online healthcare and local structures. We offer up-to-date care that focuses on health conscious patients."

HUMAN BYTES ANNOUNCES FIRST PARTNERSHIP  

Danish-based AI healthcare company, Human Bytes has announced its first partnership agreement with Mirada Medical, an international brand in advanced technology and AI-based applications to improve cancer care.

This partnership is part of a wider initiative to expand Mirada’s footprint into the Nordic region, equipping the region with AI technology to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment by liaising with clinicians.

The partnership with Mirada will grant Human Bytes access to Mirada’s DLCExpert product, focused on improving the radiation therapy workflow in cancer treatment. DLCExpert is an Organs at Risk (OAR) autocontouring system that has been developed using deep learning technology.