The development of a device which harnesses AI to detect brain injuries in newborn babies is speeding up thanks to a funding boost.
NeuroBell, an Irish university spinout has developed technology that enables real-time, accurate detection of seizures in newborn babies needing additional care.
It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help clinicians diagnose abnormal brain activity faster, enabling early intervention that can improve outcomes.
NeuroBell was founded by Dr Mark O’Sullivan, Dr Alison O’Shea and Colm Murphy, and is a spin-out from University College Cork and the Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (Infant).
It aims to address what the founders see as a critical gap in the availability and accuracy of current technologies used to detect seizures in newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Early detection of seizures is crucial for enabling early interventions in infants with brain injury and may help reduce the impact of life-changing conditions such as epilepsy and cerebral palsy.
Currently, continuous electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring using large machines with limited availability is used to monitor newborn brain activity and they require specialised training to operate and interpret results.
Using embedded edge AI, NeuroBell has developed an easy-to-use, pocket-sized wireless brain monitor which can detect seizures in NICU patients.
The technology enables routine monitoring of babies across various hospital settings without the need for specialised expertise, the company says.
It has now secured €2.1m of investment from Furthr Venture Capital, Atlantic Bridge and HBAN MedTech Syndicate, with Enterprise Ireland and other private investors also investing in the round.
It is now focused on securing FDA approval before launching its device in the US market this year, followed by the European market.
The new funding round will enable NeuroBell to develop its product further, carry out additional clinical trials and expand its team. The company expects to begin commercial sales of its medical device next year.
Dr O’Sullivan said Neurobell will offer “gold-standard brain monitoring with automated decision support to patients in all settings”.
