Loughborough University spin out Dialog Devices is NHS Showcase company - October 2008
It has just been announced that Dialog Devices, makers of Padd, the Peripheral Artery Disease assessment device, are an exemplar of innovation and practicality. Padd will be showcased in the NHS Alliance 2008 Conference this month.
Department of Health has awarded Dialog Devices a £400k Health Technology Devices Grant to aid the introduction of Padd to Doctors’ Surgeries and other primary care units. This national multi-centre study is being led by Professor Kamlesh Khunti, an an advisor to the National Screening Committee on Vascular Screening and Royal College of General Practitioners’ Representative for the Quality and Outcomes Framework Review Panel for Cardiovascular disease.
Professor Khunti commented: “Currently many patients in primary care have subclinical cardiovascular disease. This device, if successful, would enable us to identify people at future risk of cardiovascular disease who would substantially benefit from preventative therapies."
Padd is a non-invasive application which allows for rapid and simple assessment of blood circulation in the lower limbs and feet. The test takes under five minutes and, because it requires minimal training, it can be operated at a primary care level, reducing the need for patients to travel to hospital and speeding a diagnosis of Peripheral Artery Disease.
Dialog Devices is also making an impact in the US where Peripheral Artery Disease is a widespread matter for concern. Padd was runner up in the Silicon Valley Boomer Business Plan competition which aims to highlight products addressing the particular needs of the Baby Boomer Generation. Padd was also recently awarded the first ever Lord Stafford Awards for Innovation in Development the East Midlands.
Since getting seed funding in 2005, Dialog Devices has grown organically, recruiting senior technology and regulatory appointments in 2008. Speaking of the successful progress of the company, Chief Executive Jody Brown said, “It is a notoriously long road to get new medical devices into use in patients, but we have had terrific support from the Department of Health and the NHS where the early diagnosis of Peripheral Artery Disease will save time and resources, benefiting patients.” She continues, “Whilst Government policy in recent years has focused on supporting the finance, retail and housing sectors, our success demonstrates the great potential of technology-based starts ups to contribute to national economic prosperity, even in these difficult times.”