Each year, at least 1.7 million adults in the United States and millions more worldwide develop sepsis, a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body s immune system has an extreme response to an infection. The condition, which can be difficult to detect and treat, rapidly damages tissues and vital organs and is one of the leading causes of death in hospitals.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded medical device start-up Opticyte for its Cell O2 Patient Monitor that provides real-time, continuous monitoring of patients at risk of organ failure.
UW spinout Opticyte lands $4.6M to test device that quickly detects early signs of organ failure
January 12, 2021 at 3:55 pm
Lori Arakaki, Opticyte co-founder and CEO. (Opticyte Photo)
University of Washington biotech spinout Opticyte has landed $2.9 million in federal grants and $1.7 million in seed funding. The Seattle startup is developing a non-invasive technology that can detect oxygen levels in cells in real time.
The Opticyte Cell O
2 Monitor could help in the treatment of sepsis, which is an infection that runs amuck and can cause organs to shut down, resulting in death. If a sepsis patient sees their cellular oxygen levels drop, it can be an indication of the onset of organ failure.