Innovation from Bulgaria will save lives

A small Bulgarian medical research company has succeeded in its ambitious goal of creating a portable telemetry ECG device that facilitates early diagnosis of cardio diseases and helps save lives.

Innovato Clinical was established in 2015 with the mission to contribute to the improvement of the national health indicators, which place Bulgaria at the top of global and European rankings in mortality from cardiovascular diseases. Among the main reasons for the dismal statistics are the lack of mass prevention and prophylactics and the low level of health culture.

The company was founded by Dr. Rostislava Dimitrova, a physician with many years of experience in national and European institutions. The idea for the telemetry device was born in 2016 year with the participation of the engineering team of prof. Ivo Iliev from the Technical University of Sofia, with whom the company partners closely in development.

With this device, the patient will be able to examine himself at home and transmit his data remotely to a doctor.

"The difficulties from the idea to the completion of the product and then to its realisation were really huge. There was no one to tell me about it at the beginning - and perhaps this is very good!" says Dr Dimitrova.

Mission "Life"

The device is an innovative medical device of class 2a according to the new European regulation.

It was developed by the team of the Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, which is part of the Centre of Excellence in Mechatronics and Clean Technologies at the Technical University of Sofia.

Its clinical testing was conducted at the University Hospital "Alexandrovska" by Prof. Dr. Emil Manov and Dr. Krasimira Koshtikova, who, according to Dr. Dimitrova, are brilliant doctors, open to innovation for the benefit of people with cardiological problems.

Every patient will now be able to record their ECG and transmit it in the form of an audible signal over the phone to a doctor who can read it and give guidance. This facilitates early detection, remote monitoring and prevention of cardiovascular events, which proves crucial in pandemic or in remote areas.

In addition to medics and engineers, the team behind Inovato Clinical's project includes patent attorneys, IT specialists and product designers.

"Everyone is exceptionally good in their field. We are motivated by the desire to be part of something new, to create something useful," says Dr Dimitrova.

The innovative project has been approved by the Ministry of Innovation and Growth for grant funding under a European program. For its rapid implementation, the company received crucial support from the Bulgarian Development Bank for accelerated absorption of EU funds. It provides bridge financing to companies with approved projects under European and national programs.

For the state-owned bank, this is a cause - part of its strategy to support small and medium-sized businesses and the development of innovation in key sectors such as healthcare.

"Without the European funding and assistance from BDB we would not have succeeded. We still have job to do, but we are moving forward," says the founder of the medical research company.

Looking into the future

The project to deploy the vital device should be completed by the end of the year, when it is also planned to launch on the market. The team's ambition is high.

"The global medical device market is in strong growth, with an estimated value of $886.68 billion by 2032, and we want to be part of that change," says Dr. Rostislava Dimitrova.
In order to allow Bulgarian patients to make the most of the telemetric ECG monitoring device, she hopes that the innovation will be included in the list of medical devices and medical services that are financed by the NHIF. The team already has a plan for another innovative healthcare product, and believes that this time it will succeed faster with its implementation.