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Birth device firm seeks funding Birth device firm seeks funding
(1 day later)
A company that has developed a device for predicting the onset of labour weeks in advance of childbirth hopes to attract international investment.A company that has developed a device for predicting the onset of labour weeks in advance of childbirth hopes to attract international investment.
Inverness-based IVMD also aims to draw the interest of large biotech companies to its products at an BioEquity Europe conference being hosted in Glasgow.Inverness-based IVMD also aims to draw the interest of large biotech companies to its products at an BioEquity Europe conference being hosted in Glasgow.
The Scottish Enterprise event is being held on 21 and 22 May. The Prediction of Labour Onset (Polo) tool uses electrical signals in the womb to determine the date of birth.
IVMD is one of a number of Scottish life science businesses attending the conference. IVMD said it could predict childbirth up to two weeks in advance.
Developers hope it will prevent mothers who wrongly believe they are in labour being admitted to hospital.
So far the device has been trialled on 60 women at Leeds University but medical chiefs say further research is needed if it is to be rolled out.
Electrical signals
IVMD research and development manager John Gilmour said: "This device could potentially save the NHS millions of pounds.
"It would help reduce the number of women going into hospital only to be told they are not in labour.
"All we need now is some more investment so we can bring this to the marketplace."
The device works through electrodes which are attached to the woman's abdomen to measure the intensity and frequency of electrical signals in her womb wall.
Computer equipment then analyses the data, allowing scientists to predict a birth date.
More funding would help them develop a hand-held device for women to use and investigate whether the device is commercially viable.