Sencilia BV has recently signed an intellectual property (IP) licence agreement with the University of Groningen (UG). The signing of the agreement marks the start of Sencilia’s actual commercialization of its technology. Sencilia, an early-stage startup company spun out from the BMBD group chaired by Prof. dr. Ajay Kottapalli, focuses on the development of advanced microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors that aim to significantly improve the accuracy of intravenous (IV) infusion therapy.
Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) often receive drugs and nutrients via intravenous (IV) infusions. In this therapy, accurate and stable flows are often necessary, particularly for vulnerable patients such as critically ill infants and adults. In practice, however, several factors such as occlusions can cause flow rates to fluctuate, and it has been estimated that over 60% of all IV infusions suffer from a flow rate error. These inadvertent interruptions in IV infusion flow are not always detected in a timely manner by current infusion systems, leading to serious clinical consequences for the patient.
First-of-its-kind IV monitoring sensors
Sencilia is developing innovative MEMS sensors that continuously monitor the IV infusion and alert the nurse instantly whenever a problem is detected in the IV line, enabling immediate intervention from the nurse. The technology reduces the risk of IV-related adverse drug events, thus improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs by shortening hospital stays. The product is being developed in close collaboration with clinicians and is designed to integrate easily into existing clinical workflows, ensuring better patient outcomes and ease of use for nurses. The startup company filed its first patent application together with the UG last year.
The next step: Regulatory certification
Sencilia was incorporated in Sep 2021 with the pre-seed investment of RUG Ventures and Triade, and recently received subsidies from the Dutch Research Council (NWO Take-off 2) and the European Regional Development Funds (SNN EFRO Valorisatie) to continue their technology and regulatory development. The Groningen spin-off will spend the coming period ensuring that its medical device is compliant with the medical device regulations in the EU in order to obtain the relevant certifications.
Amar Kamat, Sencilia’s Founder and CEO: ‘As engineers, we can come up with great ideas and test them in the lab, but ultimately what matters is whether those ideas can actually benefit patients and create value for the healthcare system. This is why we work closely with relevant stakeholders in the hospital to constantly test our assumptions. We are grateful to the UMCG clinicians and experts for their support in this process.’
Making an impact with your research
Prof. dr. Ajay Kottapalli, Scientific Founder of Sencilia, has a valuable tip for researchers who are considering taking their research results to market: ‘Make time for it! From my own experience, I can say that making an impact with your research brings a lot of fulfilment. Fortunately, I already see it happening around me, but the awareness in this field could definitely use another boost. A lot is possible.’
More information
For more information about Sencilia, please visit the website
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