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ZENO Pursues Super-Bug Device Development
Zenosense is focused on emerging technology. From the start, the healthcare technology company has sought to develop an operational Super-Bug or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) detector for use in hospitals, clinical environments and other healthcare settings.
Last year, Zenosense outsourced the development of its device to The Sgenia Group, a well-known sensor developer. Sgenia intends to model the new device after the algal (water) sensor platform it developed and to use a solo, commercial “off-the-shelf” gas sensor to sample the air and continuously check for the airborne Volatile Organic Compounds signature emitted by MRSA/SA. The device development process is intended to be completed in three distinct phases:
• Phase 1
The first phase will be to produce a prototype that leverages Sgenia’s technology and successfully detects MRSA/SA contamination. Significant engineering work will be needed to adjust and adapt existing sensor capabilities to the planned application. The modification of algorithms will also be required to conform to MRSA/SA bacteria analysis. All of these developments will most likely be protected as industrial secrets rather than patents.
• Phase 2
The second phase will be to build prototypes as well as conduct lab tests with a minimum of 20 beta versions of the MRSA/SA detection device. Next, a pre-production design appropriate for hospital use will have to be delivered. A vital aspect of this phase will be authenticating the device and achieving accuracy and repeatability. Testing will include: addressing the contaminating influences of environmental conditions, like humidity, temperature and other gasses, as well as the interference from other families of bacteria; and achieving the standard and quality levels required for hospital use.
• Phase 3
The third and final phase will be to obtain pertinent regulatory approvals in the United States and European Union and to produce a final product ready for mass production and marketing. Steps during this phase will include: final testing by an external and specialist laboratory of microbiology; preparing and pursuing applications for approval; remedying any problems detected during testing; as well as preparing for mass production of the device, once all relevant tests and approvals are obtained.
The development of the Zenosense device started in December 2013. Months later, in late October 2014, Zenosense announced that major progress had been made in the development of its MRSA/SA detector. The prototype device successfully achieved a sensibility detection rate greater than 95% on cultured headspace in a sequence of tests over a two-week period in a clinical setting. The general development of the device technology, which will detect the MRSA Super-Bug, was also proceeding in line with the company’s expectations.
For more information, visit www.zenosense.net
