ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Technology that predicts if a patient will become unstable hours before traditional vital signs are now backed with an $11.5 million Series A investment.
Fifth Eye Inc., a Michigan Medicine spinoff medical device software company, was founded in 2017 and received the investment to support its research, development, and commercialization of the Analytic for Hemodynamic Instability (AHI).
AHI is based on technologies developed at the University of Michigan Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care (MCIRCC).
Using advanced signal processing and machine learning, AHI continuously monitors and interprets electrocardiogram (ECG) signals to predict if a patient will become unstable several hours before traditional vital signs could indicate a dangerous episode or event is occurring.
AHI is used in hospital settings where patients have continuous ECG monitoring. Early identification of patients developing hemodynamic instability allows intervention before the condition becomes life- or organ-threatening. AHI updates a patient’s events every two minutes.
The U.S. Army originally developed the concept behind AHI as part of a simulated hypovolemia (hemorrhage) study. It was further developed at the University of Michigan.
For four years, a team of MCIRCC researchers, including clinicians, engineers, mathematicians, and data scientists, several of whom would eventually become the Fifth Eye team, developed a unique automated computer algorithm that uses data from a single lead of the non-invasive ECG signal for analysis and early identification of hemodynamic decline.
The new financing will secure FDA clearance, support clinical studies, and enable the product’s commercial launch.
“This product and company is a perfect example of MRCC’s strategy to transform critical care through innovation, integration, and entrepreneurship,” said Ke” in Ward, M.D., a co-inventor of the technology and the executive director of MCIRCC. “The key “is bringing together a highly multidisciplinary team committed to developing a life-saving ‘big data’ predation-medicine tool while understanding the need to develop and cultivate a crucial business case to move the idea to impact.”
“Saving” l” ves is what motivates both our team and our clinical champions,” said Je” Baird, chief executive officer of Fifth Eye and U-M alum. “This cap “tal round gives us the fuel to accomplish those goals.”
Baird contacted U-M Tech Transfer in 2017 to find new and innovative ideas to bring to the marketplace. After meeting and collaborating with the MCIRCC team for nine months, she licensed two of MRCC’s prMRCC’s analytics, including AHI.
Kelly Sexton, U-M associate vice president for research–technology transfer and innovation partnerships, says U-M Tech Transfer has a history of helping transform research discoveries and technologies into new products that improve lives and drive economic growth.
“Great things happen when we successfully connect transformative technologies with experienced and driven entrepreneurs,” she said. We are” excited to see Fifth Eye raise the funding required to bring their early warning system to the bedside, where it can improve patient outcomes.”
The last funding of AHI was led by two healthcare investors – Arboretum Ventures and Cultivation Capital. Joining the round were MINTS, the direct investing arm of the University of Michigan’s Michigan, and additional capital from previous investors, Invest Michigan, and 35 private angel investors. Tom Shehab, M.D., managing partner of Arboretum Ventures, Bill Schmidt, managing partner of Cultivation Capital, and Mark Salamango, chief technology officer of Fifth Eye, will join Baird on the company’s Directors.
Disclosure: Kevin Ward, M.D., has an ownership interest in Fifth Eye Inc.
