'Revolutionary' femtech start-up awarded development grant

UK-based FemTech innovator Matrix has been awarded £5,000 by London-based manufacturing specialist Get It Made to accelerate testing of its AI-powered diagnostic device, designed to overhaul “archaic” gynae examinations and procedures.

Cited as a ground-breaking, 21st century replacement of the speculum, Matrix is a digitally enabled, AI-supported pelvic assessment and diagnosis tool, designed for self-application so that patients can fully control the experience.

It also has the potential to improve medical engagement with life-saving gynaecological appointments to help revolutionise genealogical healthcare and accelerate diagnosis.

The device will enable patients to perform the digital examination themselves as well as take a swab for specimen collection, before receiving their results via an app. The patient becomes the portable data carrier of their own personal clinical record, allowing for long-term data collection and follow up.

The practice of the clinicians is equally optimised through an AI software which not only aims to reduce scheduling but also helps with clinical pathways and accuracy in diagnosis.

Stiliyana Minkovska, Founder and CEO said: “The grant will enable us to produce multiple prototypes to potentially distribute to multiple potential early adopters and users (clinicians such as OBGYNs, nurses, GPs and other specialist practitioners such as in colposcopy clinics).

Grants like this are so important on many levels, not least to address the bigger picture, to give a much-needed platform and voice for FemTech innovators. They allow women to build for women, so products like Matrix can get to the prototyping phase, thus enhancing the opportunity for gaining further visibility and bringing it a step closer to reality.

“We have a five-year plan to market which involves initially tapping into both private and public health sectors. Ultimately, our long-term ambition is to have Matrix available in less developed countries where women don’t have access to basic healthcare, let alone reproductive or sexual health and care.”

30 per cent of women experience severe reproductive health problems and less than half of women seek the necessary help, with 33 per cent of the global disease burden amongst women being sexual and reproductive ill-health.

Luke Smoothy, founder and director of Get It Made, commented: “Through offering our state-of-the-art manufacturing services, we’re delighted to be supporting this project which not only has the potential to save lives and improve outcomes for patients, but also empower females and help reduce health inequalities in women around the world.

“There has never been a greater need for innovation in the NHS and this grant will help unleash the multiple benefits this technology offers, identifying health issues and diseases much faster as well as avoiding impersonal, often undignified investigations which often discourage women from seeking vital health advice in the first place.”

Dr John Horton, practice director at NHS Park End Surgery, Hampstead, also sees the huge potential of Matrix to radically change healthcare through its use in wider applications: “This is such an exciting opportunity to assess patients with dignity. I can see so many different applications, for instance, for rectal application when examining, even men, for spinal injuries.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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