New Device Aims to Streamline Stethoscopes, Make Assessments Faster

Nov. 19--A Wexford-based company is finding ways of improving the stethoscope, a medical mainstay for hundreds of years.

In early 2016, Rijuven Corp. plans to market a device that can do more than just listen, but also measure blood sugar, body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and amount of oxygen in the bloodstream, cofounder and CEO Evens Augustin said. The device -- called a clinic in a bag -- amps up the capabilities of the stethoscope.

The company is targeting primary care doctors, urgent care centers and paramedics for sales because the tool can quickly assess a person's vital signs. Measuring bloodstream oxygen, for example, can reflect how well the patient's lungs are working.

FDA approval of the device is not needed because each of the tools have already been approved separately.

The clinic in a bag, which attaches to a stethoscope, will complement the company's first product, called CardioSleeve. That device enhances the stethoscope's function by assessing heart valve function, heart rhythm and the force of the heart's contraction. In addition, the device can create an EKG printout of the heart's rhythm, giving doctors a real-time view of the beating heart.

"It's really about gathering sounds and deciphering what's happening in the heart," Mr. Augustin said.

The company, which employs six people, recently finished a trial of the "clinic in a bag" in rural India, where health care workers examined patients. Through a wireless connection, the results were transmitted to a server, which interpreted findings for doctors in Pittsburgh.

A pricing scale is still being worked out, but usage rates could range between $2 per patient for a clinic customer to a purchase price of $3,000 plus annual licensing fee for hospitals.

Mr. Augustin, 43, has a bachelor's degree in biomechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. He cofounded the company in 2012 with Raj Kapoor, a lung specialist who serves as president.

Mr. Augustin said the company is not yet profitable, but has raised $5 million from angel investors and loans.

Kris B. Mamula: kmamula@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1699.

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