Philips Healthcare has signed a non-exclusive patent license agreement with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory for a real-time patient monitoring application.
The license agreement was finalized on July 10. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The software is called Battlefield Assisted Trauma Distributed Observation Kit, or Batdok. It was developed as a wearable by the 711th Human Performance Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Here’s how it works: The technology lets a medic monitor more than one casualty in the field using a tablet or smartphone. The medic can place wireless sensors on the patient, and said sensors will then send vitals information to Batdok. The application also keeps track of all vital signs recorded by the attending staff.
Overall, the aim is to provide medical personnel with all necessary information on a patient and any changes in his or her condition.
Through the acquisition, Philips can finalize any development issues and start offering the solution to government and civilian clients.
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
Philips’ initial interest in Batdok began when Kirk Hendler, its vice president of business development for government solutions, saw it during military testing in 2017. TechLink, the Department of Defense’s national partnership intermediary for technology transfer, then helped Hendler prepare a license application and commercialization plan.
“By combining exceptional mobility, user experience and reliability, Philips will use Batdok to improve patient monitoring,” Hendler said in a press release. “This all-in-one mobile solution will enhance care delivery by bringing critical data to decision makers.”
Joan Wu-Singel, senior technology manager at TechLink, agreed.
“Many of the DoD’s medical inventions have potential dual-use civilian applications,” she said in a statement. “In this case, Batdok could be used in a hospital setting, ambulances and we’re even imagining it help address opioid abuse through dosage monitoring.”
Philips isn’t the only industry name to have an affiliation with the U.S. Air Force. Earlier this year, StartUp Health hired an executive who comes from a military background. The organization’s new COO, Eric Waldo, previously served in the Air Force as a chief wing executive officer and a nuclear command and control center manager.
Photo: Natee Meepian, Getty Images
