HCMS Intellectual Property and Market
The HCMS was invented by Donald D. Hickey, MD, of the State University of New York at Buffalo (“UB”) School of Medicine, Center for Research and Education in Special Environments and Departments of Physiology, Neurosurgery and Surgery. Dr. Hickey and his associate, Claes E.G. Lundgren, M.D., Ph.D., of the Center for Research and Education in Special Environments (CRESE) and Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo and the Research Foundation of the State University of New York hold thirty-three U.S. and overseas patents for the technology incorporated into the HCMS. Scivanta has entered into a worldwide exclusive license agreement with the patent holders to develop, make and sell the HCMS.
Despite its many shortcomings, the Swan-Ganz catheter enjoys combined U.S. and European annual sales of 2 million units, valued at $236 million. Markets for all cardiac monitoring devices totaled approximately $500 million in 2006, according to The BBI Newsletter. This publication predicts a growth rate of about 6% per year for critical care cardiac monitoring of all types through 2008.
A safe, effective, less costly, and less-invasive cardiac monitor could be expected to enjoy far greater market opportunities than the Swan-Ganz catheter. Significant market opportunities for the HCMS include surgical procedures involving anesthesia, emergency room procedures, outpatient and in-office monitoring of cardiac patients and in-hospital monitoring of cardiac-challenged patients not in surgical situations.
