May 7--A "Daisy-Clip" with possible vast implications for contraception among poor women won the first prize Wednesday in a contest that aims to help jump-start new companies in Utah.
The clip can be implanted without surgery in the fallopian tube, creating permanent sterilization.
"It has a huge potential to meet an under-served population, uninsured women," said Annette McClennan, founder and CEO of InVectus BioMedical. "It has huge global implications. If we can get something that is low-cost, safe and effective for family planning then we can make an enormous impact on global issues like population."
McClellan and her company, InVectus BioMedical, won $40,000 and consulting services after her presentation of a business plan Wednesday afternoon at the Concept to Company contest held at Salt Lake Community College's Miller Business Resource Center.
The contest was sponsored by the center, along with Zions Bank, Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative and Grow Utah Ventures, a nonprofit group dedicated to supporting business development.
Second place was awarded to OtoKinetics Inc., which touted its "fully implantable hearing system," a surgically implanted, invisible hearing device to enable impaired people to regain normal hearing.
Third place went to Fresh Medical Laboratories Inc. for a scanner to detect lung cancer in patients who show symptoms but have not been diagnosed.
Other finalists were:
-- ElutInc for a bone graft that improves orthopedic surgeries by preventing infection and promoting bone healing through antibiotics and other drugs placed directly into a surgical site.
-- People Understanding People for a mask used in delivery rooms immediately after birth to eliminate the need for more intensive neonatal critical care because of respiratory failure.
-- Velosum for digital-pen and paper technology to help gather and use data in clinical research.
-- Thermimage Inc. for a scanner to replace current invasive procedures used to detect vesicoureteral reflux and prevent kidney infections in over 4 million children every year.
-- Veritract for a feeding tube that uses fiber optics and tiny steering mechanisms for safer and more effective treatments.
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