Nocitech CPAR
Cuff pressure algometry provides standardised QST protocols that focus on bilateral pressure pain thresholds, temporal summation of pain (TSP), and conditioning pain modulation (CPM). Cuff algometry is an evidence-based research tool that has demonstrated good to excellent within- and between-day reliability in healthy subjects and patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Nocitech was established as a spin-out from Aalborg University to commercialise cuff pressure algometry and make it available as a diagnostic tool. However, as anyone can attest, the path to a medical device is long and challenging, and after two years, with most of the runway used up, a new path was needed that would deliver tangible results for investors.
What was needed
Time and budget overruns caused uncertainty for the investments required to develop a medical device. What was needed was a source of income that would make the company independent of outside investment for its continued operation and would provide time to raise the funds to develop the medical device.
What was done
In our initial 360° analysis, we realised that there was considerable interest from the research community in using the technology in academic research, and at the time, the research device market was characterised by significantly lower barriers to entry and higher profit margins. It was decided to develop a research device to make the technology available to researchers.
A research device (Nocitech CPAR) was developed in 6 months. The highly accelerated development was made possible by the basic hardware on building blocks from LabBench devices, and LabBench provides the software framework that allows scientists to use the device.
What was achieved
- The company became profitable, no longer dependent on outside investments.