Isotech Ltd Developing an Innovative Health Solution with the support of QUB & BMET
Overview
As healthcare systems face increasing pressure from growing demand, ageing populations and rising treatment costs, technology-enabled care is playing an increasingly important role in improving patient outcomes while supporting more efficient healthcare delivery. Health technologies, which combine medical devices, digital data and mobile applications, are helping to transform how conditions are monitored and managed.
Isotech Ltd, a Northern Ireland-based medtech start-up, is contributing to this growing sector through the development of an innovative wearable medical device designed to support individuals living with orthostatic hypotension. Isotech needed support to take the product from concept through to physical prototype, they engaged the help of Queen’s University Belfast and Belfast Metropolitan college through Connected Competitive funding. QUB led on the device design and prototyping, BMET led on the prototype mobile app development.
The Challenge
Orthostatic hypotension can significantly impact quality of life, particularly for older adults and individuals with underlying health conditions. Existing treatment options can be limited, creating a need for new approaches that offer effective symptom management while enabling patients to maintain independence and confidence in everyday activities.
Drawing on extensive medical device industry experience, including expertise from qualified physicians, the team at Isotech identified an opportunity to develop a wearable technology solution that could provide immediate support to users experiencing symptoms associated with the condition.
The Solution
Building on earlier concept development work, Isotech designed a wearable device that allows users to generate a targeted isometric force within specific muscle groups. This action creates a temporary increase in blood pressure, helping to alleviate symptoms associated with orthostatic hypotension.
The innovation extends beyond the wearable device itself. A digital platform and mobile application have been developed to support treatment by:
Tracking user activity and progress.
Capturing relevant health data.
Providing information to help users manage their condition.
Supporting adjustments to treatment based on collected data.
This combination of wearable technology and digital health monitoring reflects the increasing importance of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) and healthcare solutions in modern patient care.
Outcomes
The project successfully delivered:
Prototype wearable medical devices ready for initial patient trials.
A prototype mobile application to support data collection and patient monitoring.
Opportunities to share project learning and industry knowledge with the wider medtech community.
Valuable insights into the development of connected healthcare technologies for both industry and academic partners.