Our fundraiser tree for BC Children’s Hospital Festival of Trees 2020 celebrates local heros in the Response to COVID-19
COVID-19 Message to our Medical Device and Lifesciences Colleagues
StarFish Medical is open for business. We are discussing and starting new projects with a priority to COVID-19 related devices.
Our work with clients on ground breaking medical device and bio services projects continues with minimal disruption. We follow the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations and standards of personal care and hygiene to minimize potential exposure. Measures include limiting all non-essential travel, working from home where possible, and implementing COVID-19 appropriate hygiene practices.
We encourage everyone to join us in helping prevent the spread of the virus and protect the health of all people. StarFish is designed to work efficiently as a virtual team. 90% of our clients are located 100 plus miles from our offices.
Also like many of you, we have been figuring out how to meaningfully aid the COVID situation. We are actively and rapidly working on addressing the potential ventilator shortage. In addition, our Bio Services group is involved in COVID assay technology.
Canadian Emergency Ventilators project
Prime Minister Trudeau announced our NGEN Canadian Emergency Ventilators project on March 31, 2020, as part of Canada’s Plan to Mobilize Industry to Fight COVID-19.
The Canadian Emergency Ventilators project involves updating 30 year old Winnipeg Ventilator IP and design by Dr. Magdy Younes for Canada’s industrial base. Using an agile design strategy, the Winnipeg Ventilator IP is being adapted for Canadian manufacturing supply chains that are not normally affiliated with ventilator production. This enables Canada to expand and redirect domestic manufacturing capacity to fight COVID-19.
Initial project funding is provided by NGen as part of the COVID-19 initiative. Led by StarFish Medical, the effort includes Dr. Magdy Younes and Cerebra Health along with NGen’s manufacturing partners for components within Canada’s industrial base. Solutions are based upon available component design that will not impair supply to existing ventilator manufacturers.
Health Canada certifies Winnipeg Ventilator 2.0 to support the needs of Covid-19 patients announced on September 25, 2020. “StarFish Medical stepped up early on with their commitment to produce a made-in-Canada ventilator design that will help save the lives of those battling COVID-19.” The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
Media Coverage
Here are a few of the media stories about the project and Canadian IP after its announcement by PM Trudeau on April 7, 2020.
NGen mentioned the project in a news release on May 3, 2020. English French
The CIPO posted an article on the project for World IP Day, April 26, 2020.
https://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/canada-ventilator-scramble-before-covid-19-peak
News releases and posts from Ventilator Project team organizations:
ATA Advanced Test & Automation
Subscribe to our newsletter and follow our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter accounts to keep up with the project’s progress.
Medical Device and Life Science Associations COVID-19 Resource Links
We use these industry resources to help stay on top of developments. They may be helpful as you chart your own COVID-19 plan of action.
- Advamed – COVID-19 IVD Tests
- Biocom – Coronavirus Resource Center
- CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Schools, Workplaces & Community Locations
- Government of Canada’s COVID-19 web page
- MaRS – COVID-19 collection
- Lifesciences BC – COVID 19 INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES – Federal and Provincial Source Information
- LifeScience Washington – Combating Coronavirus Toolkit
- Medical Alley – COVID-19 “Resource Connect”
For more medical device and life sciences information, check out our April 2020 newsletter devoted to COVID-19 tips, insights, and regulatory considerations for medical devices.
In the meantime, let’s keep innovating, digging deeper, and creating great medical devices.
Sincerely,
Scott Phillips
CEO and President