Oulu-based NE Device SW has developed one of the world’s first CE-marked, video-based solution for accurately monitoring vital signs in patients. The team is among 10 promising startups selected for the fifth Health Incubator Helsinki program in the spring of 2024.

In 2018, Oulu University Hospital announced a challenge to find a solution for accurately monitoring respiratory rates in the emergency department. For Moyeen Ahmad, CEO and co-founder of Oulu-based software consultancy company NE Device SW, it was immediately clear that his team should take part.

“A few years ago, I had a close relative in the hospital struggling to breathe, but there was no equipment available to properly monitor the condition. Without special machines, it’s difficult to know when someone’s breathing has reached a concerning level,” he recalls.

When Ahmad shared the idea with his team, he realized he wasn’t the only one who felt a personal connection to the challenge. They, too, had encountered situations where the existing solutions failed to monitor critical warning signs.

This sparked the development of Vitacam, a CE-marked solution that makes vital signs monitoring accessible to everyone.

Reliable monitoring without special equipment

Current vital signs monitoring devices often rely on special equipment and hardware. The problem with devices such as pulse oximeters lies in their design, which can limit their use for various patient groups.

“Pulse oximeters can give inaccurate readings in elderly patients and, for example, people with darker skin tones,” Ahmad points out.

To avoid these issues, NE Device SW took a different approach. Unlike many other vital signs monitoring solutions on the market, Vitacam doesn’t require special equipment.

“All we need is a smartphone, or a digital camera and a laptop,” Ahmad summarizes.

The process is simple: the patient takes a video of themselves, sends it to the server, and receives the results.

Currently, Vitacam measures respiratory rate, pulse, and heart rhythm, and can be used in clinics, care homes, and for at-home care. The company is now working on developing the product to become the world’s first device to measure oxygen saturation as a certified medical device using video.

NE Device SW’s CEO and co-founder Moyeen Ahmad

Better patient outcomes

One of the main challenges for patients with respiratory diseases is determining when to seek medical care and when it’s safe to manage symptoms at home. Warning signs of  deterioration often go unnoticed until it’s too late.

The core idea behind Vitacam is to eliminate the guesswork and enable early intervention.

“Our aim is to provide patients with clear guidance on whether they should go to the hospital, contact a doctor, or continue monitoring their condition at home,” Ahmad explains.

The contactless Vitacam also enhances the safety of healthcare staff and helps ease the strain on overburdened healthcare systems. Additionally, the user-friendly technology encourages patients to take better care of their health.

“Normally, when you ask people to monitor their health at home, they don’t do it because they’re scared of the devices. They often stop after just a few weeks,” Ahmad notes.

“We conducted a study in Satakunta with real patients who used our device three times a week and continued to do so over time. Our goal was to create something truly human-friendly, and I believe we’ve succeeded.”

Diverse team driving innovation

Vitacam is backed by NE Device SW’s team of 12 professionals. Both Ahmad and co-founder Miikka Kirveskoski share a background in Nokia’s mobile phone development, and the team includes a broad range of experts from computer vision specialists to physicists and biomedical scientists.

Founded in 2014, NE Device SW already has significant business experience, but developing a medical device is still relatively new for the team. This is why the company applied to the Health Incubator Helsinki program in 2024.

“We had met some of the mentors before applying and were impressed by their experience. It’s exciting to work together to improve our offering and refine our go-to-market strategy. Even though I’m not a new entrepreneur, I’ve already gained valuable insights,” Ahmad says.

This year, NE Device SW is focused not only on further developing its device but also on entering the UK market. The company is participating in a program aimed at bringing innovation to urgent care in the UK and is working with South Bank University in London to improve Vitacam’s usability.

“So, there’s a lot happening. And we’re, of course, always open for new funding opportunities”, Ahmad ends.

If you’re interested in collaborating with NE Device SW, please contact the team!

Contact information:

Moyeen Ahmad, CEO and co-founder

moyeen.ahmad(at)nedevicesw.com

Check out all the companies in the Health Incubator Helsinki program.

Text: Saana Lehtinen, Uoma Media Oy

Photos: NE Device SW