Past Winners

Zoe Watson (RBPC, 2025)

Microvitality Inc.

Microvitality’s patented technology is a swallowable capsule that safely collects a clean fluid sample from the small intestine. Designed for comfort and ease, the lightweight, flexible capsule avoids invasive procedures. It uses smart features—like a pH-sensitive coating, expanding beads, and locking valves—to sample the gut at just the right time and place, helping doctors and researchers better understand gut health.

Therese Canares (Ignite, 2025)

CurieDx

CurieDx is transforming telehealth with AI-powered diagnostic tools that enable patients to screen for common infections—like strep throat—using just a smartphone photo. The platform delivers rapid, image-based analysis and connects users to concierge physicians for follow-up care. Designed with inclusivity and accessibility in mind, CurieDx aims to reduce unnecessary clinic visits, empower families, and bring lab-quality diagnostics into the home.

Juliette Hawa (AAP SOATT, 2024)

PFRx, LLC

The PFRx Device helps children manage pelvic floor issues like urinary incontinence through a fun, game-based therapy experience. Using external sensors, the device tracks pelvic muscle activity and turns exercises into interactive games that keep kids engaged. It’s portable, kid-friendly, and easy to use at home, reducing the need for frequent clinic visits. With built-in telehealth features, providers can monitor progress and adjust care remotely.

Juliana Pearl, Stanford Biodesign (AAP SOATT, 2024)

Exhalos

Exhalos is a neonatal medical device company focused on early detection of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants. Using a non-invasive, breath-based diagnostic approach, Exhalos identifies metabolic biomarkers to enable faster, safer, and more accurate NEC detection. This innovation supports timely intervention and improves outcomes in neonatal intensive care units. Exhalos is redefining neonatal care with precision diagnostics tailored for the most vulnerable patients.

Matthew Leming (AAP SOATT, 2024)

Enhance Diagnostics

Enhance Diagnostics has developed BREEZE™, an at-home breath test that non-invasively monitors ammonia levels to aid in the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and urea cycle disorders (UCD). This device offers a rapid, cost-effective alternative to traditional blood tests, enabling real-time monitoring of metabolic waste from the comfort of home. By facilitating early detection and ongoing management, BREEZE™ empowers patients and clinicians to make informed decisions, potentially reducing healthcare costs and improving outcomes.

Joanna Shu (AAP SOATT, 2024)

FreezeNit

FreezeNit uses a patent-pending CO2 treatment to kill head lice and nits by freezing and asphyxiating them simultaneously. The method eliminates the need for creams, pesticides, or painful combing. It treats the entire head quickly and comfortably in one session. FreezeNit offers a faster, safer, and more eco-friendly alternative to traditional lice treatments.

Joelle Tudor (AAP SOU, 2024)

CathConnect

CathConnect is a medical device company focused on improving the safety of urinary catheters. Their flagship product, also called CathConnect, is a simple, customizable disconnect mechanism that prevents traumatic catheter removals by separating when tubing is accidentally pulled. Initially validated on adult catheters, the design is being adapted for pediatric use. The innovation aims to set a new standard of care in urology by protecting patients from urethral injuries.

Dr.Caraciolo Fernandes, Neonatology (BCM Seed, 2024)

Aurelia Vitals

Dr. Caraciolo Fernandes is collaborating with Aurelia Vitals on developing and clinically testing a neonatal version of their multi-channel critical care monitoring device. They have completed an NSF I-Corps program to obtain customer feedback from neonatologists and parents and are supported by Rice University’s Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Dr.Cara Buskmiller, Fetal Intervention (BCM Seed, 2024)

Texas A&M University

Dr. Cara Buskmiller is collaborating with the Texas A&M Biomedical Engineering Department on developing a fetal atrial stent and deployment hardware to relieve left atrial pressure in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and a restrictive atrial septum.

Dr.Ajay Thomas, Child Neurology (BCM Seed, 2024)

Neurobell

Dr. Ajay Thomas works with Neurobell, a TMC Innovation Accelerator company, on a portable, pocket-sized, and wireless EEG monitor with real-time and automated neonatal seizure detection at the bedside.

Dr.Fong Lam, Pediatric Critical Care (BCM Seed, 2024)

Halcyon Biomedical Inc.

Dr. Fong Lam is working with Halcyon Biomedical Inc. and the University of Houston to develop a smaller and faster leukopheresis device for pediatric patients with hyperleukocytosis due to leukemia or critical pertussis.

Bridgeway Innovations (TNVC, 2024)

College Station, TX

Bridgeway Innovations is developing bone grafting technology designed to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) that exist at elevated levels in patients with metabolic disorders.

Endoshunt (RBPC, 2024)

Harvard University

EndoShunt offers surgeons a novel, minimally invasive solution for hemorrhage control that provides internal occlusion, facilitating definitive repairs without obstructing blood flow.

Hera Biotech (Ignite Health, 2023)

San Antonio, TX

Hera Biotech is developing and commercializing the world’s 1st non-surgical test for definitive diagnosis and staging of endometriosis.

Vascular Perfusion Solutions, Inc (AAP SOATT, 2023)

San Antonio, TX

Vascular Perfusion Solutions (VPS) is working on a perfusion device intended to extend the viability of pediatric hearts longer than the standard of care.

KidTech, Inc (AAP SOATT, 2023)

Houston, TX

KidTech is working to develop a safe and highly effective lightweight baby-friendly mobile phototherapy system that allows continuous treatment without interruptions of breastfeeding and parent-child bonding.

DriQ Health (AAP SOU, 2023)

Philadelphia, PA

DriQ Health is a remote incontinence management solution using IoT, AI, and a wireless passive sensor system for pediatric neurogenic bladder patients such as Spina Bifida.

Limbix (Telosity, 2023)

San Francisco, CA

Limbix aims to make mental health treatment accessible to young people. Limbix’s prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) enable providers to offer evidence-based, therapeutic interventions for adolescent mental health.

NeuraStasis (TNVC, 2023)

Houston, TX

NeuraStasis is pressing pause on ischemic stroke. Their patent-pending non-invasive neurostimulation technology coordinates the activation of cranial nerve reflexes to preserve brain tissue. When “time is brain,” they aim to slow things down to give providers more time to intervene. By slowing down stroke progression, they can enable more patients to reach life-saving treatments and give them a better chance of returning to their everyday lives after a stroke.

Ember Sleep (TNVC, 2023)

Houston, TX

Ember Sleep is the next generation of apnea treatments. It is a medical device fabricated at the point of care to treat sleep apnea through comfortable, non-contact muscle stimulation. This novel treatment fits comfortably in the patients’ mouths during sleep to open the airway and ultimately improve health and make them feel more well-rested.

MiraHeart (RBPC, 2023)

John Hopkins University

MiraHeart is monitoring early signs of pediatric heart failure by measuring the central venous pressure of pediatric individuals. The goal is to gather more objective metrics for diuretic titrations.

Integrated Molecular Technologies (RBPC, 2023)

University of Michigan

Integrated Molecular Technologies is developing cutting-edge wearable devices that continuously monitor hormone levels in the interstitial fluid.

Luminoah (AAP SOATT, 2022)

Charlottesville, VA

The enLumin from Luminoah is a portable, intuitive, and connected device for enteral nutrition in pediatric patients who require tube feeding. The system includes 3 main components: the enLumin Enteral Feeding Pump, the enLumin Daily Administration Set, and the enLumin Smartphone Application.

PyrAmes (AAP SOATT, 2022)

Cupertino, CA

The Boppli by PyrAmes is a non-invasive wearable device for neonatal ICU patients for continuous blood pressure monitoring with minimal skin contact and serves as an alternative to arterial catheters and inflatable cuffs. Clinical studies in pediatric patients are ongoing.

Glimpse Diagnostics, LLC (AAP SOATT, 2022)

Arden Hills, MN

Glimpse is a combined hardware and software solution for enabling telehealth treatment at home for pediatric ear infections that accommodates anatomy and specific needs for eardrum visualization.

Global Continence Inc. (AAP SOU, 2022)

Atlanta, GA

Global Continence Inc. has developed a novel technology for children, called Soluu™, which intercepts a bedwetting (enuresis) episode with transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) methodology that overrides and curtails the episode with a neuromodulation signal.

Advanced Optronics (RBPC, 2022)

Carnegie Mellon University

Advanced Optronics is a cochlear implant that empowers surgeons with the ability to perform less traumatic insertions and preserve residual hearing.

EpiSLS (RBPC, 2022)

University of Michigan

EpiSLS is developing a novel allergy diagnostic with improved accuracy, and speed, that requires less specialized training to perform.

XN Health (TNVC, 2022)

Houston, TX

XN Health is developing a therapeutic device to prevent and combat the progression of diaphragmatic atrophy in mechanically ventilated patients. Their novel approach provides phrenic nerve stimulation to induce diaphragm contractions to help patients maintain the strength of their respiratory muscles, improving ventilator wean times.

Tremedics (TNVC, 2022)

North Richland Hills, TX

Tremedics innovates and leads the way for bioresorbable stent technology to improve the lives of children. Their mission is to develop bioresorbable stents for congenital heart disease. Congenital heart disease patients need devices that resorb within their body as they grow.

P-LEGS (SWSW, 2021)

University of Houston

Mobility assistance device for children with walking disabilities to improve their lower extremity gait

Starling Medical (SWSW, 2021)

Houston, TX

Non-surgical urinary incontinence urethral valve device while maintaining safe pressures for children with neurogenic bladder

Neurava (RBPC, 2021)

Purdue University

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) detection device and algorithm for pediatric patients with refractory epilepsy

Blue Comet Medical Solutions (RBPC, 2021)

Northwestern University

Diagnostic device for home diagnosis of strep throat in pediatric patients

HERO Medical (TNVC, 2021)

Houston, TX

Cap-shaped, rapidly-applied hemorrhage-control “smart” bandage for injuries that also includes vital signs and patient monitoring

Solenic (TNVC, 2021)

College Station, TX

A non-invasive medical device using alternating magnetic fields to eradicate biofilms on metallic implants in the body to treat and prevent infections as well as retain patient mobility without surgery

GoGoBand (AAP SOU, 2021)

Yale University

Biometric, artificial intelligence, and machine-learning-powered wearable bedwetting alarm

IndepENEMA (AAP SOATT, 2021)

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)

Adaptive assist device for children and adolescents with neurogenic bowel and fecal incontinence

Biosense (SXSW, 2020)

Beverly Hills, MI

Wireless EKG and heart rate monitoring devices in children and adults that connect to existing display monitors in the ICU and other areas of the hospital

Checkable Medical (SXSW, 2020)

Eden Prairie, MN

Home-based diagnostic testing for detection of group A streptococcus in pediatric patients with sore throat

Pyrames (SXSW, 2020)

Cupertino, CA

Non-invasive blood pressure monitoring of neonates with minimal skin contact

Zuturis (SXSW, 2020)

Kansas City, MO

Skin closure device that allows for rapid, precise skin closure in children and adults without traumatizing the skin

Relavo (RBPC, 2020)

Johns Hopkins University

Working to reduce the risk of infection associated with home peritoneal dialysis (PD) by disinfecting potentially contaminated PD connection points after connections have been made