Nilocas is developing a medical device that is set to revolutionise the detection of coronary artery disease in a variety of care settings, using a non-invasive detection system.

Diagnosing coronary artery disease diagnosis is expensive, time-consuming, uses radiation and is invasive​. It requires specialist CT/angiography equipment, and can only be done in hospital by a radiologist or cardiologist.​

119,000 angiograms and 85,000 CTs take place every year in the UK alone​, yet 65% of people who go for testing do not have coronary artery disease.

By contrast, this device is a patch placed on the chest which captures the sounds and skin movements of disturbed blood flow as it navigates through coronary arteries narrowed due to disease. It could be used by a nurse outside of a hospital, meaning people can be diagnosed earlier and more efficiently.

Why did you start your spinout?

Our research seemed to be leading towards a marketable product and, with guidance from QMI, a spinout seemed to be a feasible way forward.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurial academics?

Unless you have the knowledge and confidence to do it yourself, get all the guidance you can from experts to help set things up.