Device competition deadline extended

Children's National Health System in the US has announced an extended deadline September 29 for its Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids competition, in response to continued strong interest from inventors.

Two top prizes of $50,000 each will be awarded to the winning presentations at the Sheikh Zayed Institute Second Annual Paediatric Surgical Innovation Symposium hosted by Children's National in October.

The competition highlights new generations of medical devices that could improve the care and treatment of paediatric patients. The forum gives innovators the chance to pitch their business or product for prizes, including the opportunity to bring it to market.

The one-week extension was announced by Kolaleh Eskandanian, executive director of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Paediatric Surgical Innovation at Children's National, saying the health care system is pushing it back to accommodate as many paediatric medical device innovators as possible. "We want to give individuals and companies a bit more time to submit their application. Consistent with our mission of advancing paediatric surgical innovation, the goal of this competition is to encourage the development of medical solutions that will improve treatment for children everywhere," she added.

The competition invites proposals from inventors in medical institutions, private practices, device companies and academic researchers who have medical device concepts or ideas for use with paediatric patients. Proposals should address a significant, yet unmet need within the paediatric population with a device idea that lends itself to commercialisation.

For details visit www.pediatric-surgery-symposium.org.