Microvisk Technologies

Microvisk Technologies is a medical device company that developed a point-of-care coagulation monitoring system. The firm was founded in 2004 as a spin-out from the UK's Science and Technology Facilities Council, with initial backing from the Rainbow Seed Fund. The company's main facility is in Oxford, UK.

The core of Microvisk's offering is a system for patients on anticoagulant drugs like Warfarin to monitor their blood clotting time, measured as the prothrombin time (PT) or International Normalised Ratio (INR). The system comprises a handheld reader and disposable test strips, branded as the 'SmartStrip®'. This technology is based on a patented Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS), a departure from the optical or chemical reaction methods used by other devices on the market. The MEMS chip features a tiny cantilever that physically moves within a single drop of blood to measure its viscosity, allowing for direct clot detection. This solid-state system was designed to be robust, require a smaller blood sample, and be simpler for home use, much like a glucose monitor.

The company developed two main devices: the 'CoagMax®' for point-of-care professional use and the 'CoagLite®' for patient self-testing at home. The business model focused on selling these handheld monitors and the recurring revenue from the disposable SmartStrips. These strips contain a memory chip that stores calibration and batch data, which is automatically uploaded to the reader to improve accuracy and ease of use. The devices aimed to serve the millions of patients on long-term anticoagulation therapy who require frequent monitoring, offering a more convenient alternative to regular clinic visits. After securing significant funding from investors including Porton Capital, Oxford Technology Management, Midven, and Finance Wales, Microvisk initiated clinical trials and prepared for product launches in the UK, Germany, and the US around 2011-2012. According to a public filing, the company was acquired or merged in May 2016.

Keywords: MEMS diagnostics, coagulation monitoring, point-of-care testing, INR monitoring, prothrombin time test, blood clotting, Warfarin monitoring, SmartStrip, CoagMax, medical device, home diagnostics, anticoagulation, micro-viscometer, in-vitro diagnostics, MEMS sensor, patient self-testing, handheld medical device, diagnostic strips, blood viscosity