OBMedical

Welcome back. Every so often, a company comes along that isn't trying to reinvent the wheel, but to perfect it. In 2012, a medical device company, OBMedical, was founded in Newberry, Florida, by Neil Euliano. The company set out to solve a persistent problem in labor and delivery rooms: the unreliability of external fetal monitors. Existing strap-based systems often slipped, lost signal, and performed poorly on obese patients, frequently requiring more invasive internal monitoring. OBMedical developed the LaborView system, a wireless, electrode-based sensor that adheres to the mother's abdomen. This device non-invasively measures the heart rates of both mother and child, along with uterine contractions. The key was its reliability and comfort, providing a clearer signal with fewer dropouts, regardless of the patient's movement or BMI. After raising Angel funding in 2014 from investors like New World Angels and Atlanta Technology Angels, the company secured a critical milestone: FDA 510(k) clearance in January 2015, clearing the path to market. With a validated product, the story shifted to execution. By 2016, Mark Samuels had taken the helm as CEO, steering the company from near-failure to establishing manufacturing and growing sales. The improved reliability and patient comfort offered by LaborView caught the attention of a major player. In September 2018, the work paid off. OBMedical was acquired by Philips Healthcare, becoming part of the global giant's patient care and monitoring portfolio. It was a quiet but significant exit, proving that a focused solution to a tangible clinical need can create immense value.