StethX

StethX Microsystems is a health technology company focused on developing wearable sensors for monitoring cardiopulmonary health. The company was founded in January 2019, emerging from research conducted at the Georgia Institute of Technology's Integrated MEMS Laboratory. Its founders are Dr. Farrokh Ayazi, a Georgia Tech professor and expert in Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS), and Chris Heaton, a serial entrepreneur. Dr. Ayazi serves as the Founder and CEO, bringing deep technical expertise from his academic research and a previous successful startup, Qualtré, which was acquired by Panasonic. This background in commercializing university-developed intellectual property provides a strong foundation for StethX's trajectory.

The core of StethX's offering is a wearable, micro-sized patch designed for the continuous, remote monitoring of heart and lung activity. This device utilizes a proprietary, high-precision acoustic sensor—an accelerometer—that captures mechano-acoustic signals from the body, essentially acting as a smart, digital stethoscope. By measuring the seismocardiography vibrations of the heart and lungs, the technology provides detailed data that can be analyzed using machine learning and artificial intelligence. This allows for the real-time detection of acoustic fingerprints that may indicate chronic cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, such as asthma, COPD, pneumonia, and valvular heart disease. The objective is to enable earlier diagnosis, inform treatment decisions, and improve patient outcomes by making healthcare more accessible and personalized.

StethX operates in the health-tech and wearables markets, targeting several client segments. The primary market is healthcare, where the devices are intended for use by hospitals and clinicians to monitor patients, potentially reducing hospitalizations. A second key market is defense, with applications for monitoring the cardiopulmonary health of soldiers and pilots, including the early detection of respiratory failure or combat-related injuries. The technology also has potential applications in the veterinary market for monitoring pets and livestock. The business model appears to be primarily B2B, selling hardware solutions to healthcare providers and government agencies. The company has received backing from investors including the Georgia Research Alliance and the Advanced Technology Development Center and has secured funding from the U.S. Army to develop its low-power integrated circuits. In October 2019, StethX won a Defense Innovation Award, a significant milestone that provided greater access to medical professionals within the U.S. Department of Defense.

Keywords: cardiopulmonary monitoring, wearable sensors, health technology, medical devices, MEMS technology, remote patient monitoring, acoustic sensors, seismocardiography, cardiovascular disease management, pulmonary disease, telehealth, digital health, Georgia Tech spin-off, Farrokh Ayazi, defense healthcare, veterinary health, AI in healthcare, machine learning diagnostics, chronic disease monitoring, accelerometer-based sensors