Sway Medical

Sway Medical, Inc. operates in the digital health and medtech sectors, providing a mobile software application designed to monitor for signs of musculoskeletal, neurological, and vestibular dysfunction. The company was founded in 2011 by Chase Curtiss, a clinical exercise physiologist with a research background in biomechanics, exercise physiology, and neuroscience. Curtiss identified a need for more accessible concussion testing while running assessments for athletes, which involved cumbersome and specialized equipment. This experience led to the development of Sway, which transforms a mobile device into a Class II medical device using its built-in sensors and patented algorithms.

The company's core product is a software platform that offers a suite of tests to objectively measure balance, cognitive function, and movement. It administers tests for postural sway, reaction time, impulse control, memory, and more, providing quantitative data to aid in clinical assessments. This platform is targeted at healthcare professionals, including athletic trainers, physicians, and physical therapists, serving clients that range from youth sports and high schools to colleges and professional teams. The business model appears to be subscription-based, with different pricing structures for sports organizations and clinical use. The software enables baseline testing, sideline assessments, and tracking for the return-to-play process, aiming to provide a cost-effective and efficient solution for injury identification and management.

A significant achievement for Sway Medical is receiving FDA 510(k) clearance for its technology. Initially cleared for balance testing related to head injuries, the company later gained an expanded clearance that recognizes its platform as a comprehensive tool combining both cognitive and balance testing for concussion management. This positions Sway as a fully integrated, multi-modal assessment tool that aligns with the latest concussion management guidelines. The application provides detailed reports that allow healthcare providers to track patient progress, compare data against baselines, and make more informed clinical decisions. The company has received funding through multiple venture capital rounds to support its growth and product development.

Keywords: concussion management, mobile health, digital diagnostics, sports medicine, balance assessment, cognitive testing, medtech, FDA cleared, neurological assessment, vestibular dysfunction, mobile medical app, objective health measures, athletic training tool, remote patient monitoring, digital biomarkers, telehealth, clinical decision support, health software, functional assessment, motion analysis