The Heart Beat Of Innovation | San Diego Business Journal

Posted on February 16, 2020 by Design in Design Innovation | 0 Comments

On a recent visit to the doctor, my medical provider pulled out the good old stethoscope.

The first thing I thought was: “Where has that thing been?”

What kind of bacteria and pathogen playground is about to be placed on several parts of my skin? Well, I’m not the only one wondering, some are working on this medical device to bring it a bit up to date in the cleanliness department.

According to a news release, “AseptiScope Inc. and clinical researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine announced study results that confirm aseptic medical grade barriers, when applied to stethoscopes before clinical examinations, eliminate patient exposure to harmful bacteria, including the superbug MRSA.”

A video shows the stethoscope having a barrier placed on it from the San Diego-based startup’s wall-mounted machine at the doc’s office.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the instruments should be cleaned for, at least, one minute with an alcohol- or bleach-based disinfectant before and after each use. I’d like to see a survey on the frequency of that. I can hear a variation of “Star Trek’s” Doctor McCoy’s classic line, “I’m a doctor, not a dishwasher, Jim.”

“AseptiScope is poised to launch its novel system that addresses stethoscope contamination in early 2020,” the company said. “The wall-mounted, touch-free AseptiScope DiskCover System dispenses a disk-shaped barrier in about a second to stethoscopes, creating an aseptic surface during patient examinations.”

The company said the barrier is designed to maintain high quality acoustics.

Carlsbad-based Raken, a construction tech startup, keeps building on its platform. The company, helmed by CEO Kyle Slager, now helps companies track owned and rented equipment.

Raken said companies will be able to track the time spent on site for equipment, collect data on engine hours, determine the exact need for equipment, as well as have “accurate and detailed insight into overall equipment costs.”