The future of medical devices looked bright last week, as the industry’s next generation of entrepreneurs pitched their concepts at business plan competitions held at several universities. They also made a strong showing among the winners.
 
Boss Medical, which is developing a minimally invasive device to extract iliac crest bone grafts during spinal fusion operations, was co-winner of the Business Venture Track in the Harvard Business School Business Plan Contest, held April 26. Founded by students at the school, BOSS Medical uses technology developed at Johns Hopkins University and hopes to enter the market in 2013. The company is already in discussions with FDA. Telemedicine system Sana Care took the top prize in the Social Venture Track, which focuses on projects in the concept or pilot phase that aim to create social value. The venture seeks to provide remote cardiac and pulmonary diagnosis via mobile phones and will undergo clinical trials in India.
 
Next Generation Phlebotomy took second prize at the Wharton Business Plan Competition on April 27. The company is developing a device to increase the efficiency of blood drawing and improve patient comfort.
 
Helios, a Syracuse, NY-based company that has developed ultraviolet device sterilization technology, won first prize at the New York State Business Plan Competition, held at the University of Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering on April 28.
 
—Jamie Hartford