IntuiTap eliminates the guesswork from spinal punctures, making them more accurate and consistent.
THE PROBLEM
Spinal punctures are inaccurate and inefficient
HIGH FIRST-ATTEMPT FAILURE RATES
The current technique requires physicians to palpate the patient's vertebrae and blindly insert a needle. This method is highly unpredictable and unreliable resulting in first attempt successes in only 40-60% of cases.
INCREASED
COMPLICATIONS
Inaccurate needle placement and multiple insertion attempts increase the likelihood of complications such as post dural puncture headaches, improper placement and injection of a drug, and contaminated fluid samples rendering them useless for diagnosis.
NEED FOR RADIATION
The uncertainty of the procedure can often result in a delay in treatment and patients occupying valuable beds for hours at a time. Over 47% of patients requiring a spinal tap in the ED are sent to radiology. This causes significant bottlenecks and results in increased and unnecessary costs to the healthcare system.
THE SOLUTION
Our solution, VerTouch, employs novel imaging technology to allow for vertebral detection analogous to palpation. Anatomy is displayed in real-time for accurate, efficient, and consistent identification of an insertion site. The device and included marker can then be used to mark the site for procedure completion. VerTouch can be safely used in the sterile field.
VerTouch output includes a TactoMap, which is a full-color, 1:1, real-time 2D map of the lumbar anatomy for intuitive identification of an insertion site.
Scanning-based Imaging
The user slides and presses the scanning mechanism along the tissue to intuitively build up the sensitive TactoMap.
Move your cursor over the callouts for details on each VerTouch key feature.
Sterilely Covered
Monitor
VerTouch can safely be used in the sterile field. The reusable, rechargeable Monitor is covered by a disposable sleeve and connects to a single-use, sterile disposable handheld component.
Marker Guidance
VerTouch includes a guide for accurate marking of the identified insertion site (a crosshair on the TactoMap directly corresponds to the location of the guide). A surgical marker is provided with the VerTouch disposable kit.
Real-time TactoMap
VerTouch output includes a TactoMap, which is a full-color, 1:1, real-time 2D map of the lumbar anatomy for intuitive identification of an insertion site.
OUR VALUE
The intuitiveness of the VerTouch interface allows for minimal training to improve these procedures and keep them at the bedside.
IMPROVED PATIENT EXPERIENCE
Fewer insertions means less pain to the patient and fewer complications. In clinical testing, VerTouch has achieved a >34% reduction in insertions as compared to palpation.
FEWER TREATMENT REFUSALS
More accurate and efficient procedures means less procedure-related anxiety for the patient, resulting in fewer treatment refusals.
NO NEED FOR RADIOLOGY
Eliminates the need for performance under fluoroscopic guidance, keeping the procedure at the bedside and saving hospitals hundreds of dollars per patient.
OUR TEAM
Meet the IntuiTap team...
JESSICA TRAVER INGRAM,
Co-founder & CEO
Jessica leads the business development efforts at IntuiTap, where she devises the company's overall strategy. She was recognized as a leader in healthcare by Forbes 30 under 30 in 2017. Jessica was trained in Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University and has a strong foundation in product development. She has product management experience in a wide range of applications, including custom prosthetics, medical devices, and consumer goods.
NICOLE C. MOSKOWITZ,
Co-founder & CTO
Nicole leads the technical development and regulatory planning at IntuiTap. She was also recognized as a leader in healthcare by Forbes 30 under 30 in 2017. Nicole has a background in biomedical engineering, physics, and art from Columbia University. She has extensive experience in hardware and software development for a variety of medical devices. Nicole's specialties include biomechanics, neural engineering, and signal processing.
XAVIER GARCIA-ROJAS, MD, PhD, MBA,
Co-founder
Xavier is a radiologist trained at the National Center for Image Guided Therapy at Harvard. He has a business education from Harvard University and Rice University and is committed to medical device innovation, development, and commercialization with an eye towards improved outcomes and patient satisfaction. As a radiologist, he regularly performs spinal needle placements.
YASHAR GANJEH, PhD, Co-founder & Lead Clinical Engineer
Yashar leads the clinical user outreach efforts at IntuiTap, where he regularly interfaces with the key clinical stakeholders, making sure that the product development remains congruent with the user needs, while identifying new needs for future product enhancements. Yashar has a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University Of Michigan who brings over fifteen years of experience in research and design.
GEOFF D. HUTCHINS, Operations & Development
Geoff has more than 30 years of experience within the medical device industry. He has a passion for product innovation and development combined with a clear understanding of the quality and regulatory environments.
Interested in joining our team? Check our our open positions here
Get In Touch
Corporate Headquarers
1940 Fountain View Dr, #1158
Houston, TX 77057
R&D Headquarters
1623 W Fulton St.
Chicago, IL 60612
IntuiTap in the news...
Meet the CEO of IntuiTap Who Wants to Revolutionize Healthcare
Boston - MassChallenge, the most startup-friendly accelerator on the planet, today announced that 255 of the world’s highest impact, highest-potential early-stage startups will participate in its 2017 accelerators in Boston, Israel, and Switzerland.
MassChallenge Announces 2017 Class of Startups in Boston, Israel & Switzerland
Boston - MassChallenge, the most startup-friendly accelerator on the planet, today announced that 255 of the world’s highest impact, highest-potential early-stage startups will participate in its 2017 accelerators in Boston, Israel, and Switzerland.
IntuiTap Medical wins 2017 Texas A&M New Ventures Competition
IntuiTap Medical, a Houston-based medical device company was awarded $50,000 as the winner of the 2017 Texas A&M New Ventures Competition (TNVC) hosted by the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) Thursday on the Texas A&M University campus.
30 Under 30 Healthcare: The Researchers, Entrepreneurs And Policymakers Who Will Save Your Life
Our healthcare system is a mess. With a fresh outlook, the members of the Forbes 30 Under 30 in healthcare are looking to change it.
Forbes combed through thousands of candidates to assemble the 2017 30 Under 30 project–you can see the healthcare list here, and the lists for all...
AdvaMed 2016: The MedTech Conference Announces 20 Semi-Finalists for MedTech Innovator Competition
WASHINGTON, D.C.–The MedTech Conference, the leading event for medical technology professionals across North America, announced today that 20 early stage companies have been selected to participate...
Intuitap Medical's Disruptive Spinal Tap Technology Enters Clinical Trials as they Close Successful $5.5m Series a Round of Funding Led by the Pink Ceiling and Curate Capital
HOUSTON, July 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IntuiTap Medical, a cutting-edge medical device company with technology poised to change the spinal tap, announced today the closing of their Series A investment round. The transaction was led by The Pink Ceiling, IntuiTap's largest investor, and Curate Capital.
