Scanadu Gets $10.5M Venture Capital Infusion for Medical Tricorder

California start-up Scanadu expects to begin clinical trials of its Scanadu Scout medical tricorder in early 2014, after securing $10.5 million in Series A financing from Relay Ventures, VegasTechFund and Ame Cloud Ventures. The funding windfall follows a crowdfunding campaign that pulled in nearly $1.7 million.

The Scout, a device about the size of a hockey puck, consists of multiple internal sensors that monitor blood pressure, heart rate, pulse oximetry, body temperature and other vital signs via the temple. The device then utilizes Bluetooth technology to connect to a companion app, allowing patients to store the information.

The first clinical studies of Scout will be conducted at the Scripps Translational Science Institute. These will be followed by usability testing to gain insight into how consumers are actually using the device—i.e., which metrics users track most and how frequently, Scanadu said. The ability to share data wirelessly with physicians will also be determined during this phase.

“We are more determined than ever to make the first medical tricorder a reality,” said Scanadu founder and CEO Walter De Brouwer. “With the experience and expertise of this group of investors and advisors, we know we’re in the right position to take our vision all the way and put FDA approved devices in the hands of consumers.”

Scanadu hopes to make the device available to the general public by the end of next year or early 2015. — Lena Freund

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