Based on its recent analysis of the therapeutic hypothermia market for cardiology, Frost & Sullivan recognizes BeneChill, Inc. with the 2014 Frost & Sullivan Award for Technology Innovation Leadership. BeneChill’s RhinoChill intranasal cooling system is a nasopharyngeal device that can induce therapeutic hypothermia during active resuscitation after a cardiac arrest and continue maintaining the temperature while the patient is in an ambulance. The system is unique—it is noninvasive, time critical, and can be used by nonmedical personnel in the field to prevent brain damage associated with cardiac arrest.
RhinoChill is a portable and battery-operated device composed of a control unit, coolant bottle, and a transnasal cooling catheter, which makes the device ideal for use outside the hospital setting. The technology enables brain cooling close to the time of cerebral ischemic events, even in the absence of blood circulation.
The technology maintains the desired brain temperature level for therapeutic hypothermia with fewer fluctuations for extended periods of time by deploying two 10 cm long nasal catheter prongs to spray a mist of liquid proprietary coolant into the nasal cavity. The sprayed coolant evaporates on contact with the internal nares of the skull and facilitates rapid heat transfer. The coolant that is expelled by the lungs in gas form is inert and nontoxic.
“RhinoChill’s technique can be mastered easily by first-responders, emergency medical staff, and intensive care teams that can integrate the system into a comprehensive post resuscitation strategy,” said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst, Geethu Roshan Verghese. “Moreover, it does not require refrigeration and has low power requirements.”
Although BeneChill’s primary focus has been on the development of the technology for emergency cardiac arrest situations, the company has not restricted itself to the cardiology market. BeneChill is striving to expand the application scope of intranasal cooling technology outside cardiac arrest care, in the areas of traumatic brain injury, neuroradiology, neurosurgery, and cardiac surgery (heart valve replacements, aortic root repair, and bypass).
The operating input voltage for RhinoChill is between 10 and 18 V DC (direct current), while the control unit draws extremely little current, enabling battery operation. The system has a footprint of 39 x 26 x 16 cm, weighing approximately 5 to 9 kilograms, making it eminently portable. The system’s components can be connected within 30 to 60 seconds and can be deployed immediately. It also has a safety feature that shuts off the system if pressure in the nasal cavity increases beyond a threshold.
On the other hand, competitors’ products have footprints 15 times greater in volume, weigh more than 35 kilograms and require higher input power of 220-240V AC. These products initially target core body cooling and delay cooling of the brain, which limits the neuro-protection offered by hypothermia. RhinoChill’s technology prevents permanent neurologic injury by initially targeting brain cooling and then body cooling, during cardiac arrest (intra-arrest) as well as after successful resuscitation.
“BeneChill’s commitment to developing a system that meets or exceeds the highest standards in terms of product safety, efficacy and performance has translated to industry-leading customer value,” noted Geethu Roshan Verghese.
Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated uniqueness in developing and leveraging new technologies, which significantly impacts both the functionality and the customer value of the new products and applications. The award lauds the high R&D spend towards innovation, its relevance to the industry and the positive impact on brand perception.
Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.
