Cerenion: AI software improves brain monitoring

Intensive care patients need to be monitored closely in all areas. For a better overview of the brain functions, Cerenion developed software called C-Trend. With artificial intelligence, the care for intensive care patients can be significantly improved.

In the interview with MEDICA-tradefair.com, Cerenion CEO Jukka Kortelainen is presenting his start-up and its product. He tells us about the challenges of founding a start-up and releasing a new medical device product in Finland.

Where does the idea for your product come from?

Jukka Kortelainen: The spark for our product C-Trend came when I was working at the Oulu University Hospital. While working there with intensive care patient, I realized just how little we know about their brain function of these patients. The function of the heart and lungs are carefully monitored, but little attention is given to the brain. This despite the fact that inadequate monitoring of brain function may significantly impair the treatment and increase the costs of care.

What problem do you want to address with it?

Kortelainen: Cerenion C-Trend software enables rapid and continuous analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) which represents the electrical activity of the brain. With EEG, the doctors can evaluate the brain function of their patients and detect sever conditions like epileptic seizures and hypoxia due to for example stroke. When combined with advanced practical EEG devices, C-Trend helps in treatment related decision making potentially improving the care and reducing the costs.

At which stage in your development are you now?

Kortelainen: C-Trend is a medical grade CE-marked software available in the Europe as a class IIB medical device. The product is in use in several hospitals in Finland and e.g. Germany.

What was the biggest obstacle during the foundation of your company?

Kortelainen: The biggest obstacle was to guarantee the funding for the demanding and time-consuming R&D and regulatory work needed for a medical device product to reach the market. We were capable to overcome this obstacle and have now carried out three investment rounds with more than 7m€ in total funding.

What were you worried about most before founding the company?

Kortelainen: We were most worried about whether we would be capable to create a successful start-up company as all the founding team members had a background in the university and research. Fortunately, everything turned out really good as we managed to enhance our team with really talented people having experience from medical device industry.

What was your best decision until now?

Kortelainen: Probably our best decision was to focus on our strength, the artificial intelligence –based software development, and collaborate with EEG device manufacturers instead of trying to create a full system by our own. This way we could really utilize our experience from years of research in the field and create a unique solution together with our partners.

How do you assess the opportunities for start-ups in the medical market in your country?

Kortelainen: In Finland, there is a lot of innovative work around medical devices and many start-ups in this field have been founded recently. The challenge comes from the funding the commercialization of these innovations as the return of investment is not fast due to required long-term R&D work and increasing regulatory burden.

What advice would you give future start-ups in the medical market?

Kortelainen: Do not underestimate the requirements related to the clinical validation and regulatory work of your future product. Consider these from the day one and find right people and/or service provides to help you. Try to find investors who also understand these and support you on the long-term development work required in the medical device field.

Please describe the medical technology industry in three words.

Kortelainen: Exciting, important, demanding

What are your plans for the next two years?

Kortelainen: We will focus on increasing our sales in Europe, advance our market entry in US and further develop our products to be used with new patient groups.