Calgary doctor plays footsy with medical technology

Recognizing that people living with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy should really take better care for their feet, Dr. Breanne Everett set out to ensure that. Everett founded Orpyx Medical Technologies Inc., a Calgary-based firm that specializes in personalized remote healthcare transforming limb care for people living with diabetes.

Diabetes requires care for multiple disease-related conditions. One of these conditions, diabetic foot ulcers, is a burdensome problem that costs the medical system significant resources while affecting patients’ quality of life. This is one problem Everett couldn’t ignore – even as a medical student.

“Breanne was doing her residency when she came up with the idea for Orpyx,” says Orpyx senior vice-president of research and development Travis Stevens. “She was a plastic surgery resident, and in Alberta, plastic surgeons are involved in wound care management. During her residency, Breanne saw a lot of people with diabetes suffering from complications resulting from neuropathy in the foot, which ultimately leads to the formation of pressure wounds.”

Secondary nervous system
Dr. Everett realized that her patients were developing wounds on their feet because they couldn’t feel pressure. So, what if she could develop a piece of technology that acts as a secondary nervous system?

After some encouragement from her residency program director, Dr. Everett took a leave of absence from her medical residency, pursued an MBA degree, and started Orpyx.

Orpyx’s main product is the Orpyx Sensory Insole system, a set of shoe inserts that use electronic sensors to collect data relating to pressure, temperature, motion, and steps. The technology is designed to prevent the development of diabetic foot ulcers, which often result in amputation. The Orpyx Sensory Insole system detects high-pressure events and monitors temperature underfoot so patients can make changes before foot complications occur.

The sensory insoles come with a companion mobile app for patients. The Orpyx App alerts patients when sustained plantar pressure occurs and guides patients to offload the pressure on their feet in a healthier way, usually accomplished with simple activity and movement. This mobile app also records temperature, pressure, and motion data from the insoles, which is then sent to Orpyx’s cloud-based backend database. Orpyx’s on-staff nurse practitioners examine the data for incident signals, either escalating the matter to the patient’s physician or contacting the patient directly.

This remote foot monitoring technology is also available to contract research organizations, enabling CRO staff to monitor movement patterns and plantar pressure data. CROs can use the technology to automatically and continuously collect real-world data, which reduces study team burden and participant fatigue.

“The insole system collects data from people in a seamless way,” Stevens says. “One of the benefits we offer is that the technology itself is potentially applicable to other areas of study, if you want to look at those data streams under the foot. We have a complete backend system where the insole data is aggregated and can be analyzed for a wide range of purposes – from foot ulcer prevention to gait and activity tracking.”

Integrate multiple data streams
Stevens says that Orpyx is now focused on owning the space related to diabetic foot ulcer prevention. The company is also looking at something they call diabetes healthspan extension (DHE); they’re examining other ways to improve quality of life for people living with diabetes. Orpyx’s technology is designed to collect data, integrate multiple data streams, and optimize the patient’s healthspan.

“We want to help people live healthy lives with chronic conditions through the power of technology,” Stevens explains. “Our key value proposition right now is around the data we collect and where that goes, but we think there’s tons of ability to integrate other data streams so we can provide a comprehensive solution for remote patient monitoring for people living with diabetes.”

Speed commercial efforts
Stevens says the company and its founder, Dr. Everett, have had tremendous support from entrepreneurs in Alberta. He notes that there’s a lot of talent in Western Canada, and a lot of entrepreneurial spirit – spirit that Orpyx embodies.

Orpyx has recently raised CA$26.9 million in growth capital, led by Perceptive Advisors, LLC which invests in life sciences companies. The funding allows Orpyx to accelerate its commercial efforts in delivering life-changing solutions for preventing debilitating foot complications for those living with diabetes and neuropathy.

Mike Straus is EP&T’s West Coast correspondent. [email protected],