Aseptium

Idea

Introduction

ASEPTIUM IS THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM OF CLEANING OF THE MOST ADVANCED INSTRUMENTS USED IN MEDICINE TODAY.

Surgeons specialise in every organ of the human body, so do surgical instruments. It is amazing that we save people from conditions deemed fatal even a few years ago. Those new instruments are typically complex, expensive and reusable. We expect them to be safe to use every time, but that complexity makes them difficult to clean. 7-10% of patients acquire an infection during their stay in a hospital. A part of those can be attributed to dirty surgical instruments. It is a global challenge: to make complex instruments safe for every surgery, for every patient. This is what we specialise in. Our uSonic range of advanced ultrasonic washers deal with the pre-cleaning and automated cleaning, and VeriTest answers the question: "HOW CLEAN IS CLEAN?" using science. We are innovating medical decontamination technologies. We are working to improve healthcare safety. Help us deliver it faster.

Intended impact

A decade of R&D in decontamination sciences made us realise the scale of the problem increasing complexity of surgical instruments brings to hospital staff and patients alike. A solution to this problem is a global market opportunity.

Cleaning is a cost and challenge for healthcare. Advanced instruments have to be cleaned and sterilised outside and inside – including all internal features. We've seen that the problem is the diversity and complexity of those tools, with surgical robots leading the trend.

We've seen that part of the cleaning is still done manually: labour intensive, inconsistent and costly. And in our experience, existing technologies recirculate dirty water, cross contaminating instruments.

Our patent-pending technology used in uSonics reduces that risk by cleaning without reusing dirty water, while VeriTest verifies cleaning effectiveness.

We are addressing a worldwide problem, made worse by prion diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, and the rise of antibiotic resistance.

Substantial accomplishments to date

Since our last Seedrs campaign in August 2017 (we raised £156,974 https://www.seedrs.com/aseptium1) we have:

• Set up new R&D centre on Inverness University Campus.
• Developed 4 variants of uSonic, international patent application pending.
• Completed the ISO 13485 protocols and are preparing for an audit.
• Secured a £125k grant from Highlands & Islands Enterprise.
• Increased our team of engineers and scientists.
• Engaged with distributors for Europe, USA and China.
• Prepared CE marking documentation for uSonic range.
• Showcased our products at Medica 2017 using our Virtual Showroom.
• Developed VeriTest family and applied for a patent.
• Began cooperation with the Highlands & Islands University.
• Presenter at multiple events and conferences around Europe.
• Published 4 articles in the Institute of Decontamination Journal.
• Been featured in local and international media (BeyondClean podcast www.goo.gl/M7YqbR, the Scotsman www.goo.gl/LH4cRB, Medical Plastics News www.goo.gl/f4eUFA, Highlands & Islands Focus, International Insight).

Monetisation strategy

Our business model is based on unique, high-end, specialised technologies, offered as a group of complementary products. We aim to deliver high value to the customer, price-wise positioned in the upper end of the market.

We offer uSonic washers, and VeriTest kits for process verification and periodic monitoring, in the UK HTM 01-01 recommends using these tests daily, and we have taken steps to protect our IP.

Our range continually expands due to growing diversity of surgical instruments and an increasing need for bespoke decontamination solutions. This means new ancillary equipment, accessories, consumables, training, online product support and spare parts. We are designing our own AR & VR tools, to reduce cost and improve effectiveness of marketing and technical support.

We plan to sell products and services through distributors in EU, USA, China.

Aseptium plans to generate revenue from:

1) Sales of machines, accessories, consumables and spare parts globally.
2) Sales of online support and training packages.

Use of proceeds

Fund are earmarked for three purposes; to accelerate growth, expand our vision, and market our presence. This can be broken down as follows:

PRODUCTION
1. Set up specialised production and testing facility for uSonics.
2. Set up VeriTest Tags production line.
3. Increase our technical/scientific team to run production and products innovation.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
4. IP protection (uSonics and VeriTest).
5. Continue developing relationships with distributors.
6. Sign up additional 3-5 distributors in the next 12 months.
7. Exhibit at Medica 2018.
8. Speak at 3 key industry events.
9. Continue building brand’s online profile.

INNOVATION
10. Create library of training videos for uSonic range.
11. Keep developing AR and VR tools for the purposes of marketing, training and technical support.
12. R&D of our technologies to keep our products the best in category and continue development of accessories and consumables for our current product line.
13. Begin tests of uSonic range as disinfecting machines, to enter new markets and deliver more value to the end user.