Phillips-Medisize Collaborates with SOTECH Health to Engineer Innovative Breath Analyzer for Rapid Detection of COVID-19

Novel triage tool designed to expedite accurate mass-population COVID-19 screenings
SOTECH device utilizes unique sensing technology developed at University of Texas at Dallas to detect COVID-19 in less than 30 seconds
Phillips-Medisize’s human-factors product design optimizes ease-of-use
More than 31K breath tests completed to date

HUDSON, WI – January 26, 2022 – Phillips-Medisize, a Molex company and leader in drug delivery, diagnostic and MedTech devices, announces a collaboration with Dallas-based healthcare startup SOTECH Health to accelerate the development of a breath-sensor system that detects COVID-19 in less than 30 seconds. SOTECH Health’s reusable breath-test device leverages innovative sensor research from The University of Texas at Dallas with a cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) platform and Phillips-Medisize’s human-centered product design, rapid prototyping and end-to-end manufacturing expertise.

“We believe in SOTECH Health’s transformative mission to enable fast and accurate health checks, which are crucial to regaining normalcy in everyday lives,” said Paul Chaffin, president, Medical and Pharmaceutical Solutions, Molex. “Our long history of working with companies at every stage of their product lifecycle has proven critical in helping SOTECH Health optimize and finalize functional product prototypes while preparing for a rapid manufacturing ramp upon regulatory approval.”

Six-Second Breath Sample Yields Results in Less than 30 Seconds

To screen for COVID-19, a person blows into the handheld device’s disposable mouthpiece for six seconds. A highly sensitive, electrochemical sensor looks for traces of certain chemicals in the sample, which indicate exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus strain that causes COVID-19. Results are available in less than 30 seconds. Tests can be self-administered and monitored onsite or from a distance through WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity, alleviating the need for healthcare professionals to conduct the tests. To date, SOTECH Health has completed 31,000 breath tests.

“Our innovative breath analyzer will change the game in COVID-19 detection by quickly and accurately screening people in densely populated settings, such as airports, businesses, cruise lines, schools and stadiums,” said Craig Micklich, founder and CEO of SOTECH Health. “Through our collaboration with Phillips-Medisize, we have engineered a solution capable of screening for COVID-19 infection status as fast as it takes someone to walk through a metal detector at an airport or sports stadium. Phillips-Medisize is perfectly positioned to support SOTECH Health’s global go-to-market strategies while empowering our efforts to screen for other critical respiratory diseases and conditions in the future, including the flu and pneumonia.”

Bringing Breath Testing to the World

Seamless teamwork between SOTECH Health and Phillips-Medisize has facilitated a fast-track product design and development process. Phillips-Medisize’s team of electronics, product and manufacturing engineers worked alongside SOTECH Health’s engineers to ensure intuitive, convenient product operation. Each new product prototype has been executed with a focus on continuous improvement and quality, resulting in a validated product design ready for swift production ramp.

At the heart of each device is electrochemical sensor technology developed by Dr. Shalini Prasad, a professor of bioengineering at UT Dallas. Additional location, temperature, humidity and communication sensors gather relevant data, along with test results, which are sent to a cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) model. A suite of machine learning and predictive analytics tools based on sensor and AI IP owned by SOTECH Health assess results, determine probability of future infection, and provide geographic “heat maps” created from aggregated data within a geographic region.

Phillips-Medisize is readying its global production facilities to keep pace with anticipated demand for SOTECH Health’s breath analyzer. Phillips-Medisize recently announced an expanded manufacturing footprint, which now spans 36 world-class facilities, including production sites, innovation centers and cleanrooms in North America, Europe, Asia, India and Mexico.

SOTECH Health has submitted the device to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization and is awaiting regulatory approvals from Health Canada, the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the European Union’s In Vitro Diagnostic (IVDD) self-declare and then IVDR once regulations are applicable.

Supporting Resources

Phillips-Medisize Brings Possibilities to Life

Phillips-Medisize, a Molex company, brings decades of innovation to leading healthcare and life science companies to develop groundbreaking solutions that help people live healthier, more productive lives. On average, the company commercializes 50 new products a year for customers, including the first-to-market FDA-registered drug-delivery device utilizing a connected health system. Molex brings decades of experience in advanced electronics, connectivity and sensor technologies to help transform medical and pharmaceutical solutions.

About Molex

Molex is a global electronics leader committed to making the world a better, more-connected place. With presence in more than 40 countries, Molex enables transformative technology innovation in the automotive, data center, industrial automation, healthcare, 5G, cloud and consumer device industries. Through trusted customer and industry relationships, unrivaled engineering expertise, and product quality and reliability, Molex realizes the infinite potential of Creating Connections for Life. For more information, visit www.molex.com.