A million times each year in this country a pregnant woman who is not remotely ready for a healthy delivery believes she is entering preterm labor. The best way to determine if the expecting mother is in fact in labor is to take an accurate measurement of cervical length. To do this requires an expensive transvaginal ultrasound performed by a trained professional.
Chagrin Falls-based CerviLenz is marketing an inexpensive, easy-to-use disposable device that quickly and accurately measures vaginal cervical length. Invented by a practicing obstetrician, the device is the first and only of its kind.
"Because the interventions to prevent or delay preterm birth are very toxic, dangerous and expensive since they require a two- to three-day hospital stay, you want to be careful not to misdiagnose," explains Dean Koch, CerviLenz president. "Our device allows for easy and objective measurement of the cervix to allow for a better selection of who is likely to benefit from intervention and who is not really in labor. By managing the situation effectively, we can make sure the mother is in the right setting, maximizing the baby's chances for a good outcome."
Down the road, adds Koch, the devices can be used throughout a woman's pregnancy to screen for those who are at risk for premature pregnancies. New findings prove that by administering progesterone therapy, doctors can cut the risk of early births by half.
CerviLenz, which has received financial backing from JumpStart, North Coast Angel Fund, Chrysalis Ventures, Aboretum Ventures and others, is adding staffers in the field and will soon reach 12 employees. The devices are manufactured in Ohio.
Source: Dean Koch, CerviLenzWriter: Douglas Trattner