MediPines announced that it was selected as a winner in a COVID-19 edition of a National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation competition.

The “Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!” competition, presented by the FDA-sponsored consortium, centered on COVID-19 related innovations in pediatric medical devices.

Sixteen finalists competed in a virtual pitch event with eyes on a share of $250,000 in total grant awards, with MediPines collecting an undisclosed amount in grants as a competition winner.

The company was among eight winners selected by a panel of 75 judges in the competition, which was presented by NCC-PDI co-founders Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National Hospital and the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. The event was powered by MedTech Innovator.

“These winners represent some of the most promising emerging medical device innovations in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of children affected by COVID-19,” MedTech Innovator CEO Paul Grand said in a news release. “I’m thrilled that we were able to work together with NCC-PDI and seventy-five expert industry stakeholders and clinicians to provide support for these innovators on their critical missions to improve and protect the lives of pediatric patients, our most vulnerable population.”

Orange County, Calif.-based MediPines develops the MediPines gas exchange monitor (AGM100), a respiratory monitoring system for assessing a patient’s respiratory status in a rapid, non-invasive manner. The device includes critical parameters and respiratory measurements analyzed from two-minute samples of a patient’s normal breathing.

Currently, the AGM100 is FDA-cleared, but only with indications for treating adults. The company intends to use the funds received in the competition to support clinical investigations as it seeks to expand indications to include pediatric patients.

“We are excited about the potential to help save the lives of our precious children impacted by infectious respiratory diseases using our advanced respiratory monitoring system,” MediPines CEO Steve Lee said.