An Australian medtech startup is harnessing frontline paramedic experience to develop Pulse Tile, a promising device set to accelerate cardiac arrest responses.
Founder and CEO, Elleesha King, a seasoned paramedic who's attended countless cardiac arrests, repeatedly saw the same issue: manual pulse checks are slow, stressful and subjective, causing critical delays in starting CPR or defibrillation. Pulse Tile has the potential to fill that gap – a compact device that quickly confirms the presence or absence of a pulse, empowering responders to act decisively.
Elleesha partnered with the Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) to turn her concept into a viable medical device. The collaboration connected her with skilled engineers and researchers who developed key features like detection algorithms, battery systems and neck-mounting solutions, delivering a working prototype and a polished technical report - perfect for investors and technical experts.
Describing the MDPP experience as both transformative and deeply validating, Elleesha said going through the program was a real turning point.
"Presenting to an expert panel and seeing their engagement was incredibly affirming," she said. "It confirmed this is a genuine clinical crisis – and Pulse Tile is a strong solution. MDPP didn't just advance our R&D; they gave us confidence, credibility and a solid milestone to build on."
"The collaboration with Karen and her fabulous team was invaluable," Elleesha added. "They've got the engineering brains and delivered R&D to a great standard. It was super validating to know there were people who genuinely wanted to help bring this project to life."
Featuring MDPP on pitch decks and at accelerators has boosted the startup's credibility, instantly signalling to investors and partners that Pulse Tile has already passed rigorous expert scrutiny.
Professor Karen Reynolds, MDPP Director, praised the project. "Supporting innovators like Elleesha, who bring sharp clinical insight and a clear vision for better care, is what MDPP is all about," she said. "We're proud to contribute our expertise to a critical care device that could save lives when every second counts."
With MDPP leading early R&D, Elleesha's team could parallel-track fundraising, strategy, and trial preparation— propelling them into clinical trials and successfully securing half their funding target.
Elleesha credits MDPP with sharpening their strategy and connecting her with experts dedicated to bringing life-saving devices to patients.
Do you have a bold idea for a novel medical device? MDPP is ready to help you bring it to life—get in touch today.