[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/saringer-with-venowave.jpg” caption=”John Saringer’s Venowave was featured at last year’s McMaster Innovation Showcase.”]Newspaper headlines often spark conversations, but for a McMaster researcher and a local entrepreneur one headline inspired the creation of a new medical device that prevents blood clots.

The collaboration began eight years ago when a medical study suggested that sitting for long periods in cramped airline seats placed travelers at risk for blood clots. “Long Haul Peril Revealed” screamed the headlines.

The newspaper stories on the study caught the eye of John Saringer, an engineer and businessman, who had developed a wave generating technology to prevent this condition, known as economy class syndrome, in airline passengers.

“The thing I noted about all these articles was that there was this person quoted, Jack Hirsh, from McMaster University. I said to myself, 'that's not so far away',” recalls Saringer.

A professor emeritus in medicine and former director of the Henderson Research Centre, Hirsh is an internationally recognized clinician and scientist in anti-coagulant therapy and thrombosis. Saringer arranged a meeting with Hirsh at the first opportunity.

Hirsh explained that most blood clots begin directly below the knee in the veins behind the calf muscles. Walking pumps blood through this part of the body, and periods of prolonged sitting, such as during long-haul flights, can prevent this blood flow and lead to clots. This clotting can cause deep vein thrombosis, a serious medical condition.

Saringer refined his technology until he had a lightweight model that could be strapped to a person's calf. Featured at last year's McMaster Innovation Showcase, it is now approved to treat a variety of serious conditions including post thrombotic syndrome, leg swelling due to venous valve incompetence, primary thrombosis, lymphedema and varicose veins.

“There have been a lot of hurdles in establishing this company, but McMaster has been easy to work with,” says Saringer, who now employs seven people. He points to the University's flexibility in accepting equity in his company instead of cash for the clinical trials as a key decision which helped establish the company.

“If there are companies out there with ideas, McMaster has the expertise to contribute,” says Hirsh. He hopes to see more collaboration between McMaster researchers and companies to produce non-invasive medical devices.

“Our partnership with Saringer Life Science Technologies is a great example of how McMaster can spur local economic development,” says Mo Elbestawi, McMaster vice-president research and international affairs. “We are eager to collaborate with local entrepreneurs and businesses to help develop products for the global market.”