Automated post-operative fluid monitoring, from bedside to discharge
Monitoring surgical drains and urinary catheters remains manual, labor-intensive, and error-prone. Nurses spend hundreds of hours annually measuring and recording output, costing hospitals over $10,000 per nurse per year in labor alone. Prolonged or mismanaged drainage delays safe drain removal, leading to infections and seromas that contribute to an estimated $6 billion in U.S. healthcare costs. After discharge, patients struggle with manual tracking, creating data gaps that compromise care quality.
FlowMo integrates smart sensors, cloud software, and AI-driven analytics to automate post-operative fluid monitoring. Clip-on sensors attach to existing drain tubing and urine collection systems, continuously measuring volume, flow rate, color, turbidity, and temperature. Data streams to a secure dashboard and mobile app with automated alerts and auto-charts to the patient's EHR. Our AI predicts optimal drain removal timing, enabling shorter hospital stays, fewer readmissions, and earlier complication detection.
The global surgical drainage devices market was valued at ~$3.0B in 2024, projected to exceed $5.3B by 2033. The U.S. represents $1.1B with 48M+ surgeries annually. At $100/case across the ~4.8M cases involving drain or urine monitoring, the U.S. TAM is $480M/year. Near-term reachable market across target specialties: ~1M cases, or $100M. Growth is fueled by rising surgical volumes, an aging population, and expanding remote patient monitoring adoption.
| Product | Focus | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Medela Thopaz+ | Thoracic drains | Single drain type only |
| SOMAVAC SVS | Seroma prevention | No volume monitoring or connectivity |
| Fluid AI Origin | Drain effluent pH | Not for diagnosis or treatment |
| RenalSense Clarity | Urine flow (Foley) | ICU-only, AKI detection |
| Accuryn | Urine, IAP, core temp | Critical care only |
| FlowMo | Unified multi-drain AI | Predictive + EHR integration |
U.S. Provisional Patent No. 63/785,130, filed April 8, 2025, protecting core device concepts. Patent counsel: Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino LLP. Nonprovisional utility filing targeted by April 2026.
Functional prototype with validated sensing and data capture in benchtop settings. Validation study underway at Northeast Ohio Medical University. Pilot discussions active with Akron Children's Hospital.
Discovery interviews with surgeons, nurses, APPs, and patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Ohio State University Medical Center, Connecticut Children's Hospital, and Akron Children's Hospital. Nursing staff reported spending multiple hours per week per unit on drain measurement, documentation, and follow-up. Stakeholders validated drain-related labor savings, reduced complications, and fewer follow-up visits as clear value drivers.
FlowMo is requesting the Grand Prize to advance from functional prototype to clinical-grade product, complete our validation study, convert pilot discussions with Akron Children's Hospital into active deployments, and file the nonprovisional utility patent.