Jun 3, 2016
3D printing startup Metamason today announced that it has closed a $3 million Series Seed financing round, led by 3P Equity Partners, a manufacturing-focused private equity firm located in San Jose, CA; and Tsing Capital, known as China’s foremost cleantech venture capital firm. The round also included a collection of individual angel investors throughout the country.
Metamason uses 3D technology to create personalized, 3D-printed medical devices. They are working on custom CPAP masks for sleep apnea patients via 3D scanning, smart geometry, and 3D printing, a process they call Scan·Fit·Print™. Metamason's flagship line includes the Respere CPAP Mask & the Respere Freedom CPAP Adapter, intended for patients suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
“We are thrilled to reach this important milestone for the company," said Metamason founder and CEO Leslie Oliver Karpas. "Our investors are confident that Metamason will be a disruptive, positive force in the $4 billion global sleep apnea market.”
According to COO/CFO and co-founder Cliff Sarkin, Metamason will use the seed investment to complete FDA regulatory clearance and run initial clinical trials for its patent-pending, 3D printed Respere CPAP Mask for Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients. OSA is a chronic respiratory disorder affecting one in four men and one in nine women in the US alone, stated the company. If left untreated, it can disrupt relationships, cause depression and chronic fatigue, contribute to the onset of diabetes, and lead to dangerous heart conditions. While CPAP therapy has been shown to be the most effective long-term treatment for the condition, clearly driven comfort and aesthetic issues it has one of the highest quit rates of almost any medical therapy.
"We personally know several people who struggle with sleep apnea and CPAP therapy (including some members of our team), and quickly identified the opportunity that parametric design could yield a perfectly customizable product if coupled with 3D scanning and 3D printing." said Karpas. “We’re not just selling a product. We want to give patients and providers direct influence over the creation of objects that profoundly affect their lives.”
CPAP, he explained, is a good place to start. “Despite CPAP therapy's proven efficacy, over half of patients quit because of discomfort due to poor fit of their masks.”
The company’s Scan·Fit·Print process integrates 3D body scanning, patented algorithmic design and on-demand 3D printing to create CPAP mask that comfortably fits each patient’s unique facial topology. Each Respere product will be produced on demand, 3D-printed from soft medical grade silicone. “Many people suffering from OSA can't remember the last time they had a good night’s sleep,” Karpas said. “Mass-produced masks fit poorly because every human face is different. Metamason empowers patients through curated personalization. It’s our goal to improve lives by transforming the CPAP experience.”
In March of this year, the company was chosen as one of five finalists for the SXSW Interactive 3DIY Innovation Award, garnering a flurry of positive press and being named one of “6 Cool Innovations That Are Making The World A Better Place” by reason.com.
Metamason plans to execute a crowdfunding campaign later in 2016 and begin marketing activities in early 2017. The Respere 3D printed mask is expected to become publicly available in Q2 2017.
Posted in 3D Printer Company
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having a completely customized mask is the road to better success with cpap therapy. Theres nothing better than this. I know the first mask i used was what led me to believe cpap wasnt for me. once i tired a newer more comfortable mask it changed my whole opinion altogether. I think most companies would do this except for the fact that it would take a lot of time to create a custom mask for everyone. IN a perfect world this would be the standard.
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