BETA.05 Recipient: Brielle

Infertility is diagnosed when a couple is unable to conceive over an extended period – typically 12 months. This can result from a number of of factors, including reduced sperm quality, ovulation or uterine issues, or blocked fallopian tubes. Pinpointing its cause often requires invasive medical tests, negatively impacting both partners' physical and mental well-being as well as their relationship.

Brielle is a non-invasive first-line treatment that can increase the probability of natural conception when low intrauterine sperm concentration is the primary issue. Brielle retains sperm around the cervix to ensure a higher concentration of sperm in the uterus, thereby improving the chances of fertilisation.

Clinical Impact

·      Reduces the need for invasive treatments, lowering costs while increasing capacity

·      Minimises complications and side effects compared to more invasive treatments

·      Enhances conception rates when used along with traditional treatments

·      Provides a natural at-home solution, improving patient comfort and well-being

The BETA.HEALTH 'Accelerator Programme'

Brielle is a two-time BETA.05 grant recipient. During the project's most recent BETA.HEALTH 'accelerator programme', the team developed the final prototype and conducted user testing to refine the design.

With a final design in hand, they submitted a patent application, reached the final stages of their CE-marking application, and outlined the requirements for ISO13485 certification.

Alongside these regulatory preparations, BETA.HEALTH's innovation experts helped the team to create a business plan and budget. They're currently in dialogue with several prospective investors.

Next Steps

The team is working on establishing a spinout to ensure a successful transition from the development phase to a commercial scale-up. 

They plan to continue their discussions with prospective investors, focusing on securing formal agreements to help accelerate production, expand distribution capacity and strengthen their marketing efforts.

The Team

Patrick Butler: Student Physician; Department of Radiology, Regionshospitalet Hjørring

Christina Oprea: Physician; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital, Farsø