Ambulatory Monitoring Systems

Oxford, United Kingdom

We are at Hall 16 / G35 Simplifying and supporting the diagnosis of sleep disorders and improving access to services Aiming to simplify and support the diagnosis of sleep and breathing disorders Stowood Scientific Instruments Ltd (Stowood) are an Oxfordshire based technology company. We specialise in the design, development, manufacturing and support of equipment for the diagnosis of sleep disorders. We supply equipment for use across a wide range of settings from research, dedicated sleep laboratory or the home environment. Driven by clinical need Our clinical customers sit at the heart of what we do. Our products are designed with their needs in mind and we strive to innovate and adapt as their needs change. Supporting our technology is a team of dedicated customer and technical support personnel. In order to provide our customers with a range of potential solutions for their particular practice and needs we actively seek out technology that will complement Stowood's and form distribution agreements. Partner for success We were the partner of choice for Embla when they introduced the first acceptable home sleep screener, the Embletta pds, and have distributed each of their products including their latest, the Embletta MPR PG as well as their polysomnography systems. In addition, we distribute Viatom Checkme O2 oximetry as well as accessories and consumables needed for the continued use of all products offered in the portfolio. We believe in supporting the clinical community through the design of technology that makes the diagnostic process easier for both clinician and potential patient but also through supporting the new clinical innovators and leaders of the future. Our founder, Lynford (Lyn) Davies, bequeathed an award to support research and innovation in the field of sleep medicine. The Association of Respiratory Technology and Physiology (ARTP) and the British Sleep Society jointly administer this annual award. Stowood is proud to continue to support and be part of this award going forward. Highlights from the Stowood portfolio include: 1992- Visi-Lab: A sleep lab system designed to simplify the process of diagnosing disordered breathing and to remove the need for the monitoring of EEG and sleep staging. This change enabled non-specialist respiratory services, for example district general hospitals, to offer respiratory polygraphy and the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome for the first time. 1994- Oximetry download software, currently known as Visi-download software: designed to provide a single download and reporting package for multiple types and makes of patient monitors including oximetry, transcutaneous CO2 and capnometry. The software enables the use of multiple different types of monitoring system in the home environment and all can be downloaded and reviewed on a single platform within the clinical environment assisting in the on-going management of an individual's therapy. Previous versions were named Download-2001 and Win-Visi. 1997- Oxford Sleep Resistance (OSleR) Test: a simpler version of both the Multiple Wakefulness Test (MWT) and the Multiple Unprepared Reaction Time Test (MURT) which assesses time to fall asleep and/or reaction times 2002- Snorometer: The first portable device to include the recording of real audio. 2006- Grey Flash: A portable sleep screener including recording of 8 hours of real audio, and Masimo oximetry2011- Black Shadow: Portable ambulatory home monitoring systems (respiratory polygraphy). The only device of this type that offers calibrated sound levels in its recordings. 2013- Visi-System wireless online sleep lab for patients with simple or complex sleep problems Stowood History Foundations - simplified sleep diagnosis - improved access for patients Stowood Scientific Instruments was formed in 1992 by Dr Lynford (Lyn) Davies and a team of software, hardware and bioengineers. We were formed to develop easy to use technologies that would assist in the diagnosis of sleep and breathing disorders. The goal was to enable the use of diagnostic technologies beyond dedicated specialist services as well as to support clinicians in their ongoing management of patients through the integration of a range of equipment within a single user interface. Lyn, a bioengineering PhD, spent his early career in the NHS and in industry before becoming Research and Technical Manager at Oxford Medical in 1984. He remained at Oxford Medical until he formed Stowood. During his time at Oxford Medical the company was the UK's primary manufacturer of ambulatory and neurophysiological monitoring equipment. It was at Oxford Medical that Lyn developed his interest in sleep. Prior to Lyn's premature death in May 2013 he made a plan for Stowood to continue in the spirit that has always underpinned the business, and his successors are determined to maintain that spirit. Constantly innovating The first product from the Stowood stable was Visi-Lab for sleep apnea/ PLMS (Periodic Limb Movement Screening) diagnosis, an easier and less intrusive alternative to polysomnography. The design of Visi-Lab was based on the latest research findings of Professors John Stradling in Oxford and Neil Douglas in Edinburgh. Their research had proven the utility of simpler equipment versus polysomnography, meaning that sleep diagnosis and resulting therapy could potentially be made available to far greater numbers of patients than ever before. We pride ourselves on continual innovation and work with the clinical community and industry partners to develop solutions tailored to their needs. The Stowood Experience Understanding the need Prior to the installation of in-hospital based diagnostic equipment we work hand-in-hand with your key stakeholders in order to determine a solution that best fits the needs of your service. Design and configuration conversations can include, consultants, physiologists, nurses, infection control, biomedical engineering, information technology and hospital procurement. Tailored Solutions There are no off the shelf Stowood in-hospital polygraphy or polysomnography systems. While there is commonality in key components other aspects are tailored to the specific needs of the hospital or unit. We can tailor the signals being collected, the method of transmission, the physical trolley on which the equipment is placed as well as the 3rd party devices that the equipment needs to be able to communicate with. Some examples of implementation of Stowood solutions include: Customised polysomnography equipment transport trollies to enable the expansion of a sleep service to non-dedicated rooms when the beds are scarce Bespoke software development to enable Visi-Download to work with previously installed diagnostic equipment Complete installation of full polysomnography equipment for a multi-bed unit with integration with a central control room. It's in the name Have you ever wondered where the names of devices come from? Some companies select themes around which to build a family whether that be music, space or simple numbers. At Stowood the selection of product names is a little more personal. The founder of Stowood, Lyn Davies, was a keen enthusiast of Vincent motorcycles and his passion included restoring some of these classics, it is hardly surprising that his two interests came together in the names he chose for his new sleep diagnostic devices. Starting with the Grey Flash and moving on to the Black Series including the Black Shadow all can trace their names back to Vincent motorcycles. The Grey Flash was in production between 1949 and 1952 and it was capable of 115mph from a 500cc, 35bhp engine so was extremely fast and lightweight and was used in racing at Brands Hatch and The TT. Only 31 were made. The Black Shadow appeared in 1949 with a 998cc capacity. It included a new design of forks, the use of aluminum and a novel way of mounting the engine, all making it extremely quick. In 2005 it appeared as the 42p stamp in a range of British postage stamps celebrating the UK motorcycle industry- each motorcycle selected represented a significant technological step forward at the time: The Vincent Black Shadow being the fastest standard motorcycle.