South East Angels backs MedTech startup EarSwitch to fix how medical devices monitor vital signs
South East Angels is pleased to announce its investment in EarSwitch, a Manchester-based medical technology company developing EarMetrics®, an in-ear biometric sensor to provide accurate, real-time vital signs from inside the ear canal.
The investment will support the company's clinical validation programme and licensing strategy as it works to embed its technology across regulated medical device sectors - including pulse oximetry, patient monitoring, and consumer health wearables, where inaccurate readings are driving both clinical harm and significant litigation risk for manufacturers.
Founded by Dr Nick Gompertz, a 30-year NHS doctor and NHS Clinical Entrepreneur, EarSwitch addresses a specific and well-documented problem: many standard pulse oximeters are demonstrably inaccurate in the critical oxygen saturation range and systematically underperform for patients with darker skin, creating inequity in care and exposing device manufacturers to growing legal liability in the US and UK.
EarMetrics® measures from the ear canal - a central physiology site with uniform tissue colouring regardless of skin tone, offering heart rate, heart rate variability, oxygen saturation, breathing rate and blood pressure indicators from a single sensor. The technology is designed not to replace existing device manufacturers, but to be licensed into their product lines, enabling them to meet tightening accuracy requirements and regulatory expectations without disrupting clinical workflows. "We are focusing on providing the new standard for medical and lifestyle data," said Dr Nick Gompertz, Founder and CEO. "The problem we are solving exists across every clinical setting that uses a pulse oximeter, and the litigation and regulatory pressure on manufacturers is accelerating. EarMetrics® offers them a technically credible, racially inclusive, licensable solution.
"EarSwitch is addressing a problem that is simultaneously a patient safety issue, a regulatory compliance challenge, and an active litigation risk for some of the world's largest medical device companies. The science behind measuring from the inner ear canal is solid, the IP portfolio is substantial, and the team - led by a clinician who has lived this problem - has already opened doors with the manufacturers who need this solution most. That combination made this a compelling opportunity for our members." - Jake Fox, Syndicate Lead, South East Angels.
Find out more about EarSwitch.
