MP Dr. Harsha de Silva endorsed the wearable medical device developed by Sri Lankan-born entrepreneur Shavini Fernando, and discussed the possibility of integrating it into the 1990 Suwa Sariya free emergency ambulance service, saying it could help monitor patients’ oxygen levels during transport.
De Silva met with Fernando, founder and chief executive officer of OxiWear Inc., in Colombo this week to discuss the device and its potential applications beyond individual patient use.
Fernando, a pulmonary hypertension patient who developed the device for her own safety and that of others at risk of sudden oxygen drops, introduced OxiWear as an ear-worn continuous oxygen monitor that provides real-time readings of blood oxygen saturation and heart rate.
The device was designed to alert users before dangerously low oxygen levels become life threatening.
“At the beginning, I made this device for myself and for people like me,” Fernando said in the meeting, describing the technology’s origins in her personal health journey.
OxiWear’s wearable technology differs from conventional fingertip pulse oximeters by offering continuous, second-by-second monitoring and reliable performance during motion, attributes that have helped it gain attention in diverse fields, Fernando said.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared device has attracted partnerships and interest outside the clinical setting, with applications in military and aviation environments, including monitoring for active military personnel, air force pilots and during the transport of wounded soldiers, according to Fernando.
She also noted its use among elite athletes in Major League Baseball, the National Football League and the English Premier League, where continuous oxygen data can inform training and performance.
Fernando said OxiWear was the only continuous monitoring device of its type that performed reliably under sustained G-force conditions, a milestone in testing that underscores its durability in demanding circumstances.
Founded in 2019 and based in Arlington, Virginia, where Fernando was based, OxiWear has received a range of accolades, grants and accelerator recognitions as it has worked to expand its technology and distribution. The startup continues to raise investment capital to support development of next-generation devices and broader market rollout.
Dr Harsha De Silva, an advocate for technology in public services, suggested that the device could be deployed in Sri Lanka’s national ambulance system to improve emergency care by providing continuous oxygen monitoring en route to hospitals. (Newswire)