The idea started during Tom’s residency in Internal Medicine at the Amsterdam UMC and was awarded the Amsterdam Science & Innovation Award (AmSIA) in 2021. Now, it has reached the next milestone: incorporation. 

From problem to solution 

During his residency, Tom Brouwer often experienced how important clinical information about patient’s urine output was simply not available. In a previous interview, he told us: “It was a major clinical frustration for me and many other doctors. The information often lacks, because it’s very laborious for nurses to check the urine production every hour. When I wanted to order an automated urine monitor online, there was nothing available that met my needs. So, we decided to design and build a device that meets our needs.” 

Recognition and further development 

The first prototype of Flowsure was put together using readily available components, just to demonstrate the concept of an automated device that continuously measures urine output and sends the data to the patient’s medical record. This reduces manual work for nurses and allows for better monitoring by the care team.  

Winning the AmSIA award helped Tom Brouwer’s innovative idea gain visibility, attract early interest, and gain momentum. Since then, Flowsure has received support from several public funding schemes, including the Amsterdam UMC Innovation Fund and the NWO Demonstrator Grant.  

Most recently, Flowsure BV and Amsterdam UMC started a joint project, funded through TKI Health Holland, to develop smart algorithms for alerting nurses based on urine data. The total project’s budget is €1.5 million. 

IXA’s role in the journey 

IXA has been involved throughout the process: advising on funding opportunities, supporting the grant applications, and handling the legal and contractual aspects involved in setting up the company.