Innovation Programs
Enlight Med Foundry - Science Accelerators Program
Meir Medical Center’s flagship Incubator developed in partnership with Afeka College of Engineering and supported by Israel’s Ministry of Science and Technology.
The program empowers clinical teams to turn unmet medical needs into tangible prototypes, backed by expert engineering, business guidance, and up to $90,000 in funding per project.
The Foundry follows a structured innovation process, starting with an open call for ideas from Meir and Afeka staff based on real clinical needs. Selected ideas are matched to form clinical and engineering teams, then validated through market and IP analysis. Teams develop proof-of-concept prototypes and test them in relevant settings. Promising projects move toward commercialization with support for patent filing and tech transfer.
Program Impact
Featured Projects
Smart Intubation Aid
A project to develop a smart intubation assistive device that combines advanced imaging and navigation technology to improve the speed and accuracy of tracheal intubation — a critical medical procedure with a 20–30% first-attempt failure rate and a high risk of life-threatening complications.
The solution features a single-use, narrow-diameter bougie with a controllable flexible tip, integrated light source and camera, and wireless connection to a display screen.
Market Potential: Tracheal intubation is a high-stakes procedure across hospitals and emergency care units. The demand for safer, more effective intubation tools represents a significant global market opportunity.
Project Team: Prof. Brian Fredman, Dr. Edna Zohar (Meir), Dr. Michael Frishman (Afeka)
FORFIX – Novel Intraocular Lens Fixation Device
A groundbreaking microsurgical solution for the common complication of intraocular lens (IOL) dislocation after cataract surgery — an issue affecting over 300,000 cases annually worldwide.
The innovation involves a biocompatible, patent-pending clip that enables quick and easy fixation of the existing lens using standard surgical techniques, while preserving optimal refractive outcomes.
Market Potential: Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures globally. Improved IOL fixation solutions address a critical unmet need in a massive and growing market.
Project Team: Dr. Asaf Friehmann, Dr. Alex Rubowitz, Dr. Gal Harel (Meir), Dr. Milad Hamisa (Afeka)
Smart Catheter Localization
A novel ultrasound-based solution for accurately locating catheter tips in the body — addressing the common problem of catheter dislodgement, which can lead to ineffective treatment and serious complications.
The system enables visibility of previously "invisible" catheter types via standard ultrasound, with minimal integration required into existing medical equipment.
Market Potential: Millions of catheters are inserted daily for medication, drainage, and resuscitation. The need for improved positioning and monitoring tools is global and ongoing.
Project Team: Dr. Ido Zelner (Meir), Dr. Milad Hamisa (Afeka)
AI Thermal Imaging for Rheumatoid Arthritis
An AI-powered diagnostic tool that analyzes thermal images captured by standard cameras to detect unique heat patterns associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
The system enables rapid, affordable, and accessible RA diagnosis — including potential for at-home monitoring and treatment follow-up, replacing expensive tools like MRI and advanced ultrasound.
Market Potential: RA affects 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. alone, with an estimated $300B annual economic burden. This solution offers a breakthrough clinical tool for a massive, underserved market.
Project Team: Prof. Shai Kivity (Meir), Dr. Oshrit Hofer, Dr. Nadav Shafer (Afeka)
Enlight Garage – Practical Engineering for Clinical Innovation
An in-house engineering innovation hub, launched by Meir Medical Center’s Innovation Center in partnership with a multidisciplinary engineer with experience in developing medical systems. The hub is dedicated to translating clinical challenges into feasible, usable and new patentable engineering solutions.
Working closely with clinical teams, the hub follows a structured model:
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Identification of real clinical needs
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Joint clinical–engineering assessment
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Concept development with a dedicated engineer
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Feasibility, IP, and commercialization evaluation
The hub focuses on creating simple, cost-effective solutions with real-world impact. Over the past three years, it has advanced dozens of projects – some already implemented in clinical settings, others in development or patent stages – all with minimal investment and maximum ingenuity.
Featured Project: Foreign Body Removal Device ("Stickoscope")
Foreign body extraction from the ear is a common yet challenging pediatric procedure, with a 28% failure rate on first attempts and a high risk of complications. Existing tools are often ineffective for smooth or irregular objects, and repeated attempts may increase trauma or require sedation.
Our Solution: A novel, low-cost add-on to a standard otoscope. The device uses a UV-curable adhesive applied via a soft sponge tip to securely attach to the foreign object and extract it with precision. It's intuitive, safe, repeatable, and minimizes discomfort – especially in children.
Project Team: Ella Elon Weiss (RN), Hila Miler (RN), Dr. Itzhak Pomerantz (Engineer)
Enlight AI
The AI Innovation Lab at Meir Medical Center is being established to accelerate the development and clinical adoption of artificial intelligence solutions across healthcare domains. The lab serves as a collaborative hub where clinicians and data scientists co-develop AI tools grounded in real-world clinical needs.
Building on successful in-house initiatives such as Project SHIELD – an AI-based system for early detection and prevention of hospital-acquired infections – the lab provides the structure, expertise, and data infrastructure to scale innovation.
Featured Project: SHIELD – AI-Powered Infection Surveillance
Challenge: Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a major source of patient harm, with high mortality rates and immense costs. Current investigations are manual and retrospective, causing critical delays.
Our Solution: SHIELD is an AI-based system that uses graph neural networks (GNNs) to identify infectious outbreaks in real-time. It analyzes hospital, lab, and surgical data to detect exposure chains, transmission patterns, and index cases — enabling early detection and proactive infection control.
The system successfully identified an outbreak of NDM-CPE at Meir and is now undergoing clinical validation and integration into hospital workflows.
Project Leads:
Dr. Hadar Mudrik-Zohar (Infectious Disease Specialist),
Dr. Pnina Shitrit (Head of Infection Prevention Unit),
Ilan Sinai (Data Scientist, ML/Deep Learning Expert)
Clinitech – Where Startups Meet Clinical Reality
A unique program designed to connect health tech startups with frontline clinical expertise. Whether it’s an early stage or already scaling, Clinitech provides Startup’s direct access to physicians, advanced hospital infrastructure, and real-world healthcare processes – helping refine the product and accelerate impact.
What we offer:
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Access to Clinical Experts – Consult with leading physicians and medical staff across specialties.
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Tailored Professional Support – Get personalized insights to align your innovation with actual clinical needs.
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On-the-Ground Innovation – Experience the hospital environment first-hand, including exposure to technologies and workflows.
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Real Testing in Clinical Settings – Validate your solution in collaboration with clinical teams.
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Strategic Collaborations – Open the door to pilot studies, clinical research, and long-term partnerships.
Clinitech is where great ideas grow into practical, validated healthcare solutions.
Let’s build the future of health – together via link
