Advanced engineering collaboration accelerates development of MyBreathPrint™,
a revolutionary Class II medical device platform that detects lung cancer
and other diseases from a single minute of breathing
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Feb. 24, 2026)
– Vocxi Health, a
medical technology company developing the next generation of breath-based
diagnostics, has partnered with Forj Medical to transform its MyBreathPrint™
device from a desktop prototype into a compact, handheld diagnostic platform designed
for real-world use. The collaboration dramatically advanced the device’s
performance and manufacturability, positioning it to revolutionize early
disease detection through a simple, noninvasive breath test.
MyBreathPrint™ uses graphene-based nano sensors and machine
learning based algorithms to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced
by the body in a person’s breath that correspond with specific diseases,
including lung cancer, the world’s leading cause of cancer death. The device’s
ultra-sensitive sensors can detect compounds at parts-per-billion
concentration, a thousand times more sensitive than conventional medical gas
sensors. Combined with AI/ML based algorithm, the system delivers accurate,
near-instant results in seconds, potentially enabling widespread screening in
clinics — and ultimately, in homes.
Vocxi partnered with Forj Medical to translate its
breakthrough science into a manufacturable, market-ready device. Forj Medical engineers
employed design-for-manufacturability (DFM) principles and advanced miniaturization
techniques to reduce the device’s size from that of a toaster to a handheld
unit roughly the size of a deck of cards, without compromising precision or
sensitivity.
“Early detection is the key to saving lives, and the ability
to identify cancer and other diseases from a simple breath test to increase
compliance has been a long-standing goal in medicine,” said Ping Yeh, CEO of
Vocxi. “Forj Medical’s engineering ingenuity allowed us to take our vision from
a concept on the bench to a manufacturable device ready for clinical
deployment. Together, we’ve created something that could make early cancer
detection accessible to millions.”
Forj Medical’s team solved multiple technical challenges in
collaboration with Vocxi and its digital health partner S3 Connected Health.
One of the most significant was maintaining clear electrical signals in concert
with ultra-sensitive graphene sensors. The team identified and eliminated the
noise sources through hardware design, custom algorithms, and more than 1,500 custom
diagnostic tests conducted in rapid succession. The engineers also innovatively
solved the challenge of humidity – a breakthrough in breath-detection devices.
Forj Medical then built a foundation for scalable
manufacturing. The team condensed hundreds of electronic components onto a
single printed circuit board, developed automated testing and data analysis
systems, and created packaging and labeling protocols for direct shipment to healthcare
providers.
“This collaboration exemplifies the early and close
integration between the innovation and useability engineers in complex
first-of-their-kind devices,” said Darren Gilmer, senior engineering manager,
product development, at Forj Medical. “Vocxi’s sensor technology was
exceptionally advanced, and our job was to make it manufacturable, reliable,
and ready to scale. We achieved that by working side by side with Vocxi’s
scientists to iterate, test, and refine every aspect of the original design.” The
proximity of core team members in Minnesota’s Medical Alley facilitated rapid
iteration and hands-on collaboration – literally delivering samples back and
forth during testing and iteration – and gaining input from teams across the
globe over a 24/7 timeline.
Gilmer added a key process step was precise engineering that
allowed software to “talk” to the hardware, which is particularly complex in
devices that gather and decipher biometric data.
Throughout the 18-month project, the partnership between
Vocxi, Forj Medical, and S3 Connected Health resulted in three joint patents, a
working prototype, and first production run of 500 units which performed well
in clinical testing.
The MyBreathPrint™ system’s compact form, cloud
connectivity, and affordability make it a promising solution for large-scale
cancer screening and early detection of multiple diseases, with potential to
save countless lives and dramatically reduce healthcare costs.
About Vocxi Health
Vocxi
Health
is a medical technology company pioneering breath-based diagnostics
to enable early, noninvasive detection of cancer and other serious diseases.
Using proprietary nano sensor arrays and advanced machine learning algorithms,
Vocxi’s MyBreathPrint™ device platform translates chemical patterns in human
breath into actionable clinical data. The company’s mission is to make early
detection accessible, accurate, and affordable for all.
About Forj Medical
Forj Medical is a vertically
integrated contract design and manufacturing organization (CDMO) serving the
medical technology industry. Formed through the merger of Intricon and
Minnetronix Medical, Forj Medical offers end-to-end capabilities—from concept
through commercial scale—in system design, microelectronics, precision molding,
and advanced manufacturing. Headquartered in the heart of Medical Alley in St.
Paul, Minn., with operations in Singapore, Indonesia, and Costa Rica, Forj
Medical partners with device OEMs to accelerate innovation across key segments
including diabetes care, advanced optics, surgical energy, vascular disease,
drug delivery, and surgical navigation. For more information, please visit
ForjMedical.com
.
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