In a hospital room, the difference between a patient needing a breathing tube and avoiding one can come down to the oxygen mask on their face. The standard high-flow nasal cannula, while effective, is a tangle of tubing and a single-use plastic frame. ScopeMed, a quiet Ohio-based hardware startup, is attempting to address this with a pair of modular mask systems [ScopeMed, Unknown].
Founded and led by Tosan Ugbeye, a Medicare-enrolled Anesthesiologist Assistant practicing in Cleveland, the company is developing from the ground up with a clinician's understanding of the procedural and bedside realities of respiratory support [Medicarelist, Unknown] [LinkedIn, 2026]. The public record shows no disclosed funding rounds or named hospital customers, placing ScopeMed in the pre-seed, prototype-validation phase.
The Hardware Wedge
The company's initial focus is on two core products. The first is the O2rizon, an open mask designed to deliver between 28% and 95% oxygen at flow rates of 1 to 15 liters per minute. A key claimed feature is integrated sidestream capnography, allowing for continuous sampling of end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) without an additional nasal cannula [ScopeMed, Unknown].
The second device is the S.C.O.P.E. Respirator, framed as an aerosol-filtering mask with interchangeable caps. The modular design philosophy suggests a goal of reducing single-use plastic waste and inventory complexity by allowing components to be swapped rather than replacing entire assemblies [ScopeMed, Unknown].
Navigating a Regulated Niche
The respiratory care equipment market is mature and heavily regulated, dominated by large, entrenched players like Philips, Medtronic, and Fisher & Paykel. Each device would require clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, most likely through the 510(k) pathway. ScopeMed's website notes it holds one issued patent and has others pending [ScopeMed, Unknown].
The most significant hurdle beyond regulation is commercial proof. The company's trajectory will depend on its ability to secure non-dilutive grant funding, such as from the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) where it is listed as a member, or angel investment to fund the costly prototyping and clinical testing required before a sales cycle can even begin [MTEC, Unknown].
The Patient Population and Standard of Care
ScopeMed's tools are aimed at adults in hospital and clinic settings who require non-invasive respiratory support. This includes patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, those in post-anesthesia recovery, and individuals with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ScopeMed's bet is that an integrated, modular hardware system can consolidate this stack, improve ergonomics for staff, and deliver richer patient data through built-in sensors.