Boise company’s product is a breath of fresh air- Ox-Gen develops portable emergency oxygen supply

A Boise company wants to sell the air you breathe — and believes there’s a ready market for its emergency oxygen kits.

Ox-gen Corp.http://www.ox-gen.us/ , started last summer, is now awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration to sell its non-pressurized systems that provide 15-30 minutes of oxygen.

Julie Howard
The Idaho Statesman

http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040506/NEWS0202/405060333/1029/NEWS02

The product comes in a clear plastic bag the size of a paperback book and is activated by squeezing, which breaks a seal and mixes liquid peroxide with a iron powder catalyst, producing oxygen. A tube is connected from the solution to a face mask to deliver to a person in an emergency situation.

Frank Fosella, chairman, president and founder, said the product alleviates the problems associated with pressurized oxygen systems, which are heavy and highly flammable.

"This will be for households and airports, for malls and high-rise buildings," said Fosella, adding he also anticipates military interest.

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Fast facts

Ox-gen Corp.

Founded: June 2003

What it does: Make non-pressurized oxygen delivery products for emergency use.

Employees: 3

Location: 802 W. Bannock St., 14th floor, Boise

Phone: 336-0773

http://www.ox-gen.us/

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Fosella said the product is not meant for those who are chronically ill, but for "healthy people who get sick," such as from altitude sickness or smoke inhalation.

Steve Hatten, new product development manager for TechHelp, sees the potential in the product. TechHelp, a program affiliated with Boise State University that assists manufacturers, is helping Ox-gen finalize its packaging and components.

"I’m on the ski patrol at Bogus and we keep oxygen in pressurized canisters that are big and heavy," said Hatten, who supervises three mechanical engineering students on the Ox-gen project. "This new way of deploying oxygen is interesting, and it eliminates the weight and danger."

Fosella closed Fosella & Associates, the marketing and design firm he ran for 20 years in Boise, to work solely on Ox-gen.

He came across the idea when working with a local inventor who came up with a protective suit for emergencies that incorporated an oxygen supply. The protective suit never came to fruition, but Fosella saw the potential of having a ready oxygen supply and bought the rights for that idea.

Fosella has spent nearly a year perfecting the idea, setting up a business plan, gathering a board of directors and investors, and now pursuing FDA approval.

Jim Zamzow, president of Zamzow’s feed, seed and garden supplies stores in the Treasure Valley, invested in the company and is on Ox-gen’s board of directors.

"I think it’s a pretty exciting potential business," said Zamzow. "And I think it will save lives."

Zamzow, who has invested in other local start-up companies over the years, said the product has generated interest from several Japanese companies and from shipping operations.

"If it can be developed out, it’s going to be a very successful business," he said.

Other directors include Boise attorney Andrew Hawes and Terrence Mann, who heads business development for Washington Mutual’s business banking division. Both also serve as executives for Ox-gen.

"What makes this unique is it’s safe and you can apply it yourself," said Fosella.

If approved by the FDA, Ox-gen would continue with engineering, sales and marketing — and use a business alliance to handle manufacturing, said Fosella. A decision by the FDA is expected in early summer.

The non-prescription product is expected to retail for about $149.