Skip to content
i2E
  • Programs
    • For Startups
      • E3
      • Bridge2
      • OCN
    • For Students
      • Entrepreneur’s Cup
    • For Corporations
    • For Investors
  • Client Portfolio
  • About
    • Our Values
    • Meet Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Corporate Partners
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Programs
    • For Startups
      • E3
      • Bridge2
      • OCN
    • For Students
      • Entrepreneur’s Cup
    • For Corporations
    • For Investors
  • Client Portfolio
  • About
    • Our Values
    • Meet Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Corporate Partners
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Media
Search

Linear Health Sciences founder ‘living his dream’

Get in Touch

By Scott Meacham
Copyright © 2019, The Oklahoman

During one of the earliest conversations I had with Dr. Ryan Dennis, CEO of Linear Health Sciences, he told me that he was living his dream.

I wanted to know more about that. Is it the dream of a curious young boy who grew up in a small Oklahoma town with just 18 other students in his class — a boy who knew when he was in the seventh grade that he wanted to be a doctor?

Or is it the dream of an endlessly curious life-learner, who, with the urging and support of a teacher and parents, moved away from home at 16 years old to attend the Oklahoma School of Science and Math (OSSM) — where he developed college-level proficiencies in science and math, and, in Dr. Dennis’ own words, gained so many educational benefits from being surrounded by people who were different and diverse?

Or is his dream the success of a tireless physician and entrepreneur who started his own hospital group and then co-founded Linear Health Sciences, a medical device company with a safety valve technology having the potential to improve the care of virtually any patient connected to an intra-venous (IV) line. (Visit website here)

All of those, Dr. Dennis told me are true, but he said that his greatest dream was to walk through a hospital with an open mind and open eyes so that through innovation and invention, he could serve more patients in more places beyond where he lives and works.

Imagine that you are joining that dream, following Dr. Dennis on hospital rounds. You visit the pediatric floor where children are hooked up to bags of fluids and life-saving medicines—IVs, central lines, or peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCS)—delivering treatments, via needles and tubing, to battle injury and disease.

Now envision the situation through the eyes of Dr. Dennis, as he observes the impact when this medical tubing becomes accidentally dislodged as it is caught or pulled too far. In a hospital that happens every day, creating discomfort and interrupted treatment for patients and repeated steps for caregivers.

Dr. Dennis and the team at Linear Health Sciences developed the Orchid™, a breakaway valve that separates when the medical tubing gets caught or pulled too far. The valve creates a sterile seal and prevents the tubing from being pulled out. Linear Health is in final stages of FDA approvals and will soon launch its product with a solution that has the potential to be applied to every patient around the world.

i2E was the lead investor in Linear Health’s first two capital rounds. We focused on risk and return. We vetted the business plan and the founding team rigorously as we always do. Reflecting back, I wish we had followed Dr. Dennis down the halls of that pediatric ward. It would have been a powerful reminder of something that Dr. Dennis believes and acts on every day — the real reason Oklahoma’s investment in life sciences matters so much is humanity.

It’s because of those children in pediatric wards, because of our loved ones who are fighting cancer and ALS, and because of elderly patients with macular degeneration or Alzheimer’s who deserve the best quality of life we can deliver.

Oklahoma’s investment in life sciences startups like Linear Health is a way for us all to share in Dr. Dennis’ dream of making things better for patients and healthcare professionals everywhere — a dream that matters.

Scott Meacham is president and CEO of i2E Inc., a nonprofit corporation that mentors many of the state’s technology-based startup companies. i2E receives state appropriations from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology. Contact Meacham at [email protected].

 

 

 

More News

Loading...
Blog, Featured, News
06.25.25

i2E Showcases Startup Innovation at Bridge2 Cohort 3 Demo Day

Read more
Blog, Entrepreneur's Cup Featured, Entrepreneur's Cup News
04.25.25

Oklahoma Collegiate Entrepreneurs Take Home Over $167K at Entrepreneur’s Cup

Read more
Blog, Featured, News
12.16.24

MidAmerica and i2E Announce Award Winners

Read more
Blog, Featured, News
11.21.24

i2E & Plains Ventures Surpasses $100M Milestone in Total Investments

Read more
Blog
09.30.24

i2E Receives 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Award from IEDC

Read more
Blog
06.18.24

Bridge2 Demo Day Returns, Highlighting Promising Oklahoma Startups

Read more
Blog, Entrepreneur's Cup Featured, Entrepreneur's Cup News
05.13.24

Student Entrepreneurs Triumph at 20th Anniversary Entrepreneur’s Cup, Winning $158,000 in Prizes

Read more
Default Featured Image
Blog, Entrepreneur's Cup News
04.24.24

Beyond the Cup: Tracking Success Stories from the Entrepreneur’s Cup Series – Jessica Kinsey

Read more
Default Featured Image
Blog, Entrepreneur's Cup News
04.23.24

Beyond the Cup: Tracking Success Stories from the Entrepreneur’s Cup Series – Nathan Fountain

Read more
Default Featured Image
Blog, Entrepreneur's Cup Featured, Entrepreneur's Cup News
04.23.24

Beyond the Cup: Tracking Success Stories from the Entrepreneur’s Cup Series – Srijita Ghosh

Read more
Default Featured Image
Blog, Entrepreneur's Cup Featured, Entrepreneur's Cup News
04.18.24

Beyond the Cup: Tracking Success Stories from the Entrepreneur’s Cup Series – MaxQ

Read more
Blog, i2E
01.30.24

i2E Celebrates Success of Inaugural Bridge2 Demo Day

Read more
i2E

Oklahoma City Office

201 Robert S Kerr Ave, Suite 600
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
+1 (405) 235.2305

Tulsa Office

12 N. Cheyenne Ave, Suite 112
Tulsa, OK 74103
+1 (918) 582.5592

  • Client Portfolio
  • About Us
  • Media
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • Funding
  • Venture Advisory

© 2025 i2E Privacy Policy

Follow us:

Linkedin Twitter Facebook Instagram Youtube

Programs

  • For Startups
    • E3
    • Bridge2
    • OCN
  • For Students
    • Entrepreneur’s Cup
  • For Corporations
  • For Investors
  • For Startups
    • E3
    • Bridge2
    • OCN
  • For Students
    • Entrepreneur’s Cup
  • For Corporations
  • For Investors
  • Client Portfolio

Services

  • Access to Funding
  • Venture Advisory Services
  • Events
  • Contact
  • About
  • Our Values
  • Our Team
  • Board of Directors
  • Corporate Partners
  • Media
i2E