A Cork-based company has received a funding boost to help develop and market a ground-breaking device that helps reduce heart attacks.

The 'RespiraSense' monitors breathing patterns and is currently in use in hospitals in Germany, Hong Kong and in Ireland.

The device, a discrete wireless sensor, is placed on the patient's chest at admission and worn continuously until they are discharged.

The company behind it - PMD Solutions - has been given €4.2m in European Union funding to develop a new respiratory monitoring device to improve patient outcomes.

PMD Solutions is one of 38 SMEs across Europe selected under this round for funding.

The funding will be used to finance activities like demonstration, testing, piloting, scaling up and miniaturisation - as well as developing a business plan for their product.

Myles Murray of PMD Solutions says the money will help them to grow.