Patrick Breeding of Zephyrus Simulation stands with Renee Kelly of UMaine’s Foster Center for Student Innovation after winning the Oct. 17 BigGig in Bangor.

A medical simulation startup founded by UMaine students won the Bangor region’s BigGig pitch event last week.

The company, Zephyrus Simulation LLC, was spun off from a product developed by a group of bioengineering students at the University of Maine . The product began as a $500 prototype of a mannequin with a diaphragm that mimics natural breathing patterns, as well as hyperventilation and obstructed breathing patterns. It’s job is to help train medical professionals to diagnose and respond to critical respiratory situations, according to Patrick Breeding, a bioengineering major at UMaine who pitched the business at the BigGig event.

“The idea was to create a simulation capable of simulating realistic diaphragm movements,” Breeding said.

Breeding and his co-founders plan to market the product to hospitals, medical education facilities, and emergency response organizations.

“Through innovative means of simulation, our overall goal is to improve the quality of global healthcare education and preparedness,” Breeding said.

For winning the BigGig pitch event, held Oct. 17 at the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, Breeding and his team won $500 and a chance to pitch at the final event and a $5,000 check.