Posts

The Memo: iCHOR Vascular Simply Taking a Proven Surgical Fogarty Sweep Into the Endovascular Labs

Under the leadership of Co-Founder and CEO Tim Blair, iCHOR Vascular is advancing a new approach to treating peripheral vascular occlusions by converting one of surgery’s most proven techniques into a simple, minimally invasive endovascular procedure. Founded to address shortcomings in clot removal, the company’s iSWEEP platform modernizes the classic Fogarty balloon sweep, delivering rapid vessel clearance without thrombolytic drugs, complex surgery, blood loss, vessel damage, or capital equipment. Origin Story iCHOR Vascular was founded by practicing Vascular Interventional Radiologist Dr. Troy Long and industry veteran Tim Blair, sparked by a clear realization. “The iCHOR aha moment came from our preclinical experiences with various thrombectomy technologies in their early development stages,” Blair explained. “Whether it was another aspiration technology, another Archimedes screw, another maceration contraption, or another metal scrapping tool, nobody was superior to clot removal a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Clots, Capital, and Deal Activity in the Thrombectomy Devices Market

Thrombectomy is the focus this week, with two major announcements that could meaningfully move this space forward. One came from Inquis Medical, which announced a $75 million Series C round backed by an undisclosed strategic investor. The other came from Boston Scientific, which announced plans to acquire Penumbra for $14.5 billion, marking the largest acquisition in Boston Scientific’s history. Together, these headlines point to a market where mechanical clot removal is gaining momentum across multiple indications. The thrombectomy devices market remains underpenetrated in several of its largest patient populations, which is helping drive both investment and M&A activity. What Thrombectomy Means in Practice Thrombectomy refers to the surgical removal of a thrombus, or blood clot. The procedure is a minimally invasive surgery that uses a catheter-based device to mechanically fragment, retrieve, or aspirate clot material to restore blood flow. The procedure is often used when ra...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Weekly Recap 1/30/26: LSI Alumni Achievements Driving Medtech and Healthtech Forward

In a successful week for the medical technology companies in the LSI Alumni community, we saw LSI Alumni secure new funding, receive regulatory clearances, launch products, and much more on the road to LSI USA ’26 in Dana Point (March 16–20). Amplifi Vascular Was granted FDA Breakthrough Device Designation and Category B assignment from the CMS for its Amplifi™ Vein Dilation System, supporting accelerated development of a technology designed to enhance vein size and quality prior to AV fistula creation for hemodialysis access. The milestone was backed by first-in-human data from 19 patients and strengthens Amplifi’s path toward broader regulatory engagement and future patient access. Augmedit Announced that clinical teams at Amsterdam UMC and UMC Utrecht Brain Center successfully completed the first use of LumiNE Elite for external ventricular drain placement. LumiNE Elite provides patient-specific three-dimensional visualization by converting standard 2D imaging into interactive 3D h...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Memo: Noor Sciences Advancing Non-Invasive, AI-Driven Embryo Viability Assessment

Under the direction of Scientific Advisor Liesl Nel-Themaat, PhD, Noor Sciences is advancing a new standard for embryo and egg assessment in IVF through a fully non-invasive, AI-driven platform designed to deliver objective, actionable insight at the most critical decision points in the fertility journey. With deep clinical IVF experience and academic rigor, Nel-Themaat supports human-stage studies and identifies strategic opportunities as the company works to improve success rates, reduce patient burden, and unlock new diagnostic markets in reproductive medicine. Origin Story Nel-Themaat joined Noor Sciences as a scientific advisor following her role as the Clinical Associate Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology — Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility at Stanford Medicine, where initial validation studies for the technology were conducted. What captured her attention was a fundamental gap in reproductive medicine that has persisted despite rapid growth in fertility services. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Memo: Illuminant Surgical Bringing X-Ray Vision to the Body

Under the direction of Co-Founder and Co-CEO Eldrick Millares, Illuminant Surgical is developing a new way for physicians to see into the human body during procedures by projecting patient-specific anatomy directly onto the skin. By combining artificial intelligence, computer vision, and dynamic projection mapping, the company is working toward a single mission: X-ray vision for the body. Origin Story Illuminant Surgical was founded by Millares and his co-founder and Co-CEO, James Hu, MD, whose relationship dates back to their freshman year at Stanford, where they were dormmates. Their complementary backgrounds became the foundation of the company. Millares is an electrical engineer by training, with experience at the intersection of hardware and software. “I started working in LiDAR sensors for self-driving cars,” he said, referencing his early career in autonomous vehicle technology. He later spent time at Apple, working on the M-series chips for iPhone and Mac. Hu brings the clinici...
Post a Comment
Read more

Medtech Acquisitions Kick Off 2026: The First Deals of the Year

The opening days of 2026 have already delivered early signals worth paying attention to. Within the first ten days of the year, two notable medtech acquisitions were announced, both centered on cardiovascular technologies and both targeting markets with strong procedural growth and long-term strategic relevance. While it is far too early to draw definitive conclusions about where deal activity will land by year end, these transactions provide useful insight into how strategics are thinking about portfolio expansion, competitive positioning, and technology differentiation as the new year begins. Below, we break down the numbers, the markets, and the strategic rationale behind the first medtech acquisitions of 2026. Early Medtech Acquisitions Signal Strategic Intent in 2026 W. L. Gore & Associates to Acquire Conformal Medical W. L. Gore & Associates announced it will acquire Conformal Medical, a clinical-stage company developing the CLAASⓇ AcuForm™ System for left atrial appe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Carvolix and the Strategic Logic Behind Affluent’s Consolidation Play

As 2025 comes to a close, Affluent Medical announced a transaction that meaningfully reshapes its trajectory. The clinical-stage French medtech company shared plans to acquire Caranx Medical and Artedrone and combine all three businesses into a new company called Carvolix. If you missed the announcement during the final weeks of the year, the deal is worth a closer look. It brings together mini-robotic, AI, and implant technologies that aim to transform heart valve replacement and emergency stroke care. Below, we break down what happened and why the numbers behind this consolidation matter. What Was Announced Affluent Medical will acquire Caranx Medical for €16.6 million and Artedrone for €11.4 million. Both transactions are being completed through the issuance of new Affluent shares and include potential earn-out payments tied to future milestones. Once the transactions close, the three companies will operate together as Carvolix. Each business contributes a distinct capability: Cara...
Post a Comment
Read more