The startup develops a percutaneous balloon catheter that enhances left ventricular function and promotes myocardial recovery in patients with severe heart failure. This battery-powered, non-blood contact device simplifies procedures, reduces recovery time, and lowers long-term complications, ultimately improving survival rates and quality of life for patients.
Funding
$14.1M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Cardiogenic shock, a leading cause of death after heart attacks and a key risk for patients with acute decompensated heart failure, carries a high mortality rate due to the heart's inability to pump sufficient blood and oxygen to the body, resulting in end-organ failure. Current mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices, required when the heart cannot pump adequately, present significant complication risks, including major bleeding, sepsis, vascular injury, and stroke.
Solution
PercAssist is developing a percutaneous synchronized cardiac assist (PSCA) system designed to provide extravascular/extracardiac mechanical circulatory support for patients in cardiogenic shock. The PSCA implant uses an inflatable balloon to apply ECG-synchronized left ventricular compression without entering the heart or bloodstream. This less invasive approach aims to reduce the risks and complications associated with current temporary MCS devices, such as hemolysis, contrast-induced nephropathy, and bleeding. The system provides continuous monitoring and operation of the device, utilizing minimally invasive subxiphoid access for implant and a novel helical coil anchored in the pericardial membrane.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients experiencing cardiogenic shock or acute myocardial infarction with decompensated heart failure, and the medical professionals treating these conditions, such as cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.
Features
- Percutaneous, minimally invasive subxiphoid access for device implant
- Extravascular/extracardiac placement to avoid hemolysis and stroke
- ECG-synchronized balloon inflation to patient’s natural heart rhythm
- Novel helical coil anchoring in the pericardial membrane
- Continuous monitoring and operation of the device
- No contrast imaging, reducing contrast-induced nephropathy
- No anticoagulants, minimizing bleeding