Vitara Biomedical develops EXTEND, a neonatal support system that encloses extremely premature infants in a sterile, temperature‑controlled fluid‑filled environment for up to 28 days. By mimicking the fetal womb, the technology delays air exposure, allowing lungs and other organs to mature while providing continuous vital sign monitoring and automated fluid management, ultimately aiming to lower mortality and long‑term complications in NICU patients.
Funding
$50M 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.
3OSCFounders
Product
Problem
Extremely premature newborns are exposed to air shortly after birth, placing their underdeveloped lungs and other vital organs under severe stress, which leads to high mortality rates and long‑term health complications.
Solution
Vitara Biomedical’s Neonatal Support Technology, called EXTEND, creates a fluid‑filled enclosure that mimics the fetal womb environment for up to 28 days. By keeping the infant immersed in a sterile, temperature‑controlled liquid, the system delays the transition to air breathing, allowing lung tissue and other organs to continue developing in a protected setting. The enclosure integrates continuous monitoring of vital signs and automated fluid management, enabling clinicians to maintain optimal conditions without constant manual intervention. After the support period, infants can be weaned to conventional care with improved respiratory stability and reduced risk of chronic complications.
Target Audience
Primary customers are NICUs, pediatric hospitals, and neonatal clinicians caring for infants born before 28 weeks gestation.
Features
- Fluid‑filled, sterile enclosure that replicates fetal physiological conditions for up to 28 days
- Integrated real‑time monitoring of temperature, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and fluid parameters
- Automated fluid circulation and temperature regulation to maintain a stable nurturing environment
- Biologically inspired design that shields fragile lungs while supporting natural organ growth
- Compatibility with standard neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) workflows and equipment