Interviews

BrainSpace is developing a closed-loop precision drainage system with wearable pressure monitoring that automates cerebrospinal fluid management for patients with conditions like traumatic brain injuries and hydrocephalus. Their team has completed the first-gen device and is currently preparing for FDA clearance, which is expected in 2025. In this interview, Caitlin Morse, the company’s CEO, shares her advice on assessing the viability of a medtech idea, tells the story of how her prototype won over stakeholders, and discusses navigating the development phase while balancing clinical and regulatory demands.

At Front Line Medical Technologies, Drs. Asha Parekh and Adam Power have spearheaded the development of COBRA-OS (Control of Bleeding, Resuscitation, Arterial Occlusion System). This compact, minimally invasive device is designed for temporary aortic occlusion in trauma situations. In this interview, Asha and Adam discuss how their clinical-engineer partnership accelerated development, their approach to clinical studies for regulatory clearance across multiple geographies, and their strategic decision to avoid VC funding during early development—and how that decision paid off.

With Kelly Huang at the helm, Elucid has developed a platform that uses AI to analyze cardiac CT scans to provide a detailed, non-invasive assessment of a patient’s arterial plaque. Elucid’s PlaqueIQ offers the promise of cardiovascular risk prediction by providing doctors with lesion-level insights on plaque composition that may lead to patient-specific therapeutic decisions. In this interview, Kelly shares advice on how to bring novel devices to market, secure reimbursement, and drive adoption by focusing on the essentials—collaboration, trust, robust data, and transparency.

Supira Medical is developing a catheter-based heart pump that provides hemodynamic support for patients undergoing high-risk heart procedures. In this interview, Nitin Salunke shares the philosophy that guided his journey as CEO of Supira, his strategy to evaluate and address major risk factors in medtech, how to generate value for all stakeholders—patients, physicians, and investors, and his formula for creating a next-gen medical device.

With Mike Dineen leading the way, Tioga Cardiovascular is developing a minimally invasive transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) device to address mitral regurgitation (MR)—a condition where blood flows backward into the heart, often causing heart failure. Tioga’s goal is to overcome the limitations of existing TMVR devices and expand access to treatment. In this interview, Mike discusses why engaging with physicians early is essential and what he prioritizes in those conversations, the importance of pushing for early pre-clinical testing and how to best approach it, and his strategy for raising capital by targeting early-stage investors with a clear, exit-focused plan.

Flow Medical is developing an advanced catheter designed to treat pulmonary embolisms—blood clots in the lungs—and plans for human trials in 2025. In this interview, co-founder and CEO Jennifer Fried shares insights on navigating M&As, raising capital, and tips for validating ideas. She explains why engaging early with potential acquirers is key, how challenging your assumptions can save years of effort, and the importance of tailoring your pitch and building lasting investor relationships.