The field of medical technology has seen its fair share of breakthroughs, but two startups in the Mountain West are transforming healthcare with game-changing innovations that could potentially save countless lives.
In Utah, Second Heart Assist, Inc. is developing the most advanced circulatory assist pumps for heart failure, high-risk PCI kidney failure, limb salvage, and cardiogenic shock patients. It has the potential to enhance the lives of millions who suffer from these debilitating ailments worldwide.
“When people are admitted and develop heart failure, they typically retain a lot of fluids and are quite congested and have trouble breathing and are admitted to the hospital,” Second Heart Assist Chief Medical Officer Dr. Leslie Miller explained.
“This device is designed to both help patients with heart failure to pump more effectively deliver that blood on top of what we propel from the pump into the kidneys to markedly improve kidney function, increase urine output, and shorten the length of stay. It's a very beneficial design to help the so-called cardiorena,” Miller added.
Another startup, Colorado’s Aspero Medical has developed the Ancora platform. The device leverages its patented Pillar balloon technology in an interventional overtube that provides better access, stability, control, and usability in flexible endoscopy interventions. The technology improves anchoring consistency in the gastrointestinal tract, minimizing surgical time and enabling more complete procedures on the first attempt.
“For 10 years at the University of Colorado, we looked at texturing materials specifically for medical devices and robots used inside the body. The foundational technology in the company allows for flexible balloons to better anchor against slippery surfaces inside the body,” Aspero Medical CEO Dr. Mark Rentschler explained.