Medtronic launches new all-in-one ECMO system after acquiring longtime partner
Medtronic has launched VitalFlow, a new all-in-one extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system designed to provide clinicians with a user-friendly experience.
According to Medtronic, its goal with the VitalFlow system was to develop a simple, straightforward ECMO device that helps clinicians by making everything as intuitive as possible.
“In gathering feedback from hundreds of clinicians with diverse ECMO specialties, we were able to design the VitalFlow system to address the most pressing unmet needs of simplicity, configurability and performance in an ECMO system,” Karim Bandali, PhD, president of Medtronic’s cardiac surgery business, said in a statement. “The simplicity of the VitalFlow system allows multiple users with varying levels of comfort to serve patients confidently and efficiently. It is easily portable from various departments within the hospital setting, with durable and reliable performance.”
“Clinicians in the ECMO space have evolving needs,” added Pieter Kappetein, PhD, MD, chief medical officer of Medtronic’s cardiac surgery business. “With patients' diseases becoming more complex, there is a growing demand for innovative solutions and comprehensive commitments across multiple disease states. Clinicians expect more from Medtronic and we are uniquely positioned to meet these needs to advance treatment options to better serve their patients.”
Medtronic acquired the company behind VitalFlow in March
Medtronic acquired the VitalFlow technology when it finalized its acquisition of Michigan-based MC3 Cardiopulmonary in March. The terms of that deal have not been made public.
Prior to the acquisition, MC3 Cardiopulmonary had been developing new ECMO devices that were exclusively sold and distributed by Medtronic for nearly a decade. As part of that arrangement, Medtronic had an option to acquire MC3 Cardiopulmonary if certain milestones were met.
“As a former ECMO coordinator and perfusionist, I have seen firsthand how critical advancements in ECMO technology can be in saving lives, especially in the most vulnerable patient populations,” Nitasha Joyner, MBA, CCP, senior program manager of medical education for Medtronic’s cardiac surgery business told Cardiovascular Business. “The acquisition of MC3 and the launch of VitalFlow represent a significant leap forward in our ability to offer streamlined, reliable solutions to clinicians. This new technology simplifies ECMO therapy from the bedside to intra-hospital transport. For the perfusion and ECLS community, this means enhanced performance and configurability in ECMO support, which is key to optimizing patient outcomes across all age groups."
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.