W. L. Gore & Associates to acquire medtech company behind foam-based LAAO system
W. L. Gore & Associates, a global materials science company involved in a wide range of industries, has kicked off 2026 by expanding its medical division with a brand new acquisition.
Gore entered a definitive agreement to acquire Conformal Medical, the New Hampshire-based medical device company behind the CLAAS AcuFORM left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) system. This device was designed to protect nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients from stroke without the use of anticoagulant medications. It has a foam-based structure, allowing the device to conform to a variety of patient anatomies, and early evidence suggests it could be implanted without the use of procedural transesophageal echo (TEE) guidance.
The CLAAS AcuFORM device is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but Conformal Medical has made considerable progress in recent years. For instance, the company just closed a Series D extension financing round worth $32 million in 2025 as it ramps up enrollment for the ongoing CONFORM pivotal trial. The hope is that positive data from CONFORM can help the device gain FDA approval and be made available to U.S. heart patients.
Image courtesy of Conformal Medical
“We are pleased to join forces with a partner that reflects our belief that the investigational CLAAS AcuFORM Device can prove to be a transformative solution for stroke prevention,” James Reinstein, president and CEO of Conformal Medical, said in a statement. “Our stakeholders will realize the value of this partnership as we bring this therapy through the clinical and regulatory process and eventually make it available to patients worldwide. This partnership combines Conformal’s deep expertise in LAAO with Gore’s world-class capabilities in technology development, distribution and operations.”
“The investigational CLAAS AcuFORM System represents the kind of transformative, science-driven innovation that reflects our long-term commitment to improving patient care,” added Bret Snyder, board chair and CEO of W. L. Gore & Associates. “It is an ideal fit with our endovascular portfolio and a strong complement to our existing cardiac products.”
The financial terms of this transaction have not yet been shared with the public.
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.