Anchora Medical

Anchora Medical, established in Israel in 2014, is a medical device company concentrated on advancing minimally invasive surgery (MIS). The company was co-founded by Yoni Epstein (CEO), Lior Yankelson, MD PhD, and Rami Lore (CTO), with Dr. Shimon Eckhouse serving as the active Chairman. Dr. Eckhouse is a notable serial entrepreneur and investor in the medical technology field, having founded or co-founded over 20 companies, including Lumenis and Syneron-Candela. Yoni Epstein brings over 15 years of experience in medical devices and healthcare IT, having previously co-founded and served as CEO of InnoLap Surgical, which was acquired by Teleflex. Lior Yankelson has extensive experience in medical devices and is a graduate of the Technion's MD and PhD program. Rami Lore contributes 20 years of engineering experience in medical devices.

The company's core focus is to address the complexities and technical difficulties associated with standard laparoscopic suturing. To solve this, Anchora developed the Su2ura® Approximation Device, a novel system designed to simplify and automate suturing during MIS procedures. This single-use, sterile device operates through a 5 mm laparoscopic port and functions like a surgical "sewing machine," allowing a surgeon to place either interrupted or running stitches in soft tissue with a simple single-trigger action. The technology utilizes tiny stainless-steel smart anchors threaded on a surgical suture, which are designed to be atraumatic and reduce tension on the tissue. This aims to shorten operation times, lower costs, and improve clinical outcomes by making precision suturing in small spaces less challenging for surgeons.

Anchora Medical operates in the B2B medical device market, serving surgeons and hospitals that perform minimally invasive surgeries. The company's business model revolves around the sale of its disposable Su2ura® devices. A significant milestone was achieved in July 2021, when the company received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the Su2ura® Approximation Device. This clearance was a critical step towards commercialization in the United States. The device has been used in human clinical trials for procedures such as closing primary umbilical hernia defects. The company's development and path to commercialization have been supported by investors including Alon Medtech Ventures, Tal Capital, and a strategic investment from HOYA Corporation, which led a $4.5 million Series B financing round in February 2020.

Keywords: minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopic suturing, surgical devices, medtech, soft tissue approximation, automated suturing, endoscopic surgery, hernia repair, surgical instruments, surgical staples, medical technology, intra-abdominal suturing, Su2ura, surgical sewing machine, smart anchors, atraumatic suturing, single-use medical device, FDA 510(k) clearance, Alon Medtech Ventures, Shimon Eckhouse