Aqueduct Critical Care

Aqueduct Critical Care, Inc., operating from Bothell, Washington, was a medical device company established in May 2013 by Tom Clement, Dr. Samuel Browd, and Dr. Barry Lutz. The company focused on developing solutions for managing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and intracranial pressure (ICP). The founding team brought a blend of commercial and clinical expertise to the venture.

Tom Clement, serving as President and CEO, is a veteran of the medical device industry with over three decades of experience, including CEO roles at Pathway Medical and Cardiac Insight. His career has been marked by successfully bringing multiple devices to market across various specialties like neurosurgery and cardiology. Dr. Samuel Browd, the Chief Medical Officer, is an Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington and a pediatric neurosurgeon at Seattle Children's Hospital, performing over 100 annual operations to treat hydrocephalus. The Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Barry Lutz, is an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington, specializing in microfluidic systems for biotechnology, particularly for medical diagnostics and devices to treat hydrocephalus.

The company's core product was the Smart External Drain (SED) System, designed to automate the regulation of ICP and CSF drainage. This system was developed as an alternative to traditional gravity-based drainage systems, which require constant manual adjustments and monitoring by hospital staff. The SED System comprised a software-embedded console and a disposable sterile cartridge. Its automated stepper-motor pinching mechanism controlled CSF flow, effectively mimicking the manual raising or lowering of a traditional drain. This automation aimed to increase patient safety, improve staff efficiency, and allow for greater patient mobility through features like a battery backup and alarms for pressure and drainage levels. The technology was intended for patients with conditions such as traumatic brain injury, tumors, infections, and hydrocephalus.

Aqueduct Critical Care targeted the critical care market, specifically neurosurgeons and critical care units in hospitals. The business model involved the sale of the reusable SED console and the recurring revenue from the disposable cartridges needed for each patient. Over its lifetime, the company raised approximately $10.6 million in funding. However, despite its promising technology and experienced leadership, PitchBook data indicates the company went out of business as of March 2019. Another source, Tracxn, refers to the related entity Aqueduct Neurosciences, founded in 2010 to develop an implantable shunt for hydrocephalus, as a "deadpooled company".

Keywords: intracranial pressure monitoring, cerebrospinal fluid drainage, CSF management, external ventricular drain, hydrocephalus treatment, neurocritical care, medical device, automated drainage system, Smart External Drain, traumatic brain injury, neurosurgery device, ICP regulation, patient mobility, hospital efficiency, microfluidic systems, Bothell medical device, Tom Clement, Samuel Browd, Barry Lutz, neurosciences