CardiacBooster

CardiacBooster B.V. is a clinical-stage medical device company operating in the cardiovascular sector, focused on developing treatments for patients with severe heart conditions. The company originated as a spin-off from the Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and was founded in 2018. The core product concept was developed by Dr. Daniël van Dort, a physician at Radboudumc, based on his clinical observations in the cardiac surgery department. Dr. van Dort, who now serves as the Chief Science Officer, conceptualized the device and built the initial prototypes, translating a direct clinical need into a potential engineering solution. The company is now led by CEO Florian Ludwig.

The company's business revolves around the development and eventual commercialization of its proprietary percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device (pVAD), named Ventripump. This device is designed for patients experiencing cardiogenic shock—a critical condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood for the body's needs—and those undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). The market is characterized by a significant unmet clinical need, as mortality rates for cardiogenic shock remain high despite existing technologies. CardiacBooster's business model will likely be based on selling the single-use disposable catheter and the associated external pump console to hospitals and interventional cardiologists.

The Ventripump system is a minimally invasive cardiac support device. It consists of a disposable catheter with a pump head and an external console that controls the pump's action. The catheter is inserted percutaneously, typically through the groin, and positioned in the left ventricle. Its distinct mechanism involves a small, inflatable balloon within a miniature pump volume that actively ejects blood from the left ventricle into the aorta, a process designed to increase cardiac output and support systemic blood flow while the heart recovers. This design aims to provide powerful hemodynamic support while maintaining a low-profile catheter, which can minimize the invasiveness of the procedure and reduce potential access-related complications.

CardiacBooster has established a presence in both Nijmegen, Netherlands, and Galway, Ireland, which serves as an R&D hub. The company has successfully secured funding through multiple rounds, including grants and debt financing. A significant milestone was a €9.3 million ($10.8 million) award in August 2025 from Ireland's Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF). This funding, secured by a consortium led by CardiacBooster in partnership with Fire1 and Integer, is intended to advance the Ventripump platform toward becoming a leading treatment for cardiogenic shock.

Keywords: percutaneous ventricular assist device, pVAD, cardiogenic shock, high-risk PCI, cardiac support, left ventricular assist, hemodynamic support, medtech, cardiovascular devices, Radboudumc spin-off, interventional cardiology, minimally invasive device, heart failure treatment, Ventripump, cardiac assist, medical device, catheter-based pump, Florian Ludwig, Daniël van Dort, acute heart failure