Mellon Medical

Mellon Medical, established in 2013, is a Dutch medical technology company focused on advancing surgical suturing. The company was founded by vascular surgeon Mark Vrancken Peeters, who transitioned from his surgical practice to become the Chief Medical Officer of Mellon. This career change was driven by his belief that single-handed suturing could significantly improve procedural outcomes and his ambition to impact more than one patient at a time. In April 2024, Mellon Medical became part of the Demcon Group, a move intended to further support the development of its core product.

The company has developed a platform technology centered around one-handed suturing, with its leading product being the Switch®, a disposable, precision-suturing instrument. This Class III medical device operates with a simple pinch of the thumb and index finger, freeing the surgeon's other hand to present the tissue. The device uses a straight, double-pointed needle that moves between two jaws, a mechanism designed to be faster and more precise than conventional suturing, which requires passing a curved needle between instruments. The Switch® is designed to facilitate the 'small bites' suturing technique, particularly for closing the abdominal wall, which research has shown can significantly reduce postoperative complications like incisional hernias. Its pencil-like shape and balanced weight are intended to provide ergonomic use for both right- and left-handed surgeons.

Mellon Medical targets the global surgical suture and devices market, which was estimated to be worth over $3 billion. The company's business model revolves around the sale of its disposable Switch® device and accompanying suture sets. While the initial focus is on vascular surgery—specifically procedures like carotid artery surgery and kidney transplants—Mellon's technology is a platform applicable to a wide range of disciplines, including general surgery, gynecology, and urology. The company has secured approximately $7.1 million in funding through Series A and Series B rounds, with key investors including BioGeneration Ventures, Thuja Capital, and Oost NL. Mellon is collaborating with the Erasmus Medical Center for clinical validation and has partnered with Assut for the development and production of its suture sets.

Keywords: surgical suturing, medical device, one-handed surgery, suturing technology, vascular surgery, abdominal wall closure, small bites technique, MedTech, surgical instruments, disposable medical device, suture device, Demcon group, Mark Vrancken Peeters, Switch suturing device, laparotomy, incisional hernia prevention, surgical precision, medical ergonomics, atraumatic needle, polydioxane suture