Stroke2prevent

Stroke2prevent B.V. is a medical device company focused on improving the safety and outcomes of cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology. The company was established in the Netherlands, with founding dates cited as 2012 and 2014. It was founded by Dr. Arno Nierich, a cardiac anesthesiologist and intensivist, whose career in cardiovascular medicine led him to invent the company's core technology to address cerebral damage during cardiac operations. The management team also includes Dr. George Brandon Bravo Bruinsma as Chief Medical Officer and Paul Damsteeg as Chief Operating Officer.

The company's business centers on its flagship product, the A-View®, a balloon catheter device. This device addresses a critical issue in transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), which has a "blind spot" over the aortic arch due to interference from the trachea. The A-View is an endotracheal balloon catheter that, when introduced into the trachea and filled with a sterile saline solution, enables ultrasound waves to conduct through the area. This process provides clinicians with a complete and clear visualization of the entire thoracic aorta, including the ascending aorta and arch. Its primary function is to allow for the detection of atherosclerosis (calcifications) prior to or during surgery. If atherosclerosis is detected, surgeons can adjust their operative strategy—such as changing the cannulation site or performing the operation without a heart-lung machine—to prevent dislodged particles from traveling to the brain and causing a stroke. The device is also used to diagnose aortic diseases and monitor vascular flow. The entire procedure with the A-View takes, on average, less than three minutes to perform on an anesthetized patient.

Stroke2prevent operates in the diagnostic and surgical device market, serving hospitals and cardiac surgery teams. The company generates revenue through the sale of the A-View device. A significant milestone was achieved in May 2017 when the A-View device received FDA clearance for commercialization in the US market, adding to its existing CE mark approval in Europe. The company has received venture capital backing from investors including Oost NL, Health Innovations, and the Achmea Innovation Fund. In July 2021, the Achmea Innovation Fund sold its interest to Medical2market Participaties to support the company's international expansion, in partnership with US-based medical wholesaler DeRoyal Healthcare as a global distributor.

Keywords: medical device, cardiac surgery safety, aortic imaging, transesophageal echocardiography, TEE blind spot, atherosclerosis detection, stroke prevention, balloon catheter, A-View, aortic arch visualization, cardiovascular diagnostics, surgical devices, interventional cardiology, diagnostic equipment, Arno Nierich, DeRoyal Healthcare, Medical2market, peri-operative imaging, cardio-thoracic surgery, cerebral protection, aorta assessment, medical imaging technology