VAMPIRO

Vampiro Inc. is a medical device company, founded in 2016, that specializes in surgical instruments for laparoscopic procedures. The company's flagship product, the Vampiro, is a single-use, dual-lumen poole suction sleeve designed to work as an accessory with existing 5mm spot suction catheters. This addresses a gap in minimally invasive surgery, which previously lacked an effective tool for large-volume fluid evacuation, a common feature in open surgeries.

The concept for the Vampiro originated from Dr. Steven Santanello, a surgeon who became frustrated with the limitations of single-lumen suction during a late-night appendectomy. He developed the device with his daughter, Abbey Santanello, who was then in the ESTEEM master's program at the University of Notre Dame. Abbey Santanello serves as the company's COO, while Steven Santanello is the CEO. The device allows surgeons to switch between precise spot suction and large-volume poole suction, preventing the frequent clogging that occurs with standard single-lumen catheters. This can reduce operating room time and improve the removal of contaminants.

The company sells its product directly to hospitals and has established a national distribution network. Vampiro has received strategic investments from the SINC Fund, a venture capital fund sponsored by the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), and Varia Ventures Management Company LLC. The device is classified by the FDA as a Class II Exempt device, meaning it meets regulatory requirements without needing a 510(k) submission. The product is manufactured and sterilized in the United States.

Keywords: surgical suction, laparoscopic surgery, medical device, poole suction, minimally invasive surgery, fluid evacuation, surgical instruments, operating room efficiency, dual lumen catheter, spot suction, abdominal surgery, pelvic surgery, thoracoscopic procedures, surgical site infection reduction, medtech