VasoNova

VasoNova, Inc. operated as a medical device company focused on developing technology for the precise placement of vascular access devices.

The company was founded in 2005 by Dr. Brad Hill, a physician with a background in medical and surgical innovation who began advising Silicon Valley healthcare startups in 1999. As the principal innovator, Dr. Hill identified the clinical need for more accurate catheter placement and collaborated with engineers to create the company's core technology. VasoNova's President and CEO was Paul Molloy.

VasoNova developed the Vascular Positioning System (VPS), an algorithm-based technology designed to improve the accuracy of placing peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and central venous catheters (CVCs). The system utilizes a stylet equipped with intravascular Doppler ultrasound and ECG sensors to capture real-time physiological data, such as blood flow direction and cardiac electrical activity. This information is sent to a console that provides visual guidance to the clinician, indicating when the catheter tip has reached the optimal position in the lower one-third of the superior vena cava. This method was developed to serve as an alternative to traditional confirmation by chest X-ray, reducing costs, procedure time, and patient exposure to radiation. The technology received FDA 510(k) clearance in March 2011.

The company's business model centered on the development and sale of this specialized medical device to healthcare providers and clinicians. In January 2011, VasoNova was acquired by Teleflex Incorporated, a global medical technology provider, in a deal valued at up to $55 million. The acquisition involved an upfront payment of $25 million, with potential additional payments based on regulatory and revenue milestones. Following the acquisition, the VasoNova business was integrated into Teleflex's Critical Care division, and the technology is now marketed under the Arrow brand as the Vascular Positioning System (VPS).

Keywords: vascular navigation, catheter placement, central venous catheter, PICC line, medical devices, surgical devices, Doppler ultrasound guidance, ECG tip confirmation, superior vena cava, vascular access, Teleflex acquisition, intravascular navigation, catheter tip location, real-time guidance, medical technology, Brad Hill, vascular positioning system, FDA 510(k) clearance