Challenge
Most of the complications after open heart surgery are caused by excessive blood loss and clots (RBS). Patients that undergo open heart surgery lose 500to 1500 ml of blood afterwards because of diffuse bleedings. The excessive blood loss and clots obstruct drains, cause heart fibrillations, reoperations and cardiac tamponades, effecting in the loss of 30,000 lives, 18,000 re operations, 250,000 ccomplications and € 15,5 billion incremental health care cost.
Opportunity
The therapeutical value of Haermonics is in preventing unnecessary reoperations, reducing the number of blood transfusions and postoperative ICUcare. The Haermonics Flush monitors the patients’ status after surgery, giving the medical professional a better status of the patient, enabling the doctor to make better decisions. Haermonics flush is designed to save thousands of lives and billions in hospital costs.
Solution
Haermonics developed a device which flushes the pericardial cavity (area around the heart) to limit blood loss and clots that are left behind after open heart surgery. The results of the two randomized clinical trials: 300 patients included are showing a blood loss reduction of 30% to 40% and zero tamponades in the flushed group versus 4 in the control group.
Status
Haermonics technology has proven itself in 3 randomized studies in over 330 patients. Haermonics is currently preparing for building a demonstrator and performing a feasibility study to enable further development of a CEmarked product, international multicentre studies and up scaling for market launch.
“As a physician, I lack the knowledge and expertise to start a business and don’t have the time to learn how to. NLC has this expertise, and can cover the business aspects for me so I can still focus on my clinical work.”
Meet the team
Dave Koolbergen
Inventor
Eva Diephuis
Product owner and Clinical Trials
Wouter Markus
CEO
Roland Zegger
Venture Partner at NLC
Roland joined NLC in March 2015. He is a trained pharmacist, has worked in several pharmaceutical companies, and has broad experience in marketing and sales functions as well as general management. As Venture Partner, Roland focuses on building innovative companies and strengthening NLC’s abilities to bring innovations to healthcare.