Aneurysms are most notorious when they occur in the brain, but these balloon-like arterial bulges are highly deadly in the heart as well. These swellings slowly expand over time, asymptomatically, until they burst and cause severe internal bleeding. According to the CDC, aneurysms of directly caused nearly 11,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2009 – mostly in men more than 65 years old.
A Kirkland, Washington-based devicemaker that’s developing a 3D printing-based treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysms recently completed a $7 million Series A. The startup, called Aortica, plans to use the funding to finish up its IDE study.
The company has developed software and a system that uses a patient’s CT scans to print out, three-dimensionally, a standard endograft that fits and anchors precisely in an individuals heart. This is helpful to the many patients whose hearts are structurally different from the norm, and won’t accommodate the standard-sized devices.
When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
“Approximately 30-40% of patients diagnosed annually in the U.S. with moderate to severe AAA disease are ineligible for less invasive endovascular therapy due to anatomical limitations,” Chief Medical Officer Ben Starnes said in a statement. “Aortica has developed an approach designed to allow standard endografts to be customized to fit each patient’s unique anatomy.”
As a result, patients can sidestep highly invasive surgery, he said.
Aortica also just appointed industry vet Tom Douthitt as its chief executive.
