Those with drug-resistant hypertension have generally only been able to control high blood pressure through lifestyle modifications – watching salt intake, keeping slim, crossing fingers.
Bay Area startup Vascular Dynamics has developed an investigational device, called the MobiusHD implant, to help this high blood pressure set – and is raising a pretty hefty equity round, according to a regulatory filing: The company has thus far raised $9.7 million of a potential $22.8 million round.
Vascular Dynamics delivers the implant, made of nitinol, via a catheter tot he carotid sinus, which is at the base of the carotid artery. It’s designed to increase the signals generated by surrounding arterial baroreceptors – the receptors that detect the pressure of the blood flowing through the arteries. After making this determination, the baroreceptors send messages to the central nervous system to increase or decrease how hard the heart’s working.
The company was one of nine chosen in 2012 by the Food and Drug Administration to participate in the Early Feasibility Study IDE Pilot Program, and is currently recruiting patients to participate in Phase 1 trials of its device. It’s also being tested in Europe.
