Clinical Need
Loïc first observed the shortcomings of current pVADs while attending a medical conference. He watched a challenging live case where the physicians were unable to deliver a percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) through an axillary (shoulder) artery access site. Ultimately, the physician took a different treatment approach while also having to deal with closure of the axillary artery large bore access site in the middle of the procedure.
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We are creating a pVAD with the smallest delivery profile on the market. This will allow our blood pump to protect the lives of thousands of people every year who are ineligible for treatment with the current pVADs due to blood vessel size or blood vessel disease.
Our story
Q1 2022
Foundation of
Narwhal Medical
Q2 2022
Initial prototypes created demonstrating concept potential
Q3 2022
Major strategic partner joins Narwhal Medical to create functional
proof-of-concept prototypes
Q2 2023
First fully functional prototype successfully delivered and operated in an animal
Q3-Q4 2023
First 2 U.S. patents were issued
Q1 2024
- Prototype flow rate doubled
- Delivery profile decreased by 40%
- Second successful animal study completed
Q3 2024
-Closed a fully subscribed seed round
-2 additional U.S. patents were issued
Clinical Un-met Need
Loïc first observed the shortcomings of current pVADs while attending a medical conference. He watched a challenging live case where the physicians were unable to deliver a pVAD through an axillary (shoulder) artery access site. Ultimately, the physician took a different treatment approach while also having to deal with closure of the axillary artery large bore access site in the middle of the procedure.
​
We are creating the smallest delivery profile blood pump on the market. This will allow our blood pump to protect the lives of thousands of people every year who are ineligible for treatment with the current percutaneous blood pump technologies due to blood vessel size or blood vessel disease.
Q1 2022
Narwhal Medical Was Founded
Loïc put his mind to addressing the clinically un-met need for a miniaturized percutaneous blood pump. An innovative solution was conceptualized and Narwhal Medical was founded.
Q2 2022
Prototyping Progress
Initial prototypes created demonstrating the concept potential.
Q3 2022
Initial Funding Secured
Narwhal Medical signed a contract with a major strategic partner to create functional proof of concept prototypes.
Q2 2023
First animal study
First fully functional prototype was successfully delivered and operated in an animal.
Q3-Q4 2023
Patents
First 2 U.S. patents were issued.
Q1 2024
Prototyping Progress
- Prototype flow rate doubled
- Delivery profile decreased by 40%
- Second successful animal study conducted
Q3 2024
Seed Funding
Closed a fully subscribed seed round.
Patents
2 additional U.S. patents were issued.
Q4 2024
Stay Tuned For More Exciting Developments
Procedural Background
The blood vessels of the heart
Often when someone experiences a heart attack or chronic chest pain it is due to a blockage of one or more arteries in their heart. Many patients will undergo a procedure called a "percutaneous coronary intervention", or PCI for short, to open up the blockages. A physician will treat the affected arteries by accessing the arterial system through the patient's leg, collar bone area, or even their arm, carefully inserting a catheter and navigating it until it reaches the affected area.​
Due to several factors including severity of illness, condition of the heart, and age, some patients might be at risk for their heart not being able to pump enough blood during a PCI procedure. Catheterbased blood pumps have been shown to be effective for such patients during a PCI procedure by providing pumping assistance to the heart and therefore allowing the heart to not work as hard.
A catheter-based blood pump is commonly referred to as a
"Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device" or pVAD.
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Many patients are not eligible for a pVAD due to their size limitations. Our small, ultra deliverable blood pump will allow more patients to receive the critical care they need.