Versago Vascular Access said today it received $1.7 million in seed funding from Primo Medical Group’s network of investors to support its “reverse needle” subcutaneous access port.
West Bridgewater, Mass.-based Versago, a spinoff of Primo Medical Group, has designed and developed a subcutaneous port to access the body’s bloodstream and anatomical cavities that collect serous or ascitic fluid, according to the company.
“No one could have ever imagined that subcutaneous port access could be simplified by having the needle advance out of the port body instead of into the body of the port. This will truly simplify port access,” Primo Medical Group prez & board chair Steve Tallarida said in a press release.
The tech provides a large bore, reusable, power injectable conduit directly into a patient’s bloodstream or other anatomical areas and could replace tech like ports, peripherally inserted centeral catheters and central venous catheters, the company said. The system replaces the typical port septum with a large bore conduit topped with removable dilating needle tips that are extnerally triggered, and the needle pierces the skin from the inside out.
“Because our products offer larger gauge cannulas, much higher flow rates can be achieved than the current standard of care. Those higher flow rates open up entirely new applications and will overcome some challenges in accessing the vasculature and other fluids in the body,” Versago CEO Andrea Patisteas said in prepared remarks.
The seed funding will be used to continue development of the Versago line of ports and to initiate regulatory review and for further testing. The company said it will begin discussions with potential strategic partners in early 2016.