Heart Monitoring Medical Device Startup Raises $4.5M

Acorai, a medical device startup creating a pocket-sized heart monitor, has raised $4.5 million to support clinical trials of its device and pursue regulatory approval, with plans to initially launch the device in the U.S. 

The financing round comes off the back of a $10.8 million injection from the European Innovation Council.

The round was led by Solardis Health Ventures, with participation from KHP Ventures, Carma Fund and other U.S. investors. 

Acorai’s heart monitor is designed to offer a non-invasive, accessible method of tracking a patient’s heart activity for medical practitioners. The device is fitted with a sensing system that monitors a patient’s chest for vibrations, sounds and blood flow.

Credit: Acorai

Specifically, the handheld device is fitted with seismic sensors that detect vibrations on the surface of the patient’s chest, acoustic sensors to monitor for low-level sounds and visual sensors that track blood movement under the skin’s surface. Finally, it has ECG sensors to measure the electrical activity of the heart.

The device received recognition as a Breakthrough Device by the FDA in August 2023, following which Acorai said it started its global clinical study, CAPTURE-HF.

“Concluding in 2024, the study aims to demonstrate the performance of the device through a 1200-patient catheterization study,” Acorai said. 

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“With CAPTURE-HF, the team has really focused on the science to enable the fullest use of this device when it hits the market,” said Andrew J Sauer, Acorai’s chief clinical advisor. “Acorai is a uniquely positioned company to change the paradigm of how patients with heart failure are managed in traditional and acute care settings, 

“To my knowledge, this is the only company that has recognized and is adequately addressing the glaringly obvious unmet need within the acute heart failure workflow”. 

Following the study’s conclusion, Acorai said it is targeting the U.S. market rollout by 2025.

The focus now is to complete clinical testing and target additional financing ahead of commercial launch in 2025.