Healthtech startup Sensome raises $5.6 million to bring the first connected stroke device to market

In 2015, there were 795,000 reported cases of stroke in the United States, according to the American Stroke Association. That’s one stroke every 7 seconds. A patient dies or is left with disability as a result of stroke. One startup is trying to change that. Sensome is Paris-based healthtech startup that is pioneering the connected medical device revolution with the world’s smallest sensor to identify biological tissues. The startup just secured 4.6 million euro ($5.6 million) financing round to bring its Clotild smart stroke device to market. Kurma Partners led the existing venture capital syndicate (Paris-Saclay Seed Fund, Idinvest) and other historical investors with participation from venture capital firm BNP Paribas Développement.

Founded in 2014 by Abdul Barakat and Franz Bozsak, Sensome develops a breakthrough remote monitoring technology that can turn invasive vascular medical devices into connected healthcare devices. Franz brought together a world-class team of scientists, engineers and doctors, renowned experts in their respective fields, to help him realize his vision of innovative connected vascular devices. Franz obtained his Ph.D. from Ecole polytechnique on the optimization of drug-eluting stents and is a graduate of the Stanford Ignite-X business program.

By providing instantaneous and non-invasive identification of the tissue composition in contact with a medical device, Sensome’s patent-pending sensor technology overcomes the limitations of vascular imaging techniques used in both interventions and patient follow-up.  Sensome’s team is currently developing vascular access devices equipped with the proprietary sensor technology, before eventually equipping implantable devices for neurovascular, peripheral vascular and cardiovascular indications.

The company’s sensing technology combines impedance-based micro-sensors with machine learning algorithms to instantly identify biological tissues with an unequaled predictive reliability. The sensors are so thin that they can be seamlessly integrated with any medical device. The startup is backed by international and interdisciplinary team that possesses the skills and know-how to develop high-impact connected medical devices. The team is also supported by experienced MedTech entrepreneurs , key opinion leaders in interventional neuroradiology and cardiology, and pioneer scientists from prestigious universities.

Clotild, the first product to integrate Sensome’s technology, is a connected guidewire for the treatment of ischemic stroke, the world’s leading cause of disability. When a brain blood vessel is blocked by a clot, millions of brain cells die every minute. Depending on the clot’s content, the emergency intervention to reopen the clogged artery may take hours. Clotild™ will instantly determine the clot content to help physicians select the optimal tools for each patient and reestablish blood flow.

“This financing round will enable us to bring Clotild through clinical testing and to the European market, and to explore the next applications of our technology”, said Franz Bozsak, CEO and co-founder of Sensome.

“We have been very impressed by Sensome’s progress over the past year”, highlighted Philippe Peltier board director at Sensome representing Kurma Partners. “We share Sensome’s vision of connected medical devices to benefit an extended number of patients and are excited to be part of this upcoming revolution”.