AMT Medical B.V., a clinical-stage medtech innovator based in the Netherlands, has secured $25 million in Series B financing to advance its revolutionary ELANA® Heart Bypass System. The funding round was led by Bender Analytical Holding B.V. (BAH), with participation from new investors Invest-NL and the European Innovation Council (EIC), alongside existing backers Oost NL and angel investors.
The capital injection will accelerate the development of AMT's minimally invasive solution designed to replace traditional open-heart bypass surgery, with the ultimate goal of enabling robot-assisted keyhole procedures compatible with leading surgical robotic platforms.
Transforming Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
The ELANA® Heart Bypass System represents a paradigm shift in cardiac surgery by enabling surgeons to perform coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) through small chest incisions without stopping the heart or using a heart-lung machine. This approach stands in stark contrast to conventional methods that require sternotomy (chest cracking), complex suturing, and extended recovery periods.
Key innovations of the system include:
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Sutureless anastomosis technique: Utilizes a proprietary clip and excimer laser to connect blood vessels without manual suturing, enabling precise, rapid, and standardized graft integration while minimizing complications.
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Beating-heart compatibility: Eliminates the need to stop the heart during surgery, reducing stroke risks and other complications associated with traditional CABG procedures.
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Arterial bypass grafts: Enables the use of arterial (instead of venous) bypass grafts, which are associated with better long-term outcomes.
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Cost reduction: The system aims to achieve over 50% cost reduction when used in a robotic setting, driven by shorter operating room times, reduced hospital stays, fewer complications, and faster surgeon mastery.
Rutger Tulleken, CEO and Co-Founder of AMT Medical, emphasized the transformative potential of their technology: "This financing validates our mission to make open-heart bypass obsolete. By enabling same-day discharge bypass procedures, we're not just improving outcomes - we're redefining cardiovascular care."
Clinical Development Roadmap
The newly secured funding will support several key initiatives in AMT Medical's development pipeline:
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Completion of the company's European first-in-human trial evaluating the system during open-chest CABG procedures with a beating heart, with results expected by late 2025.
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Pursuit of CE Marking by 2026 for use during open surgical CABG procedures, either through sternotomy or via a minimally invasive thoracotomy (MIDCAB).
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Initiation of clinical trials in the United States in both open and robotic surgical settings.
Johan Bender, CEO of Bender Analytical Holding, expressed confidence in AMT's vision: "We are proud to support AMT as they work toward FDA clearance to bring their technology to the market in the U.S. This marks a key milestone in improving patient outcome."
Company Background and Future Outlook
Founded in 2017, AMT Medical emerged as a spin-off from neurovascular ELANA technology, which was previously brought to market (with CE and FDA approval) by the AMT team. The company now employs 27 staff across its Ede and Utrecht facilities and holds ISO 13485 certification along with over 40 patents for its beating-heart surgical platform.
To date, AMT Medical has secured a total of $40 million in funding, including this Series B round and several multi-million-euro grants from RvO and the European Innovation Council Accelerator. The company has established collaborations with prominent institutions such as St. Antonius Hospital in Nieuwegein, The Netherlands, and Charité in Berlin, Germany.
Looking ahead, AMT Medical aims to expand into European and U.S. markets, refine fully endoscopic procedures, and reduce global reliance on open-heart surgeries—potentially benefiting an estimated one million patients annually who undergo coronary bypass procedures.
The ELANA® Heart Bypass System represents a significant advancement in cardiac surgery, offering the potential for same-day discharge following bypass procedures—a dramatic improvement over the lengthy hospital stays and recovery times associated with traditional approaches. As the company progresses through clinical trials and regulatory approvals, its technology could fundamentally transform the standard of care for patients requiring coronary artery bypass surgery.
