The Crux of Medtech

In this episode of the Crux of Medtech Henry is joined by Thomas Looby, CEO of Conavi Medical.Thomas breaks down why combining IVUS + OCT in a single catheter could change coronary interventions and how the team is pacing toward a Q3 2025 510(k) with a measured “crawl, walk, run” launch plan.Expect candid insight on evidence, pricing, commercialisation, and strategic exit logicKey TopicsThe unmet need in PCI imaging and why single-modality tools leave blind spots.Engineering IVUS + OCT into one catheter and testing lessons from v1 to next-gen.Clinical evidence momentum: meta-analysis signals ~46% reduction in post-procedure mortality and ~52% less stent thrombosis.Regulatory path: pre-sub complete; targeting a Q3 2025 510(k).Commercial strategy: price-neutral entry, razor/razor-blade model, and a staged hospital rollout.Capital story: public listing via Titan assets and a $20M raise led largely by U.S. investors.Exit thinking: platform fit with strategics that currently have either IVUS or OCT Kanavi holds both.Related InsightsMission-driven teams as a magnet for top engineers and why it mattered here.Don’t over-index on KOLs: early adopters forgive product “sins” that mainstream users won’t.Market development should run in parallel with R&D, not after it.Canada-born tech, U.S.-centric commercialisation and how ecosystems and manufacturing partners align.Core ChallengesDriving COGS down to single-modality parity at volume (supply chain, manufacturing).Building broad market awareness beyond early KOL enthusiasm.Navigating regulatory milestones cleanly to stay on a Q3 2025 filing cadence.Competing with entrenched portfolios (Abbott, Philips, Boston) that bundle cath lab solutions.Tune in now to learn how dual-modality imaging could reset outcomes, economics, and adoption in the cath lab.The Crux of MedTech podcast is brought to you by Cruxx, a specialist surgical robotics recruitment agency. To learn more about Cruxx,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠click here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A big thank you to our sponsors on this season of the podcast; ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ With a 35-year track record, TTP excels in turning innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. Their team of 300+ experts deliver breakthrough solutions in areas ranging from endoluminal robotics and navigation systems to ultrasound imaging. Whether you're a startup or a multinational, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can accelerate your development with the latest technologies. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠&⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KUKA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a global leader in robotics with over 25 years of experience partnering with medtech companies on their journey to market. Their reputation is built on robust technology, reliability and long term collaboration and being more than just a supplier.KUKA provides trusted support throughout the product life cycle, from development to integration and beyond. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kuka.com/healthcare⁠⁠⁠

This episode of the Crux of Medtech features Sabine Bois, the former CEO of Occlutech.Sabine is a medtech leader whose career spans founding startups, steering a company through bankruptcy, driving IPO prep, and ultimately leading as CEO.Her story is raw, unfiltered, and filled with lessons about resilience, leadership, and navigating the brutal realities of medtech.Key Topics:Sabine’s leap from small-town Germany to founding her first medtech startupNavigating bankruptcy and rebuilding into a successful acquisitionThe commercial lessons that reshaped her career trajectoryTransition from CFO to CEO at Occlutech during global litigation and IPO prepThe turbulence behind IPO readiness, audits, and roadshowsWhy passion and relentlessness matter more than resourcesRelated Insights:Failure wasn’t an option for the Wright brothers or for startupsThe CEO’s ability to adapt their pitch can make or break fundingTiming and market cycles are often as critical as technologyStrategics are approachable but require careful balance in what you shareCore Challenges:Surviving insolvency while protecting IP and technologyLearning that a CEO’s first responsibility is revenue, not adminFacing last-minute IPO derailments and high-stakes investor negotiationsAdjusting from European regulatory norms to the strict demands of the FDARaising funds in today’s tougher, profitability-driven investor landscapeTune in now to hear Sabine’s unfiltered journey through medtech’s toughest challenges and what it really takes to lead with resilience.The Crux of MedTech podcast is brought to you by Cruxx, a specialist surgical robotics recruitment agency. To learn more about Cruxx,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠click here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A big thank you to our sponsors on this season of the podcast; ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ With a 35-year track record, TTP excels in turning innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. Their team of 300+ experts deliver breakthrough solutions in areas ranging from endoluminal robotics and navigation systems to ultrasound imaging. Whether you're a startup or a multinational, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can accelerate your development with the latest technologies. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠&⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KUKA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a global leader in robotics with over 25 years of experience partnering with medtech companies on their journey to market. Their reputation is built on robust technology, reliability and long term collaboration and being more than just a supplier.KUKA provides trusted support throughout the product life cycle, from development to integration and beyond. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kuka.com/healthcare⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Henry Norton speaks with Adrian Mendes, CEO of Perimeter, a company using AI and optical imaging to tackle one of cancer surgery’s biggest problems: re operationsAdrian shares his journey from Silicon Valley tech to medtech, and unpacks how Perimeter is using real-time imaging and machine learning to give surgeons confidence they’ve removed all the cancer the first time.They discuss the challenges of moving fast in healthcare, the value of proprietary data in AI, and how Perimeter is building for scale with a clear commercial and clinical roadmap.Key Topics:Why reoperations are such a huge problem in cancer careHow OCT and AI work together during surgeryThe culture problem slowing down medtech innovationWhat sets “real” AI apart from buzzword AICommercial rollout plans and how they’re scalingThe long-term vision to expand beyond breast cancerRelated Insights:“Clear margins” are one of the biggest unmet needs in cancer surgeryAI in healthcare is only useful if it's usable surgeon workflow mattersProprietary data is more defensible than algorithms aloneCore Challenges:Healthcare’s cautious culture often slows meaningful innovationMany “AI” medtech products are just marketingCommercial scale is hard when you’re building from a startup base🎧 Tune in now to hear how Perimeter is building medtech that actually makes surgery smarter.The Crux of MedTech podcast is brought to you by Cruxx, a specialist surgical robotics recruitment agency. To learn more about Cruxx,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠click here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A big thank you to our sponsors on this season of the podcast; ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ With a 35-year track record, TTP excels in turning innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. Their team of 300+ experts deliver breakthrough solutions in areas ranging from endoluminal robotics and navigation systems to ultrasound imaging. Whether you're a startup or a multinational, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can accelerate your development with the latest technologies. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠&⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KUKA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a global leader in robotics with over 25 years of experience partnering with medtech companies on their journey to market. Their reputation is built on robust technology, reliability and long term collaboration and being more than just a supplier.KUKA provides trusted support throughout the product life cycle, from development to integration and beyond. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kuka.com/healthcare⁠⁠⁠

Why are so few patients accessing the care they need when the tech is already here? In this episode, Henry Norton sits down with David Pettigrew CEO at my mhealth to unpack the real reasons digital health tools succeed or fail.From overlooked rehabilitation gaps to the power of patient-first design, this conversation spotlights how we can actually get medtech into the hands of the people who need it most.David shares his career pivot from corporate dream job to healthtech entrepreneur, and what it’s really like building products that serve thousands of patients. You’ll hear why uptake often has nothing to do with clinical data… and everything to do with how a product makes someone feel. Key TopicsWhy David left a “dream job” for a mission-driven startupHow digital health tools can close the rehab gapWhat makes an app truly “sticky” for usersThe business model tensions slowing down innovationLessons from working directly with patients, not just cliniciansRelated InsightsSimplicity drives adoption more than clinical complexityPatient awareness is often the biggest bottleneckScaling isn’t just about funding — it’s about access and trust Core ChallengesOnly 3% of patients in the U.S. get the rehab they needTraditional care pathways don’t scale to meet demandMany digital tools fail due to poor design and awarenessThe Crux of MedTech podcast is brought to you by Cruxx, a specialist surgical robotics recruitment agency. To learn more about Cruxx,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠click here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A big thank you to our sponsors on this season of the podcast; ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ With a 35-year track record, TTP excels in turning innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. Their team of 300+ experts deliver breakthrough solutions in areas ranging from endoluminal robotics and navigation systems to ultrasound imaging. Whether you're a startup or a multinational, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can accelerate your development with the latest technologies. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠&⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KUKA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a global leader in robotics with over 25 years of experience partnering with medtech companies on their journey to market. Their reputation is built on robust technology, reliability and long term collaboration and being more than just a supplier.KUKA provides trusted support throughout the product life cycle, from development to integration and beyond. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kuka.com/healthcare⁠⁠

In this episode, your host, Henry Norton, is joined by Hannah Claridge, the Head of Neurotechnology at TTP, to talk about the incredible advancements that are being made to treat neurological conditions. Hannah points out how complex the brain and nervous systems are, with both relying on intricate connections. She also explores the new technologies that are being developed to treat nervous disorders, such as spinal cord stimulation. She also compared neurotechnologies to pharmaceuticals, highlighting the parallels and differences in how they interact with the body. Hannah also suggested that neurotherapy will be key to the advancement of treatments for conditions like depression, due to their ability to provide targeted and long-term relief of symptoms. Cybersecurity is also a major concern for neurotechnology, as any malfunction or deliberate interference could have serious ramifications for patients. Key Topics: Hannah’s current role at TTP Recent innovations in neurotechnology Policy and ethics in neurotechBarriers to market adoption Moving patient stories Related Insights: Humans use far more than 10% of the brain - this was debunked during a conversation about brain plasticity There are significant barriers to market adoption for neurosurgery, such as a lack of awareness and understanding, even among surgeons. Neurotech’s impact on patients cannot be understated, as so many conditions are currently untreatable with other intervention methods. Core Challenges:Anything that interacts with the brain in a way that changes its fundamental functions comes with huge ethical concerns and a need for heightened patient understanding and clear consent. Neurotechnology can provide relief for chronic conditions, such as long-term pain relief and the alleviation of depressive symptoms, making it a game-changing device in several areas. The challenges when it comes to developing a new neurotech product from being intuitive to miniaturisation.Tune in now to find out how neurotechnology will change healthcare for the better. The Crux of MedTech podcast is brought to you by Cruxx, a specialist surgical robotics recruitment agency. To learn more about Cruxx,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠click here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A big thank you to our sponsors on this season of the podcast; ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ With a 35-year track record, TTP excels in turning innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. Their team of 300+ experts deliver breakthrough solutions in areas ranging from endoluminal robotics and navigation systems to ultrasound imaging. Whether you're a startup or a multinational, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can accelerate your development with the latest technologies. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠&⁠⁠⁠⁠KUKA⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a global leader in robotics with over 25 years of experience partnering with medtech companies on their journey to market. Their reputation is built on robust technology, reliability and long term collaboration and being more than just a supplier.KUKA provides trusted support throughout the product life cycle, from development to integration and beyond. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kuka.com/healthcare⁠