Device companies raised 50% more in Q1 2016 than the previous quarter, reaching $1.8 billion and led by debt offerings; diagnostic imaging acquisitions, such as Toshiba Medical Systems, were abundant. Diagnostics financings double in Q1, mostly from venture funding, including strong showing from liquid biopsy companies.

In this month's issue of Start-Up, we profile Cenna Biosciences, Entac Medical, Hemovent, MediBeacon and Quartet Medicine.

Hemovent GMBH has developed a miniaturized extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system for bedside use in intensive care. The start-up says the footprint of its ECMO is just 10% the size of the smallest commercially available heart-lung machine, and the cost of the unit is 95% less than a standard ECMO device.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Medical Device Deals Update column is a survey of recent medtech M&A, alliance, and financing activity. This month’s column covers deals announced January-February 2016.