This Month's Profile Group: Medtech Start-Ups Aim To Reverse The Downward Spiral of Heart Failure, features profiles of BioVentrix, Calon Cardio-Technology, Cibiem, DC Devices, and LoneStar Heart. Plus these Start-Ups Across Health Care: Dialog Devices, Lumena Pharmaceuticals, and STAT-Diagnostica.

LoneStar Heart's injectable biopolymer Algisyl-LVR represents a new advanced HF treatment strategy based on a medically accepted principle that a reduction in muscle tension and wall stress of the dilated heart will improve its function. The company, which originally envisioned Algisyl-LVR as a carrier for targeted delivery of biologics, drugs, or stem cells, discovered in animal studies that use of the biopolymer by itself had a profound effect on improving the mechanics of the heart.

Medtech start-ups are pioneering innovative device solutions that they hope will end the vicious cycle of costly hospitalizations and declining patient health. Profiles of BioVentrix, Calon-Cardio Technology, Cibiem, DC Devices, and LoneStar Heart.

Even with all of the advances and options in heart failure therapy, there remain no real options for a large number of patients who are seriously ill but not yet at the end-stage of the disease. CircuLite hopes to change that with a partial support device for patients who don’t need a VAD.