# Development of a Novel Aspiration Pump for Neurointerventional Procedures

> **NIH NIH R41** · VON MEDICAL, INC · 2024 · $693,385

## Abstract

ABSTRACT/PROJECT SUMMARY
Strokes are the second leading cause of death worldwide. In the US they are the leading cause of disability,
and cost the healthcare industry over $50 billion annually. Globally, almost 90% of strokes are ischemic in
nature. Since 2015, the standard of care for large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke has been mechanical
thrombectomy (MT). The improvements seen with MT have been so dramatic that urgent MT is now the
recommended by the American Stroke Association Guidelines for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS).
Over the years MT approaches have evolved from stent retrievers, to aspiration catheters, to a combination of
the two devices. Yet despite these advances, revascularization of occluded vessels is still not achieved in up to
33% of cases, and only ~50% of cases have good clinical outcomes.
Aspiration pumps have much wider applications than just aspiration-first approaches; over 96% of
neurointerventionalists we interviewed report using an aspiration pump during thrombectomies, regardless of
whether they are using an aspiration catheter or stent retriever. Almost 70% of clinicians interviewed said that
they believed a better aspiration pump is needed. Despite dramatic evolution in catheters and stent retrievers
in the last 5 years, currently the market is dominated by a single device with minimal updates. We are
addressing this clinical need with our innovative ALGO aspiration pump.
Our pump has several prominent innovations that improve its usability and revascularization potential. These
include a novel and unique aspiration system that operates through a mechanism unlike any other system on
the market. Early testing of this system demonstrates incredibly high success rates for total revascularization
after the first pass, as well as significantly improved rates of revascularization compared to a leading
competitor. Our system is also compatible with any standard catheter on the market; this avoids the need for
the purchase of proprietary accessories and allows neurointerventionalists to use the devices they are most
comfortable with. Additionally, the ALGO offers real-time, nuanced feedback on procedure status. We expect
this system will improve procedural success rates by notifying neurointerventionalists if the catheter tip is
occluded due to sidewall contact and the position must be adjusted, or if the catheter is corked with a clot and
can be withdrawn. Finally, the ALGO is designed to be recyclable. This was an important innovation that
neurointerventionalists indicated was desired.
Together these innovations will result in an aspiration pump that improves first-pass efficacy rates while
lowering costs and reducing medical waste. Based on our market analysis, these are highly desired
innovations and we expect rapid acceptance and utilization of this technology. This Phase I effort is designed
to further refine and validate our paradigm-shifting technology using physiologically relevant soft and hard clo...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10915784
- **Project number:** 1R41NS134425-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** VON MEDICAL, INC
- **Principal Investigator:** Manning Hanser
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $693,385
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-20 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10915784

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10915784, Development of a Novel Aspiration Pump for Neurointerventional Procedures (1R41NS134425-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10915784. Licensed CC0.

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