Traditional coronary artery bypass surgery is highly invasive, risky, and expensive, leading to prolonged recovery times and increased patient complications. AMT Medical, a clinical-stage medtech innovator, addresses these challenges with minimally invasive, sutureless bypass technology that enables safer, faster, and more cost-effective heart procedures.
Today, AMT Medical announced a $25 million Series B financing round led by Bender Analytical Holding B.V. (BAH). New investors Invest-NL and the European Innovation Council (EIC) joined existing backers Oost NL and angel investors. AMT has secured $40 million in total funding, combining this Series B round with several multi-million-euro grants from RvO and the European Innovation Council Accelerator.
This funding will accelerate the development of AMT’s ELANA® Heart Bypass System, a minimally invasive alternative to traditional open-heart surgery. The technology will enable robot-assisted keyhole surgery using leading surgical robots. The new funds will support crucial initiatives, including obtaining CE marking and launching clinical trials in both open and robotic settings in the United States.
Rutger Tulleken, CEO & Co-Founder of AMT Medical, remarked: “This financing validates our mission to make open-heart bypass obsolete. By enabling same-day discharge bypass procedures, we’re not just improving outcomes but redefining cardiovascular care.”
The capital will support AMT’s ongoing initiatives, including the completion of the European first-in-human trial of the system during beating-heart CABG surgeries. Trial results, expected by late 2025, will be shared with the surgical community. AMT aims to obtain CE Marking by 2026 for open surgical CABG procedures through either sternotomy or minimally invasive thoracotomy (MIDCAB). The company will also begin clinical trials in the United States for open and robotic applications.
Transforming heart surgery through innovation
AMT Medical was founded by Rutger Tulleken in 2017 in the Netherlands, with operations based in Ede and Utrecht. The company stems from a personal mission: Rutger’s father, a renowned neurosurgeon, developed the ELANA bypass technique for brain surgery. This inspired Rutger to adapt the life-saving, minimally invasive technology for heart procedures after witnessing its medical necessity and impact on patients. The goal: make open-heart bypass surgeries obsolete while reducing patient trauma and recovery time.
Major medtech companies, such as Medline, CONMED, and Romsons International, compete in the development of minimally invasive and cardiovascular medical devices, including surgical instruments and technologies for cardiovascular procedures.
Globally, over 1 million coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures occur annually, with the market projected to exceed $2.5 billion by 2027. Most surgeries still require open-chest procedures, resulting in lengthy hospital stays, high costs, and significant risks. AMT Medical’s technology has the potential to transform outcomes for countless patients while alleviating burdens on the healthcare system.
Behind the AMT Medical flagship product: ELANA® heart bypass system
The ELANA Heart Bypass System enables advanced coronary artery bypass grafting using arterial grafts through small incisions in the chest. The procedure is performed without stopping the heart or using a heart-lung machine, thereby reducing stroke risks and shortening recovery times. This contrasts with conventional methods, which require sternotomy, complex suturing, and lengthy recovery periods. These improvements aim to reduce the costs of CABG procedures significantly.
The sutureless anastomosis technique uses a proprietary clip and excimer laser to connect blood vessels without manual suturing, enabling precise, quick, and standardised graft integration while minimising complications. The system reduces costs by over 50% in robotic settings through shorter operating times, fewer hospital stays, fewer complications, and faster surgeon mastery compared to traditional bypass procedures.
Johan Bender, CEO of Bender Analytical Holding: “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 outcomes.”
With this new funding, AMT Medical is set to transform heart surgery, making procedures safer, faster, and more accessible worldwide. As the company progresses toward regulatory approval and broader adoption, same-day discharge and minimally invasive heart bypass may become the new standard of care.
