The Dutch startup, led by Co-Founder & CEO, Toon Overbeeke, has developed an autonomous blood draw device aiming to address the critical shortage of skilled phlebotomists in healthcare settings.
“Is it not possible to improve this procedure with technology?” This simple question is what sparked the inception of Vitestro.
Toon Overbeeke, Co-Founder & CEO, was inspired by a friend's father who struggled with unsuccessful punctures during chemotherapy. “He came home frustrated and in pain, wondering why something as routine as drawing blood couldn’t be made easier,” Overbeeke recalls. Co-founder Brian Joseph faced a similar issue when one of his kids needed regular blood draws. This is when Brian and Toon saw the opportunity for innovation.
Blood draws are a cornerstone of medical diagnostics, and influence 70% of clinical decisions. However, the process is inconsistent, and often painful for patients. “A patient’s blood draw experience can vary greatly depending on who performs it. We eliminate this variability by standardizing the entire procedure, which has proven to be a significant benefit for patients,” says Overbeeke.
Adding to the problem is a significant shortage of skilled phlebotomists and a high turnover rate of personnel leading to extended wait times at the phlebotomy departments. “Clinical laboratories in the US face high staff shortages,” Overbeeke explains. “Even prestigious institutions reached out to us because of these shortages.”
Current medical technology falls short of addressing these fundamental problems. Existing devices assist phlebotomists by using infrared to locate veins or enhance manual blood draws, but they don’t eliminate the need for human intervention. “The technology that’s out there is a technology that needs to be used by a phlebotomist. Those technologies are solving a different problem than we are by assisting phlebotomists to find where your vein is located.” He goes on to say, “Our focus is to solve the staff shortages. Currently, there are no such devices on the market that are solving this problem.”
This is where Vitestro’s technology comes into play. The company’s autonomous blood drawing device aims to standardize the blood draw process, ensuring consistency and reducing reliance on skilled personnel. “We can improve the quality because the whole procedure is standardized,” Overbeeke asserts. By automating blood draws, Vitestro not only promises a more efficient and accurate procedure but also addresses the critical issue of phlebotomist shortages, offering a scalable solution to a widespread problem.
Vitestro’s device uses a combination of robotics, imaging technology, and artificial intelligence to automate the blood draw process. The patient inserts a cartridge with labeled blood tubes into the device and verifies their identity on a screen. The device uses infrared light to locate the vein and an ultrasound probe to ensure precise needle insertion. “The device positions the needle in the vein and releases the tourniquet. The entire procedure is standardized, from drawing the blood to inverting the tubes,” explains Overbeeke.
So how do patients feel about having their blood drawn autonomously? According to recent data from their Pivotal Trial, Overbeeke shares, “We did trials with over 3000 patients, and 98% said this method was acceptable or very acceptable. Moreover, 83% reported that the pain was similar to or less than manual phlebotomy.”
Vitestro is making significant strides toward commercialization. “We submitted our CE file and sold our first ten devices in Europe, even before regulatory approval. In the US, we submitted two Q-subs, and another three will be submitted this year,” says Overbeeke. “We see extremely strong market pull because the problem of phlebotomist shortages is huge. Hospitals are approaching us, and our pipeline is filled. We need to scale our commercial team rapidly,” Overbeeke states.
The company also shared Pivotal Trial results in May, confirming performance, safety, and patient acceptance for its autonomous blood drawing technology. As mentioned by Overbeeke, “98% said this method was acceptable or very acceptable. Moreover, 83% reported that the pain was similar to or less than manual phlebotomy.”
Vitestro has also had success fundraising, recently announcing across medical device news outlets in April they secured a $22 million Series A round led by LSI Alumni Sonder Capital and NYBC Ventures to support Vitestro’s commercialization in Europe and its organizational expansion into the U.S. market.
Overbeeke illustrated how LSI events have played an instrumental role in their fundraising journey, stating, “Closing this $22 million oversubscribed funding round is a testament to the dedication and excellence of our team, as well as the support from our early investors.” On LSI’s role, Toon shares, “Since our initial participation at LSI Europe '23, we have continually engaged with top investors and strategic partners. We are grateful to LSI for the numerous contacts and networking opportunities that have supported this deal.”
Looking ahead, Overbeeke states, “We are now preparing for our Series B which we’ll raise in 2025. In the coming years, we're planning on hitting a lot of milestones including finishing the pivotal trial, getting CE mark, regulatory clearance in the US, and then also establishing our first office in the US as well.”
Toon Overbeeke has been selected to present at LSI Europe ‘24 this September 16th-20th in front of hundreds of global medical technology companies. Join us in welcoming him to the event in Sintra, Portugal, where he will share the latest updates on Vitestro’s technology, clinical data, and development.
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