Medtronic Launches VitalFlow ECMO System

September 26, 2024—Medtronic announced the launch of its VitalFlow extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system.

According to the company, VitalFlow is intended to bridge the gap between bedside care and intrahospital transport as a configurable, one-system ECMO solution built on simplicity and performance. The user-friendly VitalFlow system’s large, intuitive touchscreen centralizes real-time performance data and offers configurability. It is built for long-term performance incorporating the Medtronic Nautilus ECMO oxygenator design, noted the company.

The VitalFlow technology is from the Medtronic acquisition of MC3 Cardiopulmonary, which closed in March 2024. The acquisition was preceded by an 8-year partnership and distribution agreement between MC3 and Medtronic Cardiac Surgery that resulted in the introduction of seven new ECMO products, which were developed and manufactured by MC3 Cardiopulmonary and exclusively distributed by Medtronic.

“Clinicians in the ECMO space have evolving needs,” stated Pieter Kappetein, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Office of Cardiac Surgery at Medtronic, in the press release. “With patients’ diseases becoming more complex, there is a growing demand for innovative solutions and comprehensive commitments across multiple disease states. Clinicians expect more from Medtronic, and we are uniquely positioned to meet these needs to advance treatment options to better serve their patients.”

The press release noted that the VitalFlow system and other Medtronic ECMO technologies will be featured at the 35th annual conference of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) held September 29 to October 1 in Detroit, Michigan. Also at ELSO, Medtronic will hold two ECMO workshops to facilitate hands-on engagement and learnings for the company’s ECMO technologies.