Rotterdam-based Spatium Medical, a medtech spinoff from Erasmus MC, has secured €5M in a fresh round of funding.
The round saw investment from new investors, including InnovationQuarter and Demcon Investment Fund. Existing investors Van Herk Ventures and Swanbridge Capital also participated in this round.
Prior to this round, in December 2023, Spatium Medical secured funding from Human Plus, a fund that accelerates high-potential discoveries in biomedical technology, diagnostics, and pharma.
The financing is supported by the Innovation Credit from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
Nina Satih, Investment Manager at InnovationQuarter, says, “We are excited to see Spatium Medical’s vision come to life as they develop a technology that could drastically improve patient recovery times and surgical safety. This is exactly the type of innovation InnovationQuarter strives to support.”
Bibi van Gijzel, Anna Faddeeva and Xavier Wolters, investment managers at the RVO, add, “At RVO, we are committed to fostering innovations that improve healthcare, and Spatium Medical’s journey is a perfect example of how our support may accelerate the development of life-changing medical technologies.”
The smart insufflator
According to a statement from Spatium Medical, since the 1990s, the rise in laparoscopic surgeries has reduced patient recovery times, but the use of pressurised CO2 gas has drawbacks. Spatium Medical addresses key unmet needs in laparoscopy with its advanced insufflation technology.
The technology offers personalised insufflation pressure by measuring abdominal wall compliance, ensuring the lowest pressure needed for a stable workspace.
It uses turbine technology for consistent pressure management, achieving up to 7x more stability. Additionally, the technology synchronises with mechanical ventilation, reducing required pressures by up to 10 per cent and minimising pulmonary complications.
Willem Mees van der Bijl, CEO of Spatium Medical, says, “Spatium’s innovative insufflation technology was born from a multi-disciplinary team of surgeons, researchers, and engineers.”
“Driven by everyday clinical needs in laparoscopy, we are bringing smart insufflation to the world. It is very exciting to know that, together, we will substantially improve patient recovery after surgery and make laparoscopy accessible, for even the most vulnerable patients.”
Founded in 2022, Spatium Medical’s technology was developed by experts at Erasmus MC and TechRes Lab.
Capital utilisation
The proceeds will enable Spatium Medical to complete its smart insufflation device and conduct clinical studies, leading to a certified product that improves surgical outcomes. The company aims to launch the device in 2026.
CEO Willem Mees van der Bijl, says, “The collaboration between the new and existing investors, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) team and the Spatium Medical team has been invaluable. Not only in closing this important financial round, but also in sharing knowledge and expertise.”
“This enables us to bring this innovative technology, developed here in Rotterdam, to the point where it will become the next standard of care for minimal invasive surgeries worldwide. Very exciting!”
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