Accelerating Neurovascular Innovation Through High-Fidelity Imaging
Innovative neuro thrombectomy device
FastFlow Medical, a Galway-based MedTech start-up, partnered with the MET Technology Gateway at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) to optimise the development of their innovative neuro thrombectomy device.
FastFlow Medical faced a critical technological bottleneck in observing how their neuro thrombectomy device interacted with various complex clot morphologies. Standard benchtop trials lacked the resolution and realism needed to identify why certain clot types were fragmenting or resisting retrieval. To move forward, the company required advanced, non-destructive visualisation within high-fidelity anatomical models to pinpoint failure modes that were previously invisible.
Advanced testing & imaging services
MET provided FastFlow Medical with a tailored suite of advanced testing and imaging services:
- High-Resolution Imaging Suite: Access to MET’s state-of-the-art imaging allowed for non-destructive, high-resolution testing on early prototypes.
- High-Speed Imaging Analysis: MET specialists utilised high-speed imaging to challenge existing assumptions, revealing subtle fragmentation issues during the retrieval process.
- Anatomical Modelling: Testing was conducted within complex, high-fidelity neurovascular anatomical models to simulate realistic clinical conditions.
- Collaborative Expert Support: FastFlow engineers worked side-by-side with MET specialists, facilitating deep knowledge transfer regarding clot-device dynamics.
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Irish Company
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Tailored suite of advanced services
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Critical bottleneck overcome
“MET’s specialised imaging lab broke a critical bottleneck by providing the high-resolution, real-time visualisation necessary to observe our neuro thrombectomy device… we were able to pinpoint exactly why certain clot types were fragmenting… a level of detail previously invisible during standard benchtop trials.”
Nicola Bohan, Co-Founder of FastFlow Medical
FastFlow Medical & MET Technology Gateway partnership
The partnership has fundamentally transformed FastFlow Medical’s R&D capabilities and market readiness:
Overcoming Critical Bottlenecks: Real-time visualisation allowed the team to pinpoint exact causes of clot fragmentation, enabling rapid optimisation of retrieval techniques.
Clinical-Grade Proof-of-Concept: The use of rigorous, imaging-backed data from complex models provided the technical maturity required to demonstrate device efficacy to stakeholders.
Unforeseen Credibility Boost: MET’s international reputation for high-end imaging excellence significantly eased discussions with potential investors, acting as a powerful external validation.
Rapid-Iteration Mindset: The collaboration shifted the company culture from traditional “fail-safe” methods to a rapid-iteration approach rooted in high-fidelity simulation.
The collaboration between FastFlow Medical and the MET Technology Gateway exemplifies how access to specialised infrastructure can act as a commercial catalyst for MedTech start-ups. By bridging the gap between theoretical modelling and physiological reality, MET empowered FastFlow Medical to transform technical challenges into validated pathways for innovation.