‘Launching a product that can be used by hospitals around the world’
How Spatium Medical makes keyhole surgery more patient friendly
A breakthrough in the keyhole surgery world is around the corner. Spatium Medical, an Erasmus Medical Center (Erasmus MC) spin-off, is working on an innovative insufflation technology that will help patients experience less pain and recover more quickly after an operation. Its CEO, Willem Mees van der Bijl, talks about the path from a medical idea to an international product. “We want to launch a product that can be used by hospitals around the world within two years.”
In keyhole surgery, the stomach is blown up so that surgeons get a good view of the operation area. This is essential for safe and precise operations. At the same time, traditional insufflation methods can lead to discomfort, pain and a longer recovery period for patients.
Spatium Medical is designing a smarter way to improve this process. The technology optimizes insufflation during keyhole surgery with the aim of making the treatment more patient friendly. Willem Mees explains: “Our technology uses an innovative approach that makes insufflation more efficient and patient friendly.”
The innovation touches on a worldwide issue as keyhole surgery is done in hospitals around the world. If Spatium Medical manages to make the technology safe, certified and scalable, and launch it on the market, it will have much international potential.
“We want to launch a product that can be used by hospitals around the world within two years”
From innovation to a product
Developing a pioneering technology is one thing. Turning that technology into a medical product that hospitals really can use is another. And this is definitely the case in MedTech as the requirements are high. Bringing a healthcare innovation to market requires many things to come together: clinical evidence, legislation, quality systems, technology, user-friendliness and market entry all have to be right.
For Spatium Medical, this means that the development has to be multi-disciplinary from the start. Not only doctors and technicians are needed, but also experts in legislation, quality assurance, clinical research, marketing and internationalization. Willem Mees is clear about this. “You need to understand that medical innovations are multidisciplinary.. You cannot do this alone.”
It is this multidisciplinary aspect that determines whether a good idea can enter the market.
Collaboration from day one
Spatium Medical worked with InnovationQuarter from day one. This was a logical first step for Willem Mees when he started working in the region. “The first thing I did was call InnovationQuarter. They immediately helped us find the right connections who could help us move further.”
This went beyond just financing. InnovationQuarter helped Spatium Medical find relevant partners, experts and networks. This is important for every start-up, but definitely so for a medical technology company that is working towards international market entry.
Taking away the biggest uncertainties
Funding was also important in the product development. Thanks to an early-stage investment from UNIIQ, the biggest project uncertainties for Spatium Medical were removed in the first year. This then made the company more attractive for follow-up investors.
With support from InnovationQuarter Capital, Spatium Medical ultimately got € 5 million. This is safeguarding the path to market entry. The resources are being used to further develop the product and obtain the necessary medical certificates.
International interest
The first signs from the market are positive. Willem Mees believes that there is great interest from hospitals worldwide. “We are already getting phone calls from doctors who want to know when they can test our technology.”
This international interest is emphasizing Spatium Medical’s export potential. At the same time, care needs to be taken. You cannot skip what is needed for safety, proof and access in medical technology. So the near future will see product development, medical certification, and creating the right partnerships for market entry.
Do you also want to launch medical innovations on the market?
Spatium Medical shows how to work with the right experts, financing, and partners towards a product that can be used by hospitals around the world.
What is now possible
Spatium Medical is working towards a product that can be used by hospitals around the world. If it works out, the technology can be an asset in more patient-friendly keyhole surgery, pain reduction, and faster recovery.
The goal may be big, but the approach is targeted: reduce uncertainties, involve experts, obtain funding, and work towards international market entry step-by-step. Willem Mees’ advice to other entrepreneurs is clear: “If you have an innovative idea, make sure that you involve the right experts on time. This will ultimately make the difference between just a good idea and a successful market entry.”
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Are you also ready to move to a market launch?
Export opportunities are not automatic. In MedTech they require clinical evidence, regulation, financing and the right partners nationally and internationally. Explore the opportunities to help move your innovation further.
Get in touch with Linn Bäckegren
