Aspira Medical is developing a wearable ultrasound platform that enables continuous noninvasive monitoring of gastric distension to provide early detection and prevention of aspiration pneumonia in critically ill ICU patients.
Aspira Medical is a medical device company developing a first-of-its-kind wearable ultrasound platform designed to continuously monitor gastric distension in critically ill patients and prevent aspiration pneumonia—one of the leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and extended ICU stays.
Despite advances in respiratory care, aspiration pneumonia remains a persistent and costly problem due to undetected stomach content accumulation and delayed intervention. Current methods—intermittent scans or manual aspiration—are labor-intensive, subjective, and provide only snapshot data that can miss early warning signs.
Aspira’s wearable patch overcomes these limitations with continuous, automated ultrasound monitoring and AI-driven real-time alerts. This enables proactive intervention before complications arise, while integrating seamlessly into existing ICU workflows.
Founded out of Baylor College of Medicine with exclusive IP licensing and $2 million in early funding, Aspira is positioned to establish continuous gastric monitoring as the new standard of care—transforming how ICUs manage one of the most underrecognized yet preventable complications in critical illness.
Leadership & Expertise
- Zaffer Syed – CEO
Serial medtech entrepreneur with a proven track record of leading device startups from concept through commercialization and clinical adoption. - Dr. Todd Rosengart – Clinical Leadership
Chair of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, providing deep insight into ICU and surgical workflows. - Supporting Advisors & Partners
Experienced guidance in regulatory strategy, clinical research, and ICU medicine. Strategic partnerships with Baylor College of Medicine and Novosound for technology development.
The team uniquely combines ICU domain knowledge, advanced ultrasound innovation, and medtech commercialization experience—positioning Aspira to successfully bring the first continuous gastric monitoring platform to market.
Aspira Medical targets high-impact ICU settings where aspiration prevention delivers both clinical and economic value.
Regulatory & Commercialization Roadmap
- Next Milestone
510(k) regulatory clearance. - Post-Clearance
Clinical studies in top-tier academic and tertiary hospitals to validate effectiveness in reducing aspiration events and shortening ICU stays. - Early Adopters
Reference centers and key opinion leaders (KOLs) to drive awareness and adoption. - Target Markets
ICUs, long-term acute care hospitals, and high-risk surgical recovery units.
Strategic Partnerships Sought
- Clinical partners (academic centers, critical care networks) for post-clearance validation.
- Industry collaborators in ultrasound, patient monitoring, or digital health for expanded capabilities and distribution.
- Strategic investors and healthcare systems focused on value-based care models.
Through these collaborations, Aspira aims to establish continuous gastric monitoring as the standard of care, delivering measurable improvements in patient safety and healthcare cost savings.
Aspira Medical employs a razor–razor blade model combining upfront capital equipment sales with high-margin recurring revenue from disposables.
Revenue Streams
- Capital Equipment
Sales of reusable base monitoring units to hospitals and critical care facilities. - Recurring Disposables
High-margin, single-use/limited-reuse wearable ultrasound sensor patches tied to patient volume and ICU turnover. - Future Expansion
Accessories, data analytics tools, software updates, and partnerships with monitoring/enteral feeding system manufacturers. - Reimbursement Strategy
Pursuit of DRG modifiers, NTAP, and value-based care programs as clinical evidence builds.
This model supports predictable, scalable growth with strong gross margins as the technology becomes embedded in daily ICU workflows.
Investment Opportunity
Aspira Medical is raising $5 million in seed funding to finalize its wearable ultrasound platform and advance through FDA 510(k) submission.
Key Use of Proceeds
- Product Finalization
Design freeze, verification & validation (V&V) testing, and manufacturing readiness. - Regulatory Preparation
510(k) package development, supported by pre-submission FDA feedback confirming pathway. - Algorithm & Clinical Readiness
Refinement of AI algorithms and limited pre-clinical validation.
Post-Seed Milestones (Series A)
- FDA clearance and limited launch.
- Manufacturing scale-up.
- Post-approval clinical evidence generation at leading ICUs, demonstrating reduced aspiration events and improved outcomes.
This seed investment de-risks technology, regulatory, and manufacturing milestones—positioning Aspira for strategic partnerships or acquisition following clearance and early market validation in a multi-billion-dollar critical care opportunity.
Aspira Medical is transitioning from prototype validation to clinical readiness with its proprietary wearable ultrasound technology.
Current Progress
- Successful benchtop and healthy volunteer studies demonstrating feasibility of continuous gastric monitoring.
- Exclusive IP licensing from Baylor College of Medicine.
- ~$2 million raised for prototype development and early validation.
- Strong multidisciplinary team in place.
Ongoing Development Focus
- Sensor design optimization and signal processing improvements.
- Algorithm refinement and data annotation workflows.
- Partnerships with leading hospitals for initial ICU validation studies.
- Preparation for seed round close to support design freeze and 510(k) submission.
With strong clinician interest and strategic positioning at the intersection of ultrasound innovation and ICU safety, Aspira is building the foundation for real-time aspiration risk monitoring as a global standard of care.
Aspira Medical has raised approximately $2 million to date through a combination of convertible notes and SAFE investments.
These funds have supported prototype development, early clinical validation studies, and team building.
