Liberate Medical

Liberate Medical is a developer of respiratory muscle stimulator technology designed to liberate patients from mechanical ventilation. The company VentFree Respiratory Muscle Stimulator uses proprietary non-invasive neuromuscular electrical stimulation to contract the abdominal wall muscles in synchrony with exhalation during mechanical ventilation. This therapy aims to reduce muscle atrophy and potentially decrease the duration of mechanical ventilation. Since electrical stimulation does not require patient cooperation, therapy can begin from day one of mechanical ventilation while patients are sedated or delirious. A pilot randomized controlled trial found that mechanical ventilation duration and ICU length of stay were shorter in patients who received stimulation with VentFree compared to placebo. VentFree is CE marked and available for sale in the European Economic Area, and has emergency use authorization in the USA. The device addresses the unmet need of expiratory muscle atrophy in mechanically ventilated patients, which is associated with weaning failure and delayed extubation. Patients requiring more than four days of mechanical ventilation suffer from high rates of hospital mortality, morbidity, and post-discharge complications. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Louisville, United States, Liberate Medical has raised approximately 11.3 million at the Series B stage with investors including Scientific Health Development, Bluegrass Angels, Commonwealth Seed Capital, Enterprise Angels Community Fund, America Seed Fund, Marshall Ventures, National Science Foundation, Pegasus Capital Advisors, Keyhorse Capital, XLerateHealth, and Mammoth View.