Luciole Medical acquires established medical devices company

Brain oxygenation, intracranial pressure and blood flow are critical parameters for assessing proper brain function. Impaired oxygenation in the brain can rapidly lead to severe consequences such as cognitive decline, speech impairment, paralysis, coma, and even death. Measuring these parameters in patients during surgery and in a comatose setting is vital for the immediate diagnosis and treatment of the patient.

Luciole Medical was established in 2007 as a spinoff of ETH Zurich with the aim of developing a unique next-generation platform of brain monitoring sensors to rapidly provide critical information allowing the proper diagnostic and monitoring of compromised oxygen supply conditions and complications. The platform also uses a proprietary complex algorithm to analyse large data sets and extract clinically relevant information. The company obtained the CE mark for a minimally invasive probe for ICUs (RheoProbe) and a new generation patch for external measurement of brain oxygenation parameters (RheoPatch).

To strengthen its market position, Luciole Medical has acquired the medical devices company Spiegelberg. Founded in 1986 by Dr Andreas Spiegelberg, the company has developed an internationally recognised, strong brand for its innovative neurosurgical devices and consumables and is a leading manufacturer of probes for intracranial pressure (ICP) measurement. The company works with recognised research institutes, leading clinics, and specialists in neurosurgery to develop products that are best tailored to the patient.

Following the acquisition, Luciole Medical will leverage Spiegelberg’s manufacturing, regulatory, and commercial capabilities, including its global supply network, to bring improved brain monitoring devices to a broad patient population. Spiegelberg’s recognised ICP monitors and wide-reaching sales channels that span neuroclinics, hospitals, and special distributors highly complement Luciole’s easy-to-use, minimally invasive, next-generation brain monitoring solutions and non-invasive patch. Under Luciole’s leadership, the two companies will be in the position to individualise and optimise comprehensive brain monitoring devices on an international scale.

“We have known the Spiegelberg team and products for a long time and were impressed by the quality of the business they have built. This strategic acquisition will allow us to accelerate the accessibility of our products in Europe and prepare for the market launch of our innovative brain monitoring technologies in the US. We at Luciole believe that brain monitoring is an important tool both in the operating room and the intensive care setting to understand the pathologies linked to a fundamental but poorly understood organ,” said Luciole CEO, Dr. Philippe Dro.

(Press release/RAN)