A trusted team of clinical and engineering experts
- 93 patents related to diaphragm pacing therapy
- FDA Breakthrough Device designation in May 2016
- FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in April 2020
- Class III device currently in US and EU pivotal study
Executive Team
Doug Evans
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Rosemarie Dhavale
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Viral Thakkar
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Nawzer Mehta
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Judy Ways
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Clinical Board
Joshua O. Benditt, MD
Matt Gani, Vice President of Operations,
Update new content..has more than 18 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
has more than 15 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
Rich Branson, MSc, RRT
Matt Gani, Vice President of Operations,
Update new content..has more than 18 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
has more than 15 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
Ralf Ewert, MD
Ralf Ewert
Ralf is awesome! I can fill in his bio here
has more than 15 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
Dimitris Georgopoulos, MD, PhD
Matt Gani, Vice President of Operations,
Update new content..has more than 18 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
has more than 15 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
Timothy D. Girard, MD, MSCI
Matt Gani, Vice President of Operations,
Update new content..has more than 18 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
has more than 15 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
Dean Hess, PhD, RRT
Matt Gani, Vice President of Operations,
Update new content..has more than 18 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
has more than 15 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
Nicholas S. Hill, MD
Matt Gani, Vice President of Operations,
Update new content..has more than 18 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
has more than 15 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
Robert C. Hyzy, MD
Matt Gani, Vice President of Operations,
Update new content..has more than 18 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
has more than 15 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
François Lellouche, MD, PhD
Ralf Ewert
Ralf is awesome! I can fill in his bio here
has more than 15 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
Joseph B. Shrager, MD
Matt Gani, Vice President of Operations,
Update new content..has more than 18 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
has more than 15 years of prior experience in managing and execution of all phases of Medical Device Design and Development from market definition through production and release. Viral has worked in medical device companies, internationally, in projects involving power-actuated surgical stapling devices, cardiovascular and peripheral stents, stent delivery systems, embolic protection
Board of Directors
Chris Kiple
Chris Kiple, Chair of the Board of Directors
Chris Kiple is Chair of the Board of Directors at Lungpacer Medical and was formerly the Chief Executive Officer at Ventec Life Systems. During nearly six years at Ventec, Chris led the company’s transformation from R&D to more than $800M in global sales and 1,000+ team members.
Chris was part of the original team that developed VOCSN, the world’s first Multi-Function Ventilator that combines six medical devices into a single, portable system. VOCSN was awarded “Hardware of the Year” by GeekWire, “Best New Technology Solution” by Medtech Breakthrough, and the “Design Award” by Red Dot.
In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Chris developed a first-of-its-kind partnership with General Motors to rapidly scale production of critical care ventilators by 80x in less than six months by bringing the best of American medical device innovation with the best of American automobile mass production capability. The partnership with General Motors was recognized by Fast Company as one of the “Top 10 Most Innovative Joint Ventures” in 2021 and by the Project Management Institute as one of “2020’s Most Influential Projects.”
Prior to Ventec, Chris worked in finance at J.P. Morgan, in law at Sidley Austin, LLP, and in government affairs at Husch Blackwell, LLP.
Chris was born in Lincoln, NE. He graduated from The George Washington University with a degree in International Affairs and later received a law degree from The George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. In 2020, Chris was honored as a “40 under 40” award winner by the Puget Sound Business Journal for his leadership.
Doug Evans
Doug Evans, President and CEO
Doug serves as Chairman for TELA Bio (NASDAQ: TELA) and Board Member for WhiteSwell Medical. Previously Doug served as Operating Director, Secretary, and Board Member of Intact Vascular (acquired by Royal Philips for $360M in 2020); as advisor to Essential Medical (acquired by Teleflex in 2018); and as Chief Operating Officer and Board Member of Kensey Nash Corporation (NASDAQ: KNSY) (acquired by Royal DSM for $360M in 2012).
Jan Pensaert
Jan Pensaert
Jan Pensaert is the Founding Managing Partner of Valiance – a Life Sciences venture growth investment firm. He brings over 20 years of experience in growth investing. He leads the Investment Committee for the Valiance Funds and is responsible for all aspects of the Funds’ investment processes. Jan currently serves on the Board of several Valiance funds and portfolio companies including MDxHealth, JenaValve and 4Tech.
Prior to founding Valiance, Jan was CEO of La Fayette, where during his tenure the La Fayette Funds increased in AUM from $750 million to $5.5 billion on the back of strong performance. Before that, he was responsible for the Permal Group’s European-based investment management and research activities, and prior to that he worked at Lazard in Corporate Finance M&A.
Jan holds a BA in Business Economics from Gent University in Belgium, and a Masters in Banking & Finance from the University of Aix-Marseille, France.
Joseph Kaufmann
Joseph Kaufmann, Board Member
Previous experience as President and CEO of Kensey Nash Corporation (NASDAQ – KNSY) from 1995 to 2012 and CFO from 1989 to 1995. Kensey Nash was a leader in vascular closure, orthopedic/spine devices and resorbable biomaterial products. The company was sold to Royal DSM for $360M in 2012.
Graduated from St. Joseph’s University B.S. Accounting in 1975.
Bob Donohue
Bob Donohue, Board Member
Robert (Bob) Donohue is the CEO of WJFS, Inc., a private investment group based in West Chester, PA. Bob also sits on the board of two privately held companies Centinel Spine, AES Clean Technology as well as the nonprofit LOR Foundation.
Prior to WJFS, Bob held the position of CFO of Synthes, Inc. where he was responsible for the Company’s financial reporting, internal controls, M&A, and related issues. He also held the position of President, Synthes Canada, Ltd from 1997 until the sale of the company in mid – 2012. Bob remained with the company, to assist with integration, for 18 months after its sale to J&J in 2012 ($20 Billion). Bob started with Synthes in 1990 as Corporate Controller. Prior to joining the Synthes, he served in several financial positions, including corporate controller and plant controller with several major U.S. corporations.
Education: B.Sc. in Economics, West Chester University; MBA, Widener University. Certified Public Accountant (inactive).
Key Milestones
Lungpacer Patents
Large and growing intellectual property portfolio
- 93 issued/allowed
- 44 pending
Learn more about Lungpacer’s patent portfolio
Awards
2018 MedTech Innovator
Emergency Use Authorization. The Lungpacer System is authorized for emergency use in healthcare settings to assist in weaning patients determined by their healthcare provider to be at high risk of weaning failure off ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lungpacer System has neither been cleared nor approved for the indication to assist in weaning patients off ventilators in healthcare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic; the Lungpacer System has been authorized for the above emergency use by FDA under an EUA; the Lungpacer System has been authorized only for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of medical devices under section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.
