Compact Medical’s Butterfly BVM device, currently awaiting FDA clearance, sets a new standard for life-saving support during cardiac arrest.
The first mechanical CPR devices were introduced in the 1950s. Not much changed over the next seventy years. Until now, thanks to Compact Medical.
“At the time, it would have been a showstopper of a medical device,” said Purdue alum Adam Scott, Compact Medical co-founder and COO. “These mechanical CPR devices do the job to the best of their ability, but we’ve come so much further.”
Because of the enduring simplicity of the original device — created during a time where “the more air the better” was the best understanding of CPR — it has limited adaptability for complex situations.
“It wasn’t until the early 2000s that data showed hyperventilation can be deadly,” said Jonathan Merrell, M.D., co-founder and CEO. “We then spent 15 years training people to use the device to not induce hyperventilation, but this puts huge pressure on first responders to get it exactly right in high-stress situations. We’ve now learned we can’t train our way out of the problem. We need better tech.”
Compact Medical’s Butterfly BVM device aims to set a new standard for saving the lives of those suffering from cardiac arrest. The innovative CPR device limits tidal volumes and takes the guesswork out of the equation. With the turn of a dial, emergency personnel can restrict maximum air output to match the patient’s needs, reducing the risk of hyperventilation.
The Butterfly BVM is awaiting FDA clearance, with the team hopeful they’ll complete the process sometime in early 2025. Then, they can turn the device over to an eager market.
“At every conference, our booth is flooded with people interested in our solution because the market knows there’s a serious need for innovation,” said Scott. “We look forward to providing the new market standard. We’re on the cusp of changing medicine.”
Purdue Strategic Ventures sees and supports the company’s bold vision. “Our team is proud to support Boilermakers innovating to have a positive impact on society,” said Danielle Salters, managing director of Purdue Strategic Ventures. “We are excited about Compact Medical’s meaningful solution in an otherwise stagnant market.”
Compact Medical has raised $1.8 million in non-dilutive funding through prestigious awards from the NIH, NSF, and AAP, such as a Phase I and Phase II SBIR and a Phase I STTR. They’ve raised an additional $2.4 million with participation from Purdue Strategic Ventures.
With FDA clearance on the horizon, Compact Medical looks poised to pioneer a future with drastically safer and more successful resuscitation every single day.
Learn more or connect with the team by visiting the Compact Medical website. The team is particularly excited to connect with mentors or people with sales and marketing experience in the EMS field.
Media contact: Polly Barks, phbarks@prf.org
