Arkis BioSciences

Arkis BioSciences, established in 2011, is a medical device company focused on developing neurosurgical solutions to treat intracranial hypertension. The company was co-founded by Dr. Chad Seaver and neurosurgeon James Killeffer. Dr. Seaver, who served as CEO, holds a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering as well as master's and bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee. His transition from a role at Siemens in 2013 to dedicate his full attention to the startup marked a significant step in the company's journey.

The company engineers and markets devices for managing conditions like hydrocephalus, traumatic brain injury, and hemorrhagic stroke. Its primary clients are surgeons and healthcare providers in the neurocritical care and neurosurgical markets. The business model centered on the development and sale of these specialized medical devices. A key milestone for Arkis BioSciences was securing FDA clearance in September 2017 for its CerebroFlo® External Ventricular Drain (EVD) Catheter. Throughout its operation as a private entity, the company raised approximately $9.7 million in funding from investors including Innova Memphis, Angel Capital Group, and The Lighthouse Fund.

The flagship product, the CerebroFlo® EVD Catheter, is designed for the temporary external drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to manage elevated intracranial pressure. A distinguishing feature of the CerebroFlo® catheter is its incorporation of Endexo® technology, a permanent, non-eluting polymer additive. This technology alters the catheter's surface to reduce protein adhesion and platelet activation, which has been shown in laboratory studies to decrease thrombus accumulation by an average of 99%. The aim of this feature is to lower the risk of catheter obstruction, a common complication in neurocritical care. In addition to the catheter, the company also developed a Tunneling Guidewire™ designed to make ventriculoperitoneal shunt procedures less invasive. On July 29, 2019, Arkis BioSciences was acquired by Integra LifeSciences, a global medical technology company, for an initial price of $30.6 million, with up to an additional $25.5 million contingent on milestones. This acquisition was intended to bolster Integra's portfolio in neurocritical care.

Keywords: Arkis BioSciences, neurosurgical devices, intracranial hypertension, CerebroFlo EVD Catheter, Endexo technology, hydrocephalus treatment, traumatic brain injury, minimally invasive surgery, cerebrospinal fluid drainage, Chad Seaver, James Killeffer, Integra LifeSciences acquisition, neurocritical care, ventricular drainage, catheter obstruction, thrombus formation, Tunneling Guidewire, medical device startup, surgical instrumentation, CSF management