Reverse Medical

About Reverse Medical

Reverse Medical Corporation, established in Irvine, California, in 2007, carved a niche in the therapeutic device market, specifically focusing on neurovascular and peripheral vascular disorders. The company was founded by the collaborative efforts of Jeffrey Valko and Michael M. Henson. Valko, serving as CEO, brought extensive experience from various engineering and business development roles at major healthcare companies like Johnson & Johnson and Baxter Healthcare, followed by a transition into MedTech startups and private equity. This background in large-scale manufacturing and early-stage company leadership proved instrumental in guiding Reverse Medical's trajectory.

The firm concentrated on developing and commercializing devices for endovascular management of acute stroke and other vascular diseases. Its business model centered on the research, development, and sale of these specialized medical devices to healthcare providers and hospitals. A significant milestone was the acquisition of the company by Covidien plc on August 22, 2014, for an undisclosed amount, integrating Reverse Medical into Covidien's Neurovascular product line within its Medical Devices segment. This acquisition was a strategic move by Covidien to bolster its portfolio and compete in the rapidly growing vascular embolization market. Prior to this, Reverse Medical had successfully raised $15.5 million in funding over two rounds, including a notable $14 million Series B in March 2010, which was intended to drive the company towards global commercialization.

Reverse Medical's product suite included several key devices designed for vessel occlusion. The MVP® Micro Vascular Plug System and the UNO™ Neurovascular Embolization System were self-expanding devices created to obstruct blood flow in peripheral and neurovascular applications, respectively. Another product was the Barrel™ Vascular Reconstruction Device (VRD), a self-expanding bridge for treating bifurcation aneurysms. The company also developed the ReVerse® Microcatheter, designed for delivering these devices. These products gained significant traction in the European market, having received CE Mark approval, and the MVP-3 and MVP-5 models also obtained 510(k) clearance in the United States.