CoAptus Medical Corporation is an early stage medical device company developing a therapeutic product for the treatment of a structural heart defect called a patent foramen ovale, or PFO.  A PFO is a flap-like  opening, or tunnel between the upper chambers of the heart.  Normally, this passageway closes shortly after birth.  However, in approximately 25% of the population, the passageway remains open or patent, and may permit the passage of blood clots or chemicals that would normally be filtered by the lungs to pass into the left heart and into the arterial circulation of the body including the brain.  PFO’s have been associated with stroke, transient ischemic attacks (TIA’s), and migraine headaches. 

CoAptus is developing a non-implant, therapeutic catheter device to coapt the tunnel tissues closed and apply RF energy for a permanent seal.  Nothing is left behind in the heart after the procedure is completed.

MANAGEMENT

Joeseph Eichinger
Joseph Eichinger is co-founder, Director, and President of CoAptus Medical Corporation.  Mr. Eichinger was also a co-founder of AcousTx Corporation, Therus Corporation, EKOS Corporation, and NeoPath, Inc. He was also one of the initial employees of ATL Ultrasound (Philips Medical), and participated in its growth and acquisition by Squibb Corporation. Mr. Eichinger’s prior experience also includes management positions in venture capital, commercial, and investment banking. Mr. Eichinger is a graduate of Kettering University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with an emphasis in electrical engineering. Mr. Eichinger also serves on a number of advisory groups in the medical device industry.

Mark Tempel
Mark Tempel is Vice President of Research & Development for CoAptus Medical Corporation. 
Mr. Tempel brings 25 years of product development and program management experience to CoAptus.  Most recently Mr. Tempel was the Mechanical Engineering Manager for Stratos Product Development, LLC where he planned and managed numerous fast paced multi-discipline technical product development projects in a variety of industries.  His prior experience includes medical product development at both ATL Ultrasound (Philips Medical) and Physio-Control (Medtronic, Inc.).  Mr. Tempel is a graduate of Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with an emphasis on design.

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

David Auth, PhD, PE 
Former founder, Chairman & CEO of Heart Technology, Inc. (Boston Scientific)

Joeseph Eichinger
Co-Founder, Director, and President of CoAptus Medical Corporation

Robert Van Tassel, MD
Founder, Minneapolis Heart Institute