Advancing Complex Cardiac Innovation:
VenstraMedical on Its Partnership with Resolution Medical Behind a Next-Generation Cardiac Device
When VenstraMedical began advancing its catheter-based blood pump, they were taking on one of medical device development’s most demanding challenges, temporary circulatory support for critically ill cardiac patients.
Designed to provide short-term cardiac support through a minimally invasive approach, the device must collapse for delivery, expand once positioned inside the heart, and collapse again for removal after temporary use. From the beginning, Venstra needed a development partner who understood both the promise of the technology and the complexity of moving it from early prototype toward a more clinically ready design. They found that partner in Resolution Medical.
“Our needs were people who didn’t think it was impossible,” says Martin Cook, CEO and Co-Founder of VenstraMedical.
“We needed a team that could work with us from the earliest stages, build initial prototypes, and grow with us as the device moved toward a more clinically ready product.”
Venstra’s relationship with Resolution Medical began through Haarstad Engineering, where Cook already knew the team’s strength in catheter and device prototyping. When Haarstad Engineering became part of Resolution Medical, Venstra’s work continued within a broader team and facility.
For Cook, the fit came down to more than technical capability. Venstra needed catheter experience, nitinol-based medical device expertise, and a team willing to engage with a complex concept before every detail was fully defined. “I knew Resolution Medical was the right partner,” says Cook. “They’ve been great to work with. They enjoy the work, and that’s always a positive.”
That shared engagement has been central to the relationship. As an early-stage company, Venstra needed to balance the flexibility of outsourcing with the closeness and continuity of an internal team. “Working with Resolution Medical gives us the best of both worlds,” says Cook. “We can stay close to the work while still having the flexibility to ramp up or ramp down as needed.”
Cook points to Resolution Medical’s biosimulation lab as an important resource in Venstra’s development process. Seeing the device in a simulated cardiac environment helped the team better understand how it interacted with the anatomy of the left ventricle and surrounding valve structures.
“It’s one thing to know the inside of the left ventricle is complex,” says Cook. “It’s another thing to see your device sitting there and understand how it interacts with that anatomy.”
That visibility helped Venstra make strategic design decisions, including decisions about where key components should be positioned relative to the aortic valve. The biosimulation environment has also supported performance testing and investor conversations by allowing visitors to see the device in a setting closer to how it would actually be used.
“The biosimulation lab lets people see the device in an environment that is much closer to how it would actually be used,” says Cook. “That has been really positive for us.”
As the work has progressed, Cook has seen Resolution Medical stay engaged in ways that go beyond assigned tasks. He recalls one interaction involving an interface challenge between the implantable device and other hardware and software elements. The work could have been outsourced to another group, but key engineers at Resolution Medical began exploring the challenge themselves. “You know you’re working with the right people when they’re engaged enough to take initiative,” says Cook. “Resolution Medical gave the challenge a go, and they did a good job with it.”
The relationship has also given Venstra confidence as they look beyond early development. Cook sees value in Resolution Medical’s combination of startup-oriented flexibility and manufacturing capability, especially for a company developing a complex cardiac device with long-term needs.
“They still have that startup culture. They’re willing to take on early-stage development, but they also have the manufacturing capabilities to support where the work goes next.”
That balance matters for Venstra. They needed a partner with the flexibility to work through early uncertainty, the technical depth to support the device as it advanced, and the ability to grow with the program over time.
“They have the right talent and the right people,” says Cook. “We’ve seen Resolution Medical bring in the expertise needed to support the device as it has evolved. That’s why we stick with them.”
For VenstraMedical, that experience has reinforced what Cook hoped to find from the beginning: a partner with the technical depth, flexibility, and commitment to help advance a challenging device without losing sight of the relationship behind it.
“I’ve always found the Resolution Medical people to be reasonable, genuine, and focused on helping us succeed,” says Cook. “That’s what makes the relationship work.”
Your Comprehensive Partner
At Resolution Medical, we have a genuine passion for transforming complex medical device ideas into reality. Our team brings deep anatomical understanding and integrated engineering and manufacturing expertise to help you move from concept to commercialization. Whether you’re developing complex delivery systems, active implantable devices, or components for your next innovation, we work closely with you and your team to co-create solutions built for real-world performance.
