ClearFlow
ClearFlow is a private medical device company that develops FDA-cleared chest drainage systems (PleuraFlow ACT) and sternal fixation products (ClearFix) to prevent complications after cardiothoracic surgery, selling to hospitals and cardiac surgery programs in the US and internationally through direct sales and GPO contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersIrvine, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ClearFlow does
ClearFlow, Inc. is a privately held medical device company founded in 2006-2007 (originally in Anaheim, California, now headquartered in Irvine, California) that develops technologies to solve clinical problems associated with obstructed catheters in postoperative cardiac surgery patients. The company's flagship product, the PleuraFlow Active Clearance Technology (ACT) System, is an FDA-cleared chest drainage system that uses a proprietary active clearance mechanism to mechanically remove intraluminal clots from chest tubes, proactively maintaining chest tube patency in the critical first 24 hours after cardiothoracic surgery. The portfolio also includes FlowGlide (the next-generation ACT platform with kink resistance), the ClearFix Rigid Sternal Fixation system for post-sternotomy closure, and the ClearFlow Assistant mobile application for clinical training support. The next-generation FlowGlide technology is protected by a comprehensive family of US and foreign patents, with trademarks registered for PleuraFlow, Active Clearance Technology, and FlowGlide.
The company operates a direct sales organization in the United States led by a 30-year medical sales veteran, complemented by a wholly-owned European subsidiary (ClearFlow BV, based in Maastricht, Netherlands) that manages distribution across approximately 10 international markets including Germany, Switzerland, UK, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. ClearFlow holds major group purchasing organization contracts with Vizient (Innovative Technology contract awarded February 2026, providing access to $156 billion in annual purchasing volume) and Premier (since July 2018), and has secured FDA 510(k), CE Mark, MDSAP, and ISO 13485:2016 certifications. Revenue is generated through unit hardware sales of disposable chest drainage systems and sternal fixation products to hospitals and cardiac surgery programs, with multiple peer-reviewed clinical trials demonstrating reductions in retained blood syndrome (41%), postoperative atrial fibrillation (17-34%), ICU time (30%), re-exploration rates (66.7%), and hospital length of stay.
ClearFlow firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ClearFlow
- Legal name
- ClearFlow Inc.
- Website
- https://clearflow.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ClearFlow is a private medical device company that develops FDA-cleared chest drainage systems (PleuraFlow ACT) and sternal fixation products (ClearFix) to prevent complications after cardiothoracic surgery, selling to hospitals and cardiac surgery programs in the US and internationally through direct sales and GPO contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ClearFlow industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Medical Devices
- NAICS
- Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113), Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112)
- SIC
- Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cardiac Surgery Devices (Cannulas, Clamps, Closure, Grafts) (HLAHAFAH)
Keywords
Where ClearFlow is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Irvine
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
ClearFlow business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Medical Device Sales: ClearFlow generates revenue through the sale of its PleuraFlow ACT System and ClearFix Rigid Sternal Fixation products. Products are sold directly to hospitals through sales representatives and through international distribution channels. The company operates in North America with direct sales and in Europe through ClearFlow BV.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | PleuraFlow ACT System - available in multiple configurations |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | ClearFix Rigid Sternal Fixation System |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
ClearFlow product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ClearFlow designs, manufactures, and sells FDA-cleared sterile disposable medical devices used in cardiothoracic surgery. Its flagship offering, the PleuraFlow ACT System, is a chest drainage catheter with patented Active Clearance Technology that mechanically clears intraluminal clots to prevent chest tube occlusion and Retained Blood Syndrome after heart surgery. The portfolio also includes the ClearFix Rigid Sternal Fixation system for sternal closure following sternotomy and the ClearFlow Assistant mobile training app for clinical implementation.
Product overview
ClearFlow offers a portfolio of medical devices focused on improving patient recovery after cardiothoracic surgery. The core product is the PleuraFlow ACT (Active Clearance Technology) System - an FDA-cleared chest drainage system that prevents chest tube occlusion through proprietary active clearance mechanism. The portfolio also includes ClearFix Rigid Sternal Fixation for secure sternal closure post-sternotomy. FlowGlide represents the next-generation iteration of the active clearance technology. A companion mobile application (ClearFlow Assistant) provides clinical training and implementation support. The products work together to address the complete postoperative chest drainage and sternal fixation pathway in cardiac surgery patients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PleuraFlow ACT: FDA-cleared chest drainage system with Active Clearance Technology designed to prevent chest tube occlusion following cardiothoracic surgery.
- ClearFix
- ClearFlow Assistant
- FlowGlide
Products and services
- PleuraFlow ACT (Active Clearance Technology) System FDA-cleared chest drainage system with a proprietary active clearance mechanism that mechanically removes intraluminal clots from the chest tube, proactively maintaining chest tube patency in the first 24 hours after cardiothoracic surgery. Used by hospitals and cardiac surgery programs to reduce Retained Blood Syndrome, postoperative atrial fibrillation, ICU time, and hospital length of stay.
- FlowGlide Active Clearance Technology System (PleuraFlow G3) Next-generation chest tube clearance catheter system with kink-resistant design and new shapes/sizes for hard-to-reach postoperative chest areas. Available in Straight (20FR, 24FR, 28FR, 32FR), Long XDL (20FR, 24FR), and Right Angle RA (24FR, 28FR, 32FR) configurations for adult and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery patients.
- ClearFix Rigid Sternal Fixation System Rigid sternal fixation system including plates (L, X, Square, JL, and Ladder styles), 2.4mm and 2.7mm locking screws in various lengths, dedicated instruments (handle, plate bender, plate cutter, bone reposition forceps, depth gauge, drivers, forceps, power drivers), and complete kits. Used by cardiac surgery programs for secure sternal closure and fusion following sternotomy.
Quantifiable outcome
- Retained Blood Syndrome reduced by 41%
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use ClearFlow
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
ClearFlow technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
ClearFlow partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- VizientcoreClearFlow was awarded an Innovative Technology contract from Vizient, the nation's largest provider-driven healthcare performance improvement company, for its PleuraFlow Active Clearance Technology. The contract was granted following review by Vizient's client-led council, which recognized the technology's unique ability to maintain chest tube patency after cardiothoracic surgery and its potential to enhance clinical care and patient safety. Vizient represents a diverse client base including academic medical centers and community hospitals with over $156 billion in annual purchasing volume.
- Premier Inc.coreClearFlow was awarded a group purchasing agreement for Chest Drainage Products category with Premier, effective July 15th 2018. The agreement allows Premier members to access special pricing and terms pre-negotiated for PleuraFlow Active Clearance Technology System and related products.
- ERAS Cardiac Surgery SocietycoreERAS Cardiac Surgery Society presented evidence-based expert consensus statements at the AATS 98th Annual Meeting recommending Active Clearance techniques to maintain chest tube patency. The PleuraFlow ACT System is the only FDA cleared device with the indication to prevent or minimize retained blood. ClearFlow collaborated with international cardiac surgery societies to establish ERAS guidelines including active tube clearance as Class I, Level B recommendation.
- ClearFlow BVcoreClearFlow BV is the company's European entity located in Maastricht, Netherlands, overseeing all European distribution and financial activities. Marc Croijmans serves as Director of ClearFlow BV with 30 years of European sales and business development experience. The entity manages international distribution and financial operations for European markets.
- International DistributorsminorClearFlow has established international distribution in multiple countries including Germany, Switzerland, UK, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and other countries in Asia and the Middle East. The company expanded pediatric distribution to all pediatric cardiac surgery centers after limited market release in US, Germany, Switzerland and UK.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ClearFlow competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ClearFlow social profiles
Digital presenceClearFlow compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
ClearFlow financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ClearFlow leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
ClearFlow subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
ClearFlow funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds10 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ClearFlow M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ClearFlow
What does ClearFlow do?
ClearFlow designs, manufactures, and sells FDA-cleared sterile disposable medical devices used in cardiothoracic surgery. Its flagship offering, the PleuraFlow ACT System, is a chest drainage catheter with patented Active Clearance Technology that mechanically clears intraluminal clots to prevent chest tube occlusion and Retained Blood Syndrome after heart surgery. The portfolio also includes the ClearFix Rigid Sternal Fixation system for sternal closure following sternotomy and the ClearFlow Assistant mobile training app for clinical implementation.
Is ClearFlow a public or private company?
ClearFlow is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was ClearFlow founded?
ClearFlow was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ClearFlow based?
ClearFlow is headquartered in Irvine, United States, in the North America region.
How does ClearFlow make money?
One revenue line is on record: medical Device Sales.
Does ClearFlow have an API?
No public API is recorded for ClearFlow.
What industry is ClearFlow in?
ClearFlow's product category is Cardiothoracic Surgery Medical Devices. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAFAH, Cardiac Surgery Devices (Cannulas, Clamps, Closure, Grafts). Its NAICS code is 339113 and its SIC code is 3841.