LumenAstra

What LumenAstra does

LumenAstra, Inc. is a Boulder, Colorado-based medical device company founded in 2020 that is developing a single product: a non-invasive, wearable brain temperature monitor based on a patented method of passive blackbody radiation detection combined with an algorithm that focuses measurements at a desired tissue depth. The device is intended to measure internal temperature several centimeters below the skin surface in real time, addressing the gap left by invasive probes (which require skull drilling) and MRI (impractical in surgical settings), as well as the lag and variability of surrogate measurements from the bladder or nasopharynx. The first targeted indication is aortic arch surgery, where brain cooling is used for neuroprotection and over- or undercooling carries clinical risk; the company is pursuing FDA 510(k) clearance for this application.

The company is pre-revenue and pre-commercial: the product is still under development and has not been cleared by the FDA, no pricing is publicly disclosed, and there are no customers to date. The commercial model, once cleared, is hardware sales to hospitals and surgical centers via direct field sales, with initial engagement through cardiac surgery teams and clinical study relationships at CU Anschutz. The roadmap extends beyond aortic arch surgery to coronary artery bypass surgery, post-cardiac arrest care, post-TBI care, cancer treatment, military heat-stress and hypothermia monitoring, and consumer athletic performance.

LumenAstra has assembled a technically credentialed founding team: CEO Jim Pollock (MIT BSEE, 5 prior exits across 8 startups), CSO Zoya Popovic (Caltech PhD, IEEE Fellow, NAE Member, inventor of the technology, Lockheed Martin Endowed Chair at CU), CTO Shane Verploegh (CU Boulder PhD in microwave integrated circuitry), and Walter Wong (VP IR, 35 patents from Seagate, prior medical device consulting for Medtronic, Philips, Abbott). Funding disclosed is a $256,000 NSF grant (August 2021), supplemented by Defense Health Agency warfighter funding and Colorado OEDIT grants, with Bullpen engaged as a life science investment advisor; no priced equity round is disclosed in the input data.

Name

LumenAstra

Legal name

LumenAstra, Inc.

Website

https://lumenastra.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LumenAstra is a Boulder, Colorado-based medical device company developing a non-invasive, wearable brain temperature monitor using patented passive radiometry, initially targeting aortic arch surgery and pursuing FDA 510(k) clearance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Devices / Patient Monitoring

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)

SIC

Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAHACAK

Continuous Temperature & Fever Monitoring (Wearable Thermometry)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Medical Devices & Diagnostics/Patient Monitoring, Wearables & Remote Diagnostics

SECONDARYHDAHALAD

Environmental Sensors (Temperature/Humidity/Gas/Air Quality)

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Semiconductors & Electronic Components/Sensors, MEMS & Optoelectronics

SECONDARYEUAKAIAH

Radiation Measurement, Dosimetry & Monitoring Services (Personal/environmental dosimetry, calibration labs)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Nuclear Energy/Nuclear Materials, Radiation Services & Isotopes (Medical/Industrial)

Keywords

• Medical temperature sensors
• Brain temperature monitoring
• Non-invasive radiometry
• Wearable medical devices
• Patient monitoring systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Medical Device Sales: Hardware sales of the LumenAstra brain temperature monitoring device to hospitals and surgical centers. The company is pre-revenue as the product is still under development and has not received FDA clearance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LumenAstra is developing a non-invasive, wearable brain temperature monitoring device that uses a patented method of passive blackbody radiation detection combined with an algorithm that focuses measurements at a desired tissue depth, enabling real-time measurement of internal temperature several centimeters below the surface. The product is intended for clinical use in aortic arch surgery and other applications requiring precise thermal management, and is currently under development pending FDA 510(k) clearance.

Product overview

LumenAstra is developing a single core product: the LumenAstra Brain Temperature Monitor. This is a non-invasive medical device that uses patented radiometry technology to measure brain temperature in real-time through a patented method of passive blackbody radiation detection. The device targets aortic arch surgery as its first application, with future potential applications in coronary artery bypass surgery, post-sudden cardiac arrest care, post-TBI care, cancer treatment, military heat stress monitoring, and consumer athletic performance monitoring. The product is currently under development and awaiting FDA 510(k) clearance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LumenAstra Brain Temperature Monitor Non-invasive, wearable medical device that uses a patented passive blackbody radiation detection method combined with an algorithm capable of focusing measurements at the desired tissue depth, enabling real-time measurement of internal temperature several centimeters below the surface. The intended first application is aortic arch surgery for brain cooling and neuroprotection, with additional potential applications in coronary artery bypass surgery, post-sudden cardiac arrest care, post-TBI care, cancer treatment, military heat stress monitoring, and consumer athletic performance. The product is intended for hospitals, surgical centers, military health programs, and is targeted at cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, perfusionists, and hospital procurement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces reliance on invasive probes (requiring skull drilling) or MRI machines (impractical for surgical settings)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• USARIEM (U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilitary physiology support partner. USARIEM provides expertise in heat stress and hypothermia physiology relevant to military applications of the technology.
• University of ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRadio Frequency Lab partnership providing access to RF engineering expertise and facilities. The university connection supports technology development and talent pipeline.
• MTEC (Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilitary medical innovation advisor supporting the development of medical technologies for military applications. MTEC provides guidance on military medical technology requirements.
• NSI (National Security Initiatives)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWarfighter applications advisor providing expertise on military operational requirements and applications for the technology.
• Product Realization GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProduct development consulting partner providing expertise in bringing medical devices from concept to commercial product.
• Rook Quality SystemscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegulatory and compliance consulting partner providing expertise in FDA regulatory requirements and quality management systems for medical devices.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Advanced Cooling Technologies: Develops novel cooling and thermal management technologies for medical and industrial applications, including patient temperature management. Comparable as an emerging peer working on next-generation temperature management approaches with overlapping R&D focus on thermal technologies.
• Nonin Medical: Specializes in non-invasive physiological monitoring devices including pulse oximeters and regional oximeters for clinical and consumer use. Comparable as a focused non-invasive monitoring peer with similar channel strategy (hospital to consumer) and overlapping technology DNA in sensor-based patient monitoring.
• CNSystems: Develops non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring technology used in surgical and critical care settings. Comparable as an emerging peer in non-invasive clinical monitoring with similar commercial profile (mid-stage company selling to hospitals and surgical teams) and overlapping clinical use cases in perioperative monitoring.

Broad incumbents

• Gentherm: Global leader in thermal management technologies across automotive and medical markets, with patient warming and cooling products used in surgical settings. Comparable as a broader incumbent in patient temperature management with overlapping technology DNA in thermal sensing and control.
• Medtronic: Global medical device leader with a targeted temperature management franchise (including CoolGard and INNERCOOL systems) used in cardiac surgery and neurocritical care. Directly comparable as the dominant incumbent in the exact market LumenAstra is targeting with its first aortic arch surgery indication, and a potential acquirer given the team's prior Medtronic experience.
• Masimo: Medical technology company specializing in non-invasive patient monitoring (pulse oximetry, brain monitoring, vital signs) with strong hospital channel. Comparable as an incumbent in non-invasive monitoring with adjacent technology to LumenAstra's RF-based measurement and established hospital relationships that would be needed to commercialize a novel monitoring device.
• BD (Becton Dickinson): Major medical device company with a temperature management business (acquired through Bard and standalone TTM products) used in surgical and critical care settings. Comparable as a direct competitor in TTM with established hospital sales channels and as a likely strategic acquirer for novel non-invasive monitoring IP.
• ZOLL Medical (Asahi Kasei): Specializes in resuscitation and critical care including the Thermogard XP targeted temperature management system used in post-cardiac arrest and surgical cooling. Comparable as a focused TTM player with established clinical relationships in the same cardiac/neuro indications LumenAstra is pursuing.
• 3M (Patient Warming): Operates the Bair Hugger patient warming franchise and broader surgical solutions business widely used in operating rooms. Comparable as an incumbent with deep hospital sales relationships and thermal management products competing for the same perioperative temperature management budget LumenAstra is targeting.

Direct peers

• Attune Medical: Develops the ensoETM esophageal cooling device for targeted temperature management in cardiac surgery, post-cardiac arrest, and fever control. Comparable as a direct peer offering an alternative approach to the same problem (managing patient temperature during cardiac surgery) and competing for the same hospital budgets and surgical team relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lumenastra

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LumenAstra