What Transonic does

Transonic Systems is a privately held medical device company founded in 1983 by Cor Drost to commercialize transit-time ultrasound volume flow measurement technology developed at Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine. The company's core technology uses wide-beam ultrasonic illumination to directly measure volume flow (mL/min or L/min) in vessels, ducts, and flexible tubing with accuracy largely independent of vessel/probe alignment and flow velocity profile; this technology, augmented by ultrasound dilution methods developed by Dr. Nikolai Krivitski, has been validated across thousands of publications and serves surgical, hemodialysis, mechanical circulatory support, life science research, bioprocess, and OEM applications for healthcare providers, academic researchers, and medical device manufacturers.

The product portfolio spans research instrumentation (T402/T403 consoles with TS410 Tubing Flow Module, TS420 Perivascular Flow Module, and PAU-, PS-, PR-, and V-Series flowprobes plus Nanoprobes), clinical surgical systems (COnfidence Flowprobes AU-Series, MU-Series Microvascular, FMC-Series Coronary, and MR/MR-S Charbel Micro-Flowprobes paired with FlowXL, Optima Meters, and AureFlo flowmeters), hemodialysis monitoring (Flow-QC Monitor for vascular access health), mechanical circulatory support (ELSA monitor for ECMO oxygenator clotting, CP Bypass flow verification), bioprocess tubing flowsensors, and the Transonic Inside OEM program for embedding flow measurement in third-party medical devices.

Revenue is generated through hardware sales (single-use probes and reusable instrumentation), OEM/embedded technology licensing and royalties, and channel distribution. The company employs 101-250 people globally through Transonic Systems Inc. (headquartered at 34 Dutch Mill Rd., Ithaca, NY), Transonic Europe B.V. (Netherlands), Transonic Asia Inc. (Taiwan), and the Nipro-Transonic Japan JV; in August 2024, ADInstruments became the exclusive global distributor of the life science research portfolio (excluding Japan and Korea). The company is described as a "$20 million" business.

Name

Transonic

Legal name

Transonic Systems, Inc.

Website

https://transonic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Transonic Systems is a privately held medical device company that designs and manufactures transit-time ultrasound flow measurement solutions for cardiothoracic, cerebrovascular, hemodialysis, ECMO, life science research, bioprocess, and OEM applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Flow Measurement Devices

NAICS

Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112), Totalizing Fluid Meter and Counting Device Manufacturing (334514), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Totalizing Fluid Meters & Counting Devices (3824), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Connected Medical Devices & Wearables (Sensors, Patches, Implantables) (HLACAPAB)

Keywords

• Medical flow measurement devices
• Transit-time ultrasound flowmeters
• Cardiovascular surgical flowprobes
• Hemodialysis access monitoring
• OEM biomedical flow sensors

Headquarters

HQ city

Ithaca

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Medical Device Hardware Sales: Transonic generates revenue through the sale of medical flow measurement devices including flowmeters, flowsensors, flowprobes, and monitoring systems. Products are sold directly to hospitals, research institutions, and medical device manufacturers. The company offers both single-use disposable probes and reusable instrumentation.
2. OEM/Embedded Technology Licensing: Transonic embeds their flow measurement technology into other medical devices through OEM partnerships. Their technology is found in heart-lung devices, circulatory assist devices, dialysis machines, and other biomedical equipment. This includes co-engineering programs where Transonic works with manufacturers to integrate their transit-time ultrasound technology.
3. Research Equipment Distribution: Distribution of transit-time flow measurement solutions for life science research through channel partners like ADInstruments, which became exclusive global distributor in August 2024.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Transonic designs, manufactures and sells medical devices and research instruments based on proprietary transit-time ultrasound volume flow measurement technology. Its portfolio includes surgical flowprobes, clinical flowmeters (FlowXL, Optima, AureFlo), hemodialysis monitors, ECMO/CP bypass systems, life science research consoles and sensors, and OEM flow measurement modules embedded into partner medical devices. Customers include hospitals, surgeons, hemodialysis centers, academic researchers, bioprocess engineers and medical device manufacturers globally.

Product overview

Transonic offers a comprehensive portfolio of transit-time ultrasound flow measurement products organized into clinical surgical, research, critical care, hemodialysis, bioprocess, and OEM solution categories. The core technology is transit-time ultrasound measurement, which directly measures volume flow (mL/min or L/min) in vessels and tubing without relying on particulates in the fluid. Clinical products include COnfidence Flowprobes (AU-Series), Vascular Flowprobes (FMV-Series), Carotid Flowprobes (FME-Series), Microvascular Flowprobes (MU-Series), Coronary Flowprobes (FMC-Series), and Charbel Micro-Flowprobes (MR/MR-S Series), used with FlowXL, Optima Meters, and AureFlo clinical flowmeters. Research products center on the T402/T403 Multi-Channel Research Consoles with TS410 Tubing Flow Module and TS420 Perivascular Flow Module, supporting various flowprobes (PAU, PS, PR, V-Series) and sensors (PXL, PXN). Critical care includes ECMO and CP Bypass solutions. The company also provides Transonic Inside OEM Solutions for medical device manufacturers and bioprocess tubing flow sensors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Transonic Inside: OEM solutions for medical device manufacturers integrating Transonic's flow measurement technology into their products
• AureFlo
• FlowXL
• Optima
• COnfidence Flowprobes

Products and services

• T402/T403 Multi-Channel Research Consoles 400-Series multi-channel research flowmeters that accept any 400-Series Module (TS410 Tubing Flow Module, TS420 Perivascular Flow Module). Used by academic and pharma life science researchers for cardiovascular and bioprocess flow studies.
• TS410 Tubing Flow Module Precision volume flow module for tubing applicable to laboratory bench settings, in vitro and extracorporeal use; pairs with TS402/TS403 consoles and PXL/PXN sensors.
• TS420 Perivascular Flow Module Gold-standard perivascular flow module providing high-resolution blood flow waveforms and arterial/venous flow measurements for cardiovascular research with plug & play setup.
• PAU-Series COnfidence Flowprobes (Research) Gold-standard ultrasonic transit-time flowprobes for large animal cardiovascular studies with validated X-pattern full flow illumination, sizes 8–36mm for ascending aorta and pulmonary artery measurements.
• PS-Series Flowprobes (Research) Robust ultrasonic transit-time flowprobes for cardiovascular studies, sizes 0.5–20mm, suitable for acute use and chronic implantation. Can measure blood, lymph, urine and other physiological fluids.
• PS-Series Nanoprobes (Research) Miniaturized PS-Series flowprobes designed for mouse anatomy; measure volume flows less than 1 mL/min in vessels as small as 0.3mm diameter, sizes 0.5, 0.7 and 1.5mm.
• PR-Series Flowprobes Original ultrasonic transit-time flowprobes with non-constrictive fit enabling accurate blood flow measurements independent of vessel or probe alignment, available in 1mm and 1.5mm sizes.
• V-Series Flowprobes Designed for acute microcirculation studies where small second and third order vessels (0.5–0.7mm diameter) can be isolated; uses a unique mirror ultrasonic path with 0.5mm and 0.7mm sizes.
• PXL Clamp-on Flow Sensors Non-invasive clamp-on volume flow sensors for flexible tubing from 1/8 inch OD to 1 1/4 inch OD; operate on TS410 Tubing Flow Modules with custom calibration.
• PXN Inline Flow Sensors Inline flow sensors with 25mm ID that splice into laboratory tubing for highest accuracy and circuit design flexibility; operate on TS410 Tubing Flow Modules.
• MU-Series Microvascular Flowprobes Smallest clinical flowprobes on the market (sizes 0.7–3mm) for volume flow measurements in microvascular vessels during anastomoses, measuring vessels 0.5–4.0mm diameter.
• FMC-Series Coronary Flowprobes Designed for CABG graft patency assessment with extended reach and flexible neck to access hard-to-reach coronary grafts; non-constrictive sensing window provides undistorted flow waveform.
• MR-Series Intracranial Charbel Micro-Flowprobes Designed for deep cerebrovascular surgery including aneurysm clipping, AVMs, dural fistula obliteration and tumor resection; long bayonet handle permits use under surgical microscope.
• MR-S-Series Extracranial Charbel Micro-Flowprobes Short bayonet-handled probes for EC-IC bypass surgery used under microscope to quantify flow increase after revascularization surgery for occlusive disease.
• AU-Series COnfidence Flowprobes (Clinical) Cardiac output clinical flowprobes with validated X-pattern full flow illumination and soft probe liner that cushions the vessel for sustained ultrasonic transmission; sizes 4–36mm, providing unsurpassed beat-to-beat measurement accuracy on dynamic and irregular flow profiles.
• FMV-Series Vascular Flowprobes Most universally designed flowprobes for general vascular, transplant and cardiac surgery; short flexible neck with J-style reflector enables quick vessel application.
• FME-Series Carotid Flowprobes Designed for carotid endarterectomy with handle and short flexible neck; L-style reflector allows application without temporarily squeezing the vessel, reducing chance of plaque dislodgement.
• FlowXL Clinical Flowmeter Standalone touchscreen flowmeter for surgical use, paired with Transonic Flowprobes to measure, display and document absolute volume flow in vessels; versatile and configurable system.
• Optima Meters Next generation universal surgical flow meters compatible with all Transonic flow probe and flow sensor lines, with lower offset error and doubled accuracy for low flows.
• AureFlo Flowmeter System Fully integrated measurement system that displays live flow waveforms on a touchscreen; verifies adequate blood flow before patient closure and supports record and save functionality.
• ECMO Flow Measurement Solutions Flow measurement solutions for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) including blood flow measurement in any section of ECMO circuit, oxygenator clotting trending (ELSA), and recirculation measurements.
• Cardiopulmonary Bypass Flow Measurement Solutions Quantitative volume flow measurement solutions that provide independent verification of accurate flow rates during cardiopulmonary bypass procedures.
• Cardiothoracic Surgery Flow Measurement Solutions Coronary flow measurement solutions offering immediate quantitative data on whether a bypass graft is delivering expected flow during cardiothoracic surgery.
• Cerebrovascular Surgery Flow Measurement Solutions Blood flow assessment solutions used during aneurysm clipping, EC-IC bypass surgeries, arteriovenous malformations and other cerebrovascular procedures.
• Transplant Surgery Flow Measurement Solutions Intraoperative blood flow measurement solutions that alert surgeons to flow restrictions or confirm expected flow rates during transplant procedures.
• Hemodialysis Vascular Access Flow Measurement Solutions Flow measurement solutions informing dialysis care teams about patient vascular access health, including vascular access flow monitoring (Flow-QC) and surgical access creation support.
• Transonic Inside OEM Solutions Co-engineering OEM program that provides measurement solutions for biomedical device manufacturers, integrating Transonic's transit-time flow measurement technology into partner devices such as circulatory assist devices, dialysis machines, organ perfusion systems, infusion pumps and anesthesia delivery systems.
• Tubing Flow Sensors (Bioprocess and Device Engineering) Non-invasive Clamp-on and Precision Inline tubing flowsensors for blood, physiological solution, cell culture and blood analog flow measurement in biomedical device engineering and bioprocess applications.
• ADV500 Pressure-Volume System Pressure-volume system with Admittance technology for measuring left and right ventricular pressure-volume loops simultaneously, uniquely capturing both ventricles at once for preclinical cardiovascular research.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces postoperative anastomosis failure and related technical complications of bypass surgery
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and foundational.

• ADInstrumentscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 August 2024ADInstruments became the exclusive global distributor (excluding Japan and Korea) of Transonic's leading transit-time flow measurement solutions for life science research as of August 14, 2024. This partnership ensures stability and continued access to Transonic's research products for the life science research community worldwide. The TS420 Perivascular Flowmeter and related flowprobes sales extension announcement in December 2023 led to this strategic distribution arrangement.
• Nipro-Transonic Japan JVcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerJoint venture partnership with Nipro Corporation for manufacturing and distribution operations in Japan. This entity is specifically named in the company's cookie policy and regulatory documentation as a subsidiary operation covering the Japan market.
• Cornell College of Veterinary MedicinefoundationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrigin of Transonic's technology - Cor Drost, while working as a researcher at Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, devised the transit-time flow measurement device for animal studies. This foundational partnership led to the founding of Transonic Systems in 1983.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Compumedics Limited: Compumedics develops blood flow measurement and neurological monitoring equipment, with products overlapping Transonic's cerebrovascular flow measurement offerings. Both serve neurosurgery and vascular surgery markets with quantitative flow measurement solutions.
• Sono-Tek Corporation: Sono-Tek specializes in ultrasonic liquid flow measurement and spray coating systems. While primarily industrial rather than medical, they share Transonic's underlying ultrasonic measurement technology heritage and represent adjacent ultrasonic flow measurement capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Getinge AB: Getinge is a major medical device incumbent offering heart-lung machines, ECMO systems, and cardiopulmonary bypass equipment where Transonic's flow measurement technology is embedded. Getinge competes broadly in the same surgical and critical-care environments and represents both an OEM partner and competitive presence.
• LivaNova PLC: LivaNova produces cardiopulmonary bypass equipment, heart-lung machines, and ECMO systems that overlap with Transonic's mechanical circulatory support segment. They are a broad incumbent in the same surgical and critical-care procedure environments.
• Terumo Corporation: Terumo manufactures cardiovascular surgery products, ECMO systems, and dialysis equipment — overlapping with Transonic's clinical segments. As a broad incumbent, Terumo represents both potential OEM partnership opportunity and competitive threat in flow measurement.

Others

• ADInstruments: ADInstruments is Transonic's exclusive global distributor for life science research products (since August 2024) and manufactures the PowerLab data acquisition system widely used in cardiovascular research. They are an ecosystem partner with strong adjacent positioning in research physiology workflows.
• Nipro Corporation: Nipro is Transonic's JV partner in Japan (Nipro-Transonic Japan JV) and a major dialysis equipment manufacturer. Nipro manufactures dialysis machines that may embed Transonic's flow measurement technology, positioning them as both a strategic partner and OEM customer.

Regional players

• Transonic Systems Europe B.V. (regional subsidiary perspective): While a subsidiary rather than a competitor, the regional subsidiary structure of Transonic Europe is a useful regional benchmark for understanding how Transonic scales direct sales in European markets and competes against Medistim in CABG surgery.

Direct peers

• Medistim ASA: Medistim is the most direct competitor to Transonic, offering transit-time ultrasound flow measurement systems (VeriQ and MiraQ) primarily used intraoperatively during CABG and cardiac surgery. The two companies compete head-to-head in the same surgical flow measurement category with comparable technology and customer base.
• Moor Instruments: Moor Instruments manufactures laser Doppler perfusion and microcirculation measurement instruments used in clinical and research settings for blood flow assessment. They overlap with Transonic's microvascular flowprobe and research product lines, particularly for tissue perfusion and microcirculation applications.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/transonicflow
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZpl6ULRsRfoB1TFvukukaw
• Facebookfacebook.com/transonicsystems
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/transonic-systems-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Transonic