What Heinz Kurz does

Heinz Kurz GmbH Medizintechnik is a privately held German medical device manufacturer founded in 1992 and headquartered in Dußlingen, Germany, operating as part of the bess group. The company specializes in passive middle ear implants, ventilation tubes, and precision surgical instruments for otologic surgery (tympanoplasty, stapedioplasty, and ossicular chain reconstruction), with adjacent product lines in ophthalmology (platinum-iridium upper eyelid implants for facial palsy) and rhinology (titanium nasal valve implants). Its technical foundation rests on high-purity titanium (ASTM F67 Medical Grade) and advanced materials including nitinol shape-memory alloys and platinum-iridium, manufactured in Germany to precision tolerances with proprietary designs developed in collaboration with leading European academic centers.

The product portfolio comprises roughly 30+ SKUs organized into tympanoplasty prostheses (TTP VARIAC, TTP Tuebingen, Duesseldorf, Munich LMU, MNP, MRP, OMEGA CONNECTOR, CliP Partial/FlexiBAL, Angular, Regensburg), stapes surgery prostheses (MatriX family, K-Piston, Skarzynski Piston, Angular Piston, NitiFLEX, Soft CliP, CliP Piston àWengen/MVP, Bucket Type, NiTiBOND), ventilation tubes, surgical instruments, and training equipment (Temporal Bone Model). Differentiated proprietary technologies include the patented TTP VARIAC adjustable-length clamping system (functional length as short as 0.75mm), CliP spring-loaded coupling, NiTiBOND laser-activated shape-memory nitinol crimp-free coupling, and OMEGA CONNECTOR/FlexiBAL micro ball-joint modules.

Revenue is generated through one-time hardware sales of implantable medical devices and surgical instruments, sold via quote-based procurement to healthcare providers. The company employs 11–50 staff, holds CE marking and MR-conditional certification up to 7.0 Tesla across products, and reaches customers across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia through a network of regional authorized distributors, supplemented by a direct North American sales office (Kurz Medical Inc., Shrewsbury, MA). Marketing is conducted primarily through international ENT conferences, the KURZ Academy training program, and a multilingual product catalog website.

Name

Heinz Kurz

Legal name

Heinz Kurz GmbH

Website

https://kurzmed.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Heinz Kurz GmbH is a German manufacturer of passive middle ear implants, ventilation tubes, and precision surgical instruments for ENT surgeons, with adjacent ophthalmology and rhinology implant lines. Products are sold globally through distributors and a direct North American office under the bess group umbrella.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

ENT Medical Devices (Middle Ear Implants)

NAICS

Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112), Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Otology & Neurotology (Ear/Hearing/Balance) (HLAKAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Audiology & Hearing Services (ENT-Affiliated) (HLAKAMAI)

Keywords

• Middle ear implants
• ENT surgical instruments
• Tympanoplasty prostheses
• Stapes surgery devices
• Ventilation tubes

Headquarters

HQ city

Dußlingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medical Device Sales: One-time sale of implantable medical devices (prostheses, ventilation tubes) and surgical instruments. Products are sold directly to hospitals and surgeons through a global distributor network.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Heinz Kurz GmbH Medizintechnik manufactures and distributes passive middle ear implants, ventilation tubes, and precision surgical instruments used in ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) surgery for hearing restoration procedures such as tympanoplasty and stapedioplasty. The portfolio also includes platinum-iridium upper eyelid implants for ophthalmology and titanium nasal valve implants for rhinology, with products sold globally through authorized medical device distributors and a direct sales office in North America.

Product overview

Heinz Kurz GmbH is a manufacturer of passive medical implants and precision instruments for ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) surgery. The product portfolio comprises three main categories: (1) Otology products including multiple tympanoplasty prosthesis lines (TTP VARIAC System, TTP Tuebingen, Duesseldorf, Munich LMU, MNP Malleus Notch, MRP Malleus Replacement, OMEGA CONNECTOR, CliP prostheses, Angular prostheses, and Regensburg Type), stapes surgery prostheses (MatriX, MatriX Offset, MatriX SlimLine, K-Piston, Skarzynski Piston, Angular Piston, NitiFLEX, Soft CliP, CliP Piston àWengen, CliP Piston MVP, Bucket Type, and NiTiBOND), and ventilation tubes (Tuebingen Type, TVT Trocar, and Minimal Type); (2) precision surgical instruments including ACsizer measuring system, cartilage knives, forceps, punches, sizers, and the SteadyCrimP forceps; (3) Training equipment including the Temporal Bone Model; (4) Ophthalmology products including Platinum-Iridium Upper Eyelid Implants; and (5) Rhinology products including the Breathe Implant à Wengen for nasal valve dilation. All products are developed based on scientific research, anatomical understanding, and clinical evidence, with manufacturing emphasizing German engineering quality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TTP VARIAC System Adjustable length titanium prostheses for tympanoplasty with patented clamping mechanism allowing shortest functional length of 0.75 mm, used for partial and total ossicular replacement in middle ear reconstruction surgery.
• TTP Tuebingen Type Prostheses Lightweight titanium tympanoplasty prostheses with open head plate and slim stem providing maximum intraoperative visibility for partial and total ossicular replacement.
• Duesseldorf Type Tympanoplasty Prostheses Titanium tympanoplasty prostheses with large surface contact to the tympanic membrane to prevent tilting, with over 20 years of successful middle ear reconstruction experience.
• Munich LMU Type Tympanoplasty Prostheses Titanium tympanoplasty prostheses with characteristic umbrella-shaped head plate creating wide smooth contact zone to cartilage, developed in collaboration with LMU Munich University.
• MNP Malleus Notch Prostheses Partial and total titanium prostheses with concave recess for coupling to the malleus handle, providing reduced risk of dislocation and migration in ossicle reconstruction.
• MRP Malleus Replacement Prosthesis Innovative Y-link prosthesis for reconstructing an absent malleus manubrium, creating an accessible lateral platform for implant coupling and counteracting dislocation during initial healing.
• OMEGA CONNECTOR Micro ball joint connector that increases medial surface contact of total prostheses, accommodating drum-to-headplate angles without prosthesis manipulations and providing additional stability.
• CliP Partial Prosthesis Dresden Type Spring-loaded fastening (CliP) partial ossicular replacement prosthesis that standardizes coupling to the stapes head, ensuring secure fit and enhanced post-operative safety.
• CliP Partial FlexiBAL Prosthesis Partial ossicular replacement prosthesis with integrated micro ball joint in the head plate, allowing the prosthesis to follow macro movements of the tympanic membrane and reducing dislocation risk.
• Angular CliP Prosthesis Titanium prosthesis for bridging incudostapedial joint discontinuity with spring-loaded CliP foils and two bands crimped to the remaining incus long process.
• Angular Plester Prosthesis Titanium angular prosthesis creating a standardized connection between stapes head and long process of incus with a bell placed on the superstructure and two titanium bands crimped to the remnant incus.
• Regensburg Type Total Prosthesis Titanium total prosthesis with enlarged oval stem end increasing area of contact with the stapes footplate, featuring a lower center of gravity for good balance.
• MatriX Stapes Prosthesis Titanium stapes prosthesis with unique wide and perforated band loop for soft and controlled crimping, featuring offset design and lightweight construction.
• MatriX Offset Stapes Prosthesis Stapes prosthesis with 1.5 mm shaft offset for challenging anatomical situations where strong incus erosion requires a modified coupling angle.
• MatriX SlimLine Stapes Prosthesis Stapes prosthesis with significantly slimmer perforated spiral-shaped band loop (0.3 mm) providing particularly flexible and dimensionally stable crimping.
• K-Piston Stapes Prosthesis Pure titanium loop stapes prosthesis, one of the most commonly used worldwide, with a tested design that has set standards for many other prosthesis generations.
• Skarzynski Piston Stapes Prosthesis Pure titanium slender stapes prosthesis with offset slim loop suitable for narrow niches and small incus diameters, providing good intraoperative overview.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• bess groupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKURZ is part of the bess group, a leading international specialist in passive middle ear implants. The group focuses on innovation, growth, and collaboration to shape the future of the business.
• Tuebingen University ENT Clinic, GermanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped the TTP VARIAC System in close collaboration with Tuebingen University ENT Clinic. Ongoing clinical research partnership.
• LMU Munich University (Prof. Dr. A. Berghaus, Prof. Dr. J. Müller)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunich LMU Type prosthesis developed in close collaboration with ENT Clinic at LMU Munich University.
• Regensburg University ENT Clinic, GermanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegensburg Type Total Prosthesis developed in close collaboration with Regensburg University ENT Clinic and its middle ear research laboratory.
• Essen University ENT Clinic, GermanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerK-Piston stapes prosthesis developed in close collaboration with the ENT Clinic of Essen University.
• Prof. Dr. Skarzynski, PolandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkarzynski Piston stapes prosthesis developed in close collaboration with Prof. Dr. Skarzynski, Poland.
• Dr. Robert Vincent, Causse Ear Clinic, FranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRP Malleus Replacement Prosthesis developed in close collaboration with Dr. Robert Vincent, Béziers, Causse Ear Clinic, France.
• Dr. med. G. Schmid, Reutlingen, GermanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOMEGA CONNECTOR developed in close collaboration with Dr. med. G. Schmid, Reutlingen, Germany.
• Prof. Dr. Häusler, Bern University Canton Hospital, SwitzerlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCliP Piston MVP stapes prosthesis developed in close collaboration with Prof. Dr. Häusler, Bern University Canton Hospital, Switzerland.
• Joseph Roberson MD, Palo Alto, USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBucket Type Stapes Prosthesis developed in close collaboration with Joseph Roberson MD, Palo Alto, USA.
• John W. House MD, House Ear Institute, Los Angeles, USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoft CliP Hook developed in close collaboration with John W. House, MD, House Ear Institute, Los Angeles, USA.
• Jack Kartush MD, Michigan Ear Institute, USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatriX stapes prosthesis developed in close collaboration with Jack Kartush, MD, Michigan Ear Institute, Bloomfield, MI, USA.
• K. B. Hüttenbrink MD, University of Cologne, GermanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAngular CliP prosthesis developed in close collaboration with K. B. Hüttenbrink, MD, University of Cologne, Germany.
• University Hospital Zurich and ITM University of StuttgartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNiTiBOND stapes prosthesis developed in close collaboration with ORL Clinic of University Hospital Zurich and Institute of Engineering and Computational Mechanics at University of Stuttgart (ITM), Germany.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• InHealth Technologies (Freudenberg Medical): Manufacturer of ENT implants and prostheses, including voice restoration devices and otology products. Comparable specialty ENT device manufacturer serving similar surgeon and hospital customer base with niche surgical implants.
• Atos Medical: Specialist in head and neck / ENT medical devices, including voice and airway prostheses. Comparable as a focused ENT medical device manufacturer serving similar hospital and surgeon customers, with adjacent (rather than overlapping) product lines.
• Spiggle & Theis Medizintechnik: German-headquartered competitor also manufacturing middle ear prostheses (tympanoplasty and stapes implants) for otologic surgery. Most directly comparable niche peer to KURZ, competing across overlapping ENT surgeon customers with similar titanium implant portfolios.
• Grace Medical: US-based manufacturer of middle ear and ossicular reconstruction prostheses, including ventilation tubes and stapes implants. Directly overlaps with KURZ in titanium passive middle ear implants and competes for the same ENT surgeon accounts in North America.

Broad incumbents

• MED-EL: Global hearing implant company specializing in cochlear implants and bone conduction systems. Adjacent rather than directly overlapping with KURZ's passive middle ear prostheses, but serves the same otology / hearing-loss patient pathway.
• Smith+Nephew (ENT): Diversified global medical device company with historical ENT and otology exposure. Overlaps with KURZ at the hospital procurement level but operates at much larger scale across multiple surgical specialties.
• Cochlear Limited: Global leader in cochlear implant systems and other implantable hearing solutions. Larger and broader player in hearing restoration; competes indirectly with KURZ for the hearing-loss treatment pathway and surgeon relationships.
• Karl Storz (ENT): Established German manufacturer of endoscopes and surgical instruments, with a dedicated ENT division. Competes for ENT operating room budgets and surgeon mindshare but focuses on visualization and reusable instruments rather than passive middle ear implants.
• Olympus (ENT Solutions): Large diversified medical device company with a meaningful ENT surgical solutions portfolio including instruments and visualization. Competes in the same hospital ENT operating rooms as KURZ, but as part of a much broader offering rather than a focused otology niche.

Others

• bess medizintechnik (bess group): Parent group of Heinz Kurz and Austria-based medical device specialist in middle ear implants and related ENT products. Sister entity within the same corporate group; comparable as a portfolio company for group-level strategy and M&A analysis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heinz-kurz-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Heinz Kurz