Posthorax
Posthorax is a privately held medical device company that manufactures and sells a single patented sternum support vest (Posthorax Pro Vest / HeartBrace) to post-cardiac surgery patients, with manufacturing in Vienna, Austria and US headquarters in Clearwater, Florida.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersVienna, Austria
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Posthorax does
Posthorax is a privately held medical device company that manufactures and sells a single product: the Posthorax Pro Vest, also marketed as HeartBrace, a patented sternum support vest for patients recovering from open-heart surgery. The vest is engineered with two support cushions positioned parallel to the sternum that deliver anteroposterior (front-to-back) stabilization without touching the surgical wound, combined with a patented breathe-stop mechanism that permits normal deep breathing while preventing thorax overextension during coughs, sneezes, or sudden movements. The device is manufactured in Vienna, Austria from 100% long-staple cotton and PU foam, and the company is incorporated in the US as Posthorax Inc, headquartered in Clearwater, Florida.
The product is supported by an unusually deep evidence base for a consumer medical device: twelve clinical trials covering 12,512 patients across seven countries, with site-level results ranging from a 43% reduction in deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) at University Hospital Southampton NHS to a 72% reduction in mediastinitis at Karolinska University Hospital Stockholm. Named clinical partners include University Heartcenter Hamburg (2,200-patient cohort, 63% reduction), University Heartcenter Zurich (1,689 patients, 52% reduction), and Heart Center Vienna (Hietzing). Posthorax received the City of Vienna 1st Place Innovation Award in 2009 and the HSJ Efficiency in Medical Technology Award in 2013.
The business model is direct-to-consumer e-commerce with a single price point of $235 on sale or $285 at regular price, free shipping globally, and 7% Florida sales tax applied at checkout. The secondary channel is hospital and heart center referrals, where cardiac surgeons recommend the vest to patients during the 6-8 week sternal bone healing period. The company does not offer a subscription, recurring billing, or rental model, and there is no evidence of institutional funding, distributor agreements, or reimbursement coverage. The company is founder-owned by Jurgen Epple, employs 1-10 people, and is not part of a parent corporate structure.
Posthorax firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Posthorax
- Legal name
- Posthorax Inc
- Website
- https://posthorax.us
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Posthorax is a privately held medical device company that manufactures and sells a single patented sternum support vest (Posthorax Pro Vest / HeartBrace) to post-cardiac surgery patients, with manufacturing in Vienna, Austria and US headquarters in Clearwater, Florida.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Posthorax industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Post-Surgical Medical Devices (Sternum Support)
- NAICS
- Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)
- SIC
- Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cardiac Surgery Devices (Cannulas, Clamps, Closure, Grafts) (HLAHAFAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Prosthetic Components & Rehabilitation Accessories (Liners, Feet, Knees, Sockets) (HLAHAMAD)
Keywords
Where Posthorax is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vienna
- HQ country
- Austria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Posthorax business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel
Revenue model
- Product Sales (Posthorax Pro Vest): One-time purchase of sternum support vest at $235-$285 per unit. No subscription or recurring revenue mentioned. Free shipping on all orders. Florida sales tax applied at 7%.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Posthorax Pro Vest - One Size (Multiple Size Options) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Posthorax product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Posthorax manufactures and sells the Posthorax Pro Vest (also marketed as HeartBrace), a patented medical device for patients recovering from open-heart surgery. The vest provides anteroposterior sternum stabilization using patented support cushions and a breathe-stop mechanism, and is sold direct-to-consumer via the company website and through hospital/heart center recommendations. The product is manufactured in Austria and clinically validated across 12 trials with over 12,000 patients.
Product overview
Posthorax offers a single unified product: the Posthorax Pro Vest (also marketed as HeartBrace), a specialized sternum support vest designed for post-cardiac surgery recovery. The vest features patented support cushions placed parallel to the sternum and a breathe-stop mechanism that allows normal breathing while preventing overextension during coughing or movement. Clinically proven across 12 trials with over 12,000 patients, the product reduces deep sternal wound infection risk by 43-72% and provides anteroposterior stabilization to protect healing sternum bones and wires.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HeartBrace: Brand name for the Posthorax sternum support vest, as shown in the logo 'Sternum Support | Posthorax HeartBrace' and in the domain heartbrace.com referenced in the Privacy Policy.
Products and services
- Posthorax Pro Vest (HeartBrace) A medically-designed sternum support vest for post-open-heart-surgery recovery. Features patented support cushions positioned parallel to the sternum and a breathe-stop mechanism to protect from sudden coughs or sneezes. Made from 100% long-staple cotton shell with 100% PU foam cushions, manufactured in Austria. Available in Medium (27-35 in), Large (35-47 in), X-Large (47-60 in), and XX-Large (60-82 in) sizes. Priced at $235 sale / $285 regular with free shipping.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduction in deep sternal wound infection/mediastinitis: 54% (multicenter trial), 63% (Hamburg), 72% (Stockholm), 43% (Southampton), 52% (Zurich)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Posthorax
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Posthorax technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Posthorax partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Heart Center Vienna (Hietzing)coreAustrian cardiac surgery center that has used the Posthorax vest extensively. Dr. Michael Gorlitzer from the center confirmed that stabilizing the thorax in the dorsoventral axis prevents sternum dehiscence and infections. Prim. Univ. Doz. M. Grabenwöger stated they recommend Posthorax to every heart center.
- Karolinska University Hospital StockholmcoreConducted clinical study with 978 patients resulting in 72% reduction in mediastinitis. Dr. Hans Jonsson reported that after 6 months of use in more than 500 patients, deep sternal infection rate dropped by more than 70%.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Posthorax competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bauerfeind:
- Cardinal Health: Cardinal Health distributes medical and surgical supplies, including post-operative support products, to hospitals and surgery centers. Comparable as a major distribution incumbent that already services Posthorax's target hospital customers and could carry competing products.
- Medline Industries: Medline is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of medical supplies and surgical appliances in the US, including post-surgical support garments, binders, and braces. Comparable as a broad incumbent that could substitute or bundle competing sternal support products into hospital contracts.
- Centurion Medical Products (Stryker): Stryker, through Centurion and its broader portfolio, manufactures and distributes a wide range of post-surgical patient support products and orthopedic appliances used in hospitals. Comparable as an established medical-device incumbent with overlapping channels into cardiac surgery centers and post-operative patient care.
Direct peers
- Heart Hugger: Heart Hugger is the closest direct competitor to Posthorax, offering a sternum support harness/vest for patients recovering from cardiac surgery and median sternotomy. Both products target the same patient segment, the same clinical use case (cough/movement support and sternal stabilization), and the same prescribing clinicians.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Posthorax social profiles
Digital presencePosthorax financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Posthorax leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Posthorax funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Posthorax 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 Posthorax
What does Posthorax do?
Posthorax manufactures and sells the Posthorax Pro Vest (also marketed as HeartBrace), a patented medical device for patients recovering from open-heart surgery. The vest provides anteroposterior sternum stabilization using patented support cushions and a breathe-stop mechanism, and is sold direct-to-consumer via the company website and through hospital/heart center recommendations. The product is manufactured in Austria and clinically validated across 12 trials with over 12,000 patients.
Is Posthorax a public or private company?
Posthorax is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Posthorax founded?
Posthorax was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Posthorax based?
Posthorax is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, in the Europe region.
How does Posthorax make money?
One revenue line is on record: product Sales (Posthorax Pro Vest).
Who are Posthorax's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bauerfeind, Cardinal Health, Medline Industries and Centurion Medical Products (Stryker). Heart Hugger is listed as a direct peer.
Does Posthorax have an API?
No public API is recorded for Posthorax.
What industry is Posthorax in?
Posthorax's product category is Post-Surgical Medical Devices (Sternum Support). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAFAH, Cardiac Surgery Devices (Cannulas, Clamps, Closure, Grafts), with a secondary code of HLAHAMAD, Prosthetic Components & Rehabilitation Accessories (Liners, Feet, Knees, Sockets). Its NAICS code is 339113 and its SIC code is 3842.