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Retriever Medical’s ClotHound™ System for Removing Acute, Sub-
Ben Bobo
CEO
Retriever Medical, Inc.
Contact:
Ben Bobo
714.654.2367
Follow us on:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/retriever-
Interview conducted by:
Lynn Fosse, Senior Editor
CEOCFO Magazine
Published – April 14, 2025
CEOCFO: Mr. Bobo, would you give us a background on Retriever Medical?
Mr. Bobo: Retriever Medical is an early-
CEOCFO: Where does Retriever Medical come into play?
Mr. Bobo: Retriever Medical offers a single-
CEOCFO: What are physicians using today?
Mr. Bobo: Most physicians currently treat clots in the lungs and legs with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or thrombolytic therapy. For DVT, this approach allows doctors to assess the clot without immediate intervention, often requiring a hospital stay of three to four days to monitor the thrombus’s response. While thrombolytics are effective for acute clots, they are not effective for sub-
Mechanical thrombectomy is gaining popularity because it can be completed in a single session, often in an hour or less, compared to the multi-
CEOCFO: Would you tell us about your EU patent?
Mr. Bobo: Retriever Medical holds 16 issued patents with 176 claims, and our most recent EU patent covers the mechanical aspects of our device. It features two spheres—a distal and a proximal sphere—both uniaxial and independently controlled. Physicians can actively expand and contract these spheres up to 16 millimeters in diameter using a slider, enabling them to engage and remove chronic, wall-
CEOCFO: Where do you stand on having something that people want and need, and then getting it into their hands?
Mr. Bobo: I often say Retriever Medical is ahead of its time. Our device’s ability to remove the full spectrum of clots is novel because most developers design thrombectomy devices to avoid contact with the vessel’s endothelial lining, focusing only on acute or sub-
In contrast, our studies with the ClotHound device demonstrated a 99% removal rate of chronic, fibrotic clot material adhered to vessel walls, compared to Inari’s FlowTriever, which removed only 25% in similar tests. Importantly, we achieved this without needing to exchange devices during the procedure. Our porcine model studies further confirmed safety, showing no damage to the endothelial lining even when spheres were over-
CEOCFO: Where are you now?
Mr. Bobo: We are raising a $12 million Series A to complete development of our ClotHound system and BLOOD GENIE. BLOOD GENIE addresses a key issue in mechanical thrombectomy: blood loss during clot removal. By retrieving and returning blood to the patient in real time, it prevents anemia and reduces reliance on costly blood bank transfusions, which can cost hospitals $1,500 to $2,000 per unit. This combination enhances patient outcomes and reduces hospital stays, making it a compelling solution for physicians and healthcare systems.
With the Series A funding, we aim to finalize development and obtain FDA clearance, bringing ClotHound to market for widespread use.
CEOCFO: With so many good ideas in the medical arena, why should Retriever Medical stand out?
Mr. Bobo: Unlike many thrombectomy devices that offer incremental improvements or gimmicky features, Retriever Medical took a fundamentally different approach. We designed our device to safely contact the endothelial lining, enabling effective removal of all clot types, including chronic ones, without compromising vessel safety. Our studies show we can engage clots with minimal to no impact, thanks to our innovative wire interface design.
Our dual-
Retriever Medical, Inc. | ClotHound | BLOOD GENIE | April 2025 | Ben Bobo | Retriever Medical’s ClotHound™ System for Removing Acute, Sub-