AMT Medical raises €25 million for bypass procedure without open-Heart surgery
AMT Medical, a medtech company based in Ede and Utrecht, has announced the closing of a €25 million funding round. The round was led by Bender Analytical Holding, with participation from Invest-NL, the European Innovation Council (EIC), and existing investors. This milestone accelerates AMT’s mission to make open-heart bypass surgery obsolete through its groundbreaking ELANA® Heart Bypass System.
A revolution in cardiac surgery: key innovations
The ELANA® Heart Bypass System enables surgeons to perform a highly advanced form of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using arterial rather than venous grafts. This is done through small incisions in the chest, while the heart continues to beat, and without the use of a heart-lung machine. As a result, the risk of stroke and other complications is significantly reduced, and patients recover much faster. This represents a major shift from traditional methods, which require opening the chest, stopping the heart, and involve lengthy recovery times.
The technique uses a specialized clip and an excimer laser to connect blood vessels, eliminating the need for manual suturing. This enables fast, precise, and reliable vessel connections with fewer complications.
Moreover, the system cuts costs by over 50% when used in combination with surgical robots— thanks to shorter operating room times, reduced hospital stays, fewer complications, and a faster learning curve for surgeons compared to traditional bypass surgery.
Next steps
With CE marking expected by 2026 and clinical trials in the U.S. on the horizon, this funding will support:
- Completion of our European first-in-human trial (results late 2025)
- Expansion into robotic-assisted keyhole surgery, partnering with industry leaders
- A future where 1 million patients annually benefit from safer, faster cardiac care
Rutger Tulleken, CEO of AMT Medical, said: “This financing validates our vision to obsolete open-heart bypass. By enabling same-day discharge procedures, we’re not just improving outcomes—we’re rewriting the future of cardiovascular care.”
UMC Utrecht takes third surgical robot into use
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The HU ORM program is moving to the Utrecht Science Park.
The Entrepreneurship & Retail Management (ORM) program will relocate from Amersfoort to the Utrecht Science Park as of September 1, 2026. According to program manager Lisette Luijk (Institute for Marketing & Commerce), it is mainly about one thing: more connection.
Danny Sahtoe receives NVBMB prize
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Inspiring and connecting visit by the President of Estonia to Utrecht Science Park
On Wednesday, April 8, 2026, the President of Estonia, Mr. Alar Karis, together with his wife Sirje Karis, ambassador Mr. Paul Teesalu and a delegation from the Estonian Health Ecosystem, visited the Utrecht Science Park. During the visit, much knowledge was exchanged and valuable connections were made.