Vocal exercise: Q&A with Adam Berman of TVA Medical

Q.   Who are you and what do you do?

Adam Berman, CEO and co-founder of TVA Medical. I’ve worked in minimally-invasive medical devices for 17 years, mostly cardiovascular and I really enjoy bringing new technologies from concept into commercialisation.

Q.   How would you sum up your company?

        TVA Medical is developing a minimally invasive technology for kidney failure patients called the everlinQ system. It’s an investigational endovascular technology designed to create an arteriovenous fistula (AV fistula) for patient access to a hemodialysis machine without traditional open surgery. This endoAVF approach has the potential to offer patients on hemodialysis a less-invasive alternative to current procedures.  

Q.   Name a business achievement you are most proud of.

I’m very proud of our everlinQ clinical studies to date, involving our first 100 patients, which demonstrate the positive clinical impact that a disruptive technology can have on kidney disease patients and their families. It’s also been very exciting to map out our business strategy with our team as we strive to commercialize the everlinQ system for the benefit of potentially millions of patients worldwide.

Q.   What excites you about this industry?

I love the engagement across engineering, clinical research, finance, sales and marketing, regulatory, and reimbursement that is necessary for success in the medical device industry today. The need is stronger than ever for entrepreneurs to identify unmet clinical needs, partner with teams and clinicians on a strategy, and successfully execute to bring lifesaving technologies to patients in need.

Q.   Where do you predict industry growth will come from over the next 12 months?

I’m excited about the promise of several cardiovascular, neurovascular and of course renal therapies that are poised for substantial growth. 

Q.   Which medical plastic device do you wish you had invented and why?

I’d have to say PEEK or Pebax – very cool stuff.