Cardiff Spin-Out Medaphor Set For Future Growth

A Cardiff University spin-out which developed a world-beating ultrasound training simulator is set for further growth after a £3m acquisition. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The company has acquired Inventive Medical Ltd, a London-based business behind the HealthWorks brand. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The acquired business, founded by cardiac anaesthesiologists at University College London Hospital and owned by University College London Hospitals Charity, has developed simulator technology used in cardiology-related ultrasound training. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

MedaPhor is a spin-out from Cardiff University which has developed ScanTrainer, an ultrasound training simulator. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The acquisition is expected to provide it with a complementary suite of ultrasound training products and an expanded sales team to enable wider coverage across the US, UK and Europe. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Medaphor CEO Stuart Gall said: “We’ve focused on every part of the body from the pelvis up to the top of the rib cage but didn’t previously have the capability for hearts. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have had a good relationship with HealthWorks for a number of years. It’s a complimentary business in terms of speciality areas and enables us to provide as comprehensive a service as possible.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The company recently raised £3m through a share placing and expanded its North American operations with new sales team and an American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Stuart Gall added: “”We will always have an eye out for future acquisitions if they fit with our business. It’s a good time to be in Cardiff and we’re very positive about the company going forward.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​