Heart-Pace

Kudu Med

Heart-Pace

High Efficiency Acoustic Rechargeable Technology for Cardiac Implants and Pacemakers

Tel Aviv, Israel

Israel

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

Medical implants like pacemakers rely on disposable batteries that must be surgically replaced every 5–10 years, exposing patients to significant risk, discomfort, and cost. These surgeries currently cost the global healthcare system over $60 billion annually, not including the personal toll of stress, complications, and limited access. In developing countries, the high cost of surgical implantation and battery replacements makes pacemakers and other cardiac implants unaffordable for millions, despite efforts to offer low-cost devices such as those by Shree Pacetronix. While device hardware costs have dropped, the real burden lies in ongoing surgical interventions—making adoption unsustainable for health systems with limited resources. As a result, many patients remain untreated, and the global adoption of life-saving implants is severely constrained, despite rising cardiovascular disease rates. The lack of a rechargeable infrastructure creates a hidden but massive barrier to access and scalability in cardiac care. Kudu addresses this by eliminating the need for repeat surgeries, offering a safer, more affordable, and scalable solution.

Kudu Medical Technologies has developed the world’s first ultrasound-based wireless charging system for medical implants, enabling safe, efficient recharging without surgery. Our patented system uses a compact external charging station, connected to a hermetically sealed disposable ultrasound probe that adheres to the patient’s skin. It emits focused acoustic energy toward a receiver module inside the implant, which stores and distributes power to the device’s battery. Using real-time feedback and AI-powered charging profiles, the system ensures precise energy delivery, adapting to the patient's anatomy and implant location. The charging frequency and energy levels are designed to match the safety standards of diagnostic ultrasound, making the process as safe as a pregnancy scan. Kudu’s platform is universal and modular, supporting a wide range of implants — from pacemakers and CRTs to LVADs and neurostimulators — and it enables a future where implants no longer need to be replaced due to power depletion. This technology drastically reduces healthcare costs, improves patient outcomes, and makes advanced implants accessible in low-resource settings.

Kudu serves patients with implanted medical devices, starting with those who rely on pacemakers, defibrillators, and neurostimulators. These individuals often face repeated surgeries every 5–10 years due to battery depletion, exposing them to physical risk, anxiety, and high medical expenses. The burden is even greater in low- and middle-income countries, where the high cost of device implantation and follow-up surgeries makes such life-saving technologies inaccessible for millions. Our solution eliminates the need for battery replacement surgeries, enabling continuous, non-invasive recharging through the skin using focused ultrasound. This improves patient safety, reduces healthcare costs, and expands access to advanced therapies across the globe. For health systems, it lowers surgical demand and long-term expenditures. For implant manufacturers, it unlocks new capabilities and markets by supporting power-intensive features like continuous monitoring and wireless communication. Ultimately, Kudu enables longer-lasting, smarter implants that adapt to patient needs without repeated surgical intervention — transforming the standard of care for millions worldwide.