Suzhou Acuvu Medical Completes RMB 100 Million Series B Financing to Drive Innovation in Disposable Endoscopy and Accelerate Global Expansion

VCBeat (WeChat: vcbeat) learned at the earliest opportunity that,Suzhou Akuyu Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Akuyu”) recently announced the completion of its RMB 100 million Series B financing round, jointly led by CITIC Medical Fund and Chang’an Private Capital, with Gelu Capital serving as the exclusive financial advisor.The proceeds from this round of financing will be primarily used to promote the market adoption of the company’s single-use hysteroscopic diagnosis and treatment platform, as well as to support the research, development, and regulatory registration of multiple innovative endoscopic products.

AkuYu is a medical device platform company centered on single-use endoscopes, dedicated to promoting women's health through innovative medical device products and striving to be the leader in providing comprehensive solutions for minimally invasive gynecology.From its inception, the company adopted a global strategy. It was founded in Silicon Valley, USA, in 2017, where it established an R&D center dedicated to exploring cutting-edge technologies and developing innovative products. In late 2018, Suzhou Akuyu Medical Technology Co., Ltd. was established in Suzhou as the main entity for the R&D and manufacturing of mature products. The Akuyu disposable hysteroscope series has completed FDA 510(k) clearance in the United States and is expected to be marketed and sold in Europe and the United States in the near future. In China, Akuyu products have completed type testing reports and are poised to become among the first domestically produced disposable hysteroscopes to obtain regulatory approval.

Surgical procedures are trending toward minimally invasive, intelligent, and precise approaches. Endoscopes are among the fastest-growing products in the global medical device industry, representing a substantial market size. With the continuous implementation of national policies aimed at strengthening the functions of primary healthcare institutions, controlling infections, and promoting ambulatory surgery centers, minimally invasive surgery is gradually moving toward domestic substitution, increased use of disposable consumables, and outpatient-based care. Consequently, the penetration rate of endoscopic diagnosis and treatment will rise significantly, further expanding the market for single-use endoscopes.

The company’s founder is a world-class expert in medical device innovation, who has successively participated in and led the development of the world’s first-generation color Doppler ultrasound system, an automated ultrasound system for breast cancer detection, a laser near-infrared cerebral oximetry monitor, and the world’s first disposable hysteroscope.The founders’ extensive experience has embedded an innovation- and technology-driven DNA into AkuYu’s corporate culture, enabling the company to build a robust innovation technology platform from its inception.

The team has independently developed multiple CMOS camera modules, as well as precision mechanical forming and sealing technologies, laying a solid hardware foundation for its products. Its self-developed software, integrated with a high-performance image signal processing engine, provides functionalities such as automatic gain control, auto exposure, and auto white balance. Beyond hardware and software, the company has also independently developed medical-grade polymer materials optimally suited for use with its devices, endowing the products with excellent biocompatibility, an ultra-thin coating, and a smaller lumen radius. Furthermore, by combining optical and ultrasound technologies, the company’s new products can be widely applied in the diagnosis of uterine and bladder cancers and in minimally invasive surgeries.

Leveraging core technology platforms,The disposable endoscope products developed by the company offer clear images and ease of use, with significantly lower costs compared to similar products on the market.This also constitutes Akuyu’s core competitive advantage in the future market. Meanwhile, the product is compatible with most general-purpose surgical instruments and commonly used small-scale surgical devices in clinical settings. The company’s founding team possesses extensive channel resources overseas, and its core products are poised for launch and sales in mainstream European and American markets, with more global collaborations anticipated in the future.

Hysteroscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing and treating intrauterine diseases, and it is widely used in the fields of infertility, abnormal uterine bleeding, and assisted reproduction. However, traditional endoscopic products have a relatively large outer diameter, requiring anesthesia and monitoring during use. They necessitate prolonged sterilization after single-patient use before they can be reused, and involve high equipment costs and significant capital investment in hospital fixed assets. These characteristics restrict hysteroscopy to gynecological endoscopy departments, greatly limiting its application in the diagnosis and treatment of gynecological diseases.

AccuMed’s disposable electronic hysteroscope product line includes a diagnostic and operative hysteroscope with an outer diameter of less than 4.5 mm, eliminating the need for cervical dilation and anesthesia during use. The system features a higher level of integration, is designed for single-use without requiring sterilization, and offers simple operation, thereby enabling “See & Treat” functionality. It also includes a world-first operative hysteroscope that is compatible with most surgical instruments. Leveraging these features, AccuMed’s disposable hysteroscopes are widely applicable in outpatient clinics and ambulatory surgery centers, reducing patient discomfort, significantly shortening diagnosis and treatment time, lowering infection risks, and substantially improving medical efficiency.The diagnostic and therapeutic services, once confined to the red ocean market of endoscopy suites, have evolved into a vast blue ocean market characterized by broader applications, higher patient volumes, and superior quality of care. This transformation clearly demonstrates the Akuyu team’s profound insight into clinical pain points and needs, as well as their exceptional capabilities in product positioning and development.

Centered on the core service scenario of outpatient gynecological endoscopy, the company’s team has conducted in-depth research into the clinical standard operating pathways for the diagnosis and treatment of related indications. By identifying pain points and distilling unmet needs, the team has developed a series of supporting products with significant clinical value.

In the field of infertility, micro-instruments for hysteroscopic endometrial treatment and devices for hysteroscopic tubal cannulation, hydrotubation, and recanalization have been developed. These innovations eliminate the need for intermediate contrast imaging and interventional therapies, enabling a one-stop solution for uterine cavity and fallopian tube issues, and shortening the original 6–12 month diagnosis and treatment cycle to just 10–30 days. In the management of abnormal uterine bleeding, cold-knife resection instruments and mini-morcellators have been developed, allowing for safer and faster outpatient treatment of fibroids and polyps. In assisted reproduction, leveraging advantages such as high-quality imaging and portable monitors, hysteroscopy is used to examine the endometrium for lesions prior to embryo transfer, significantly improving transplantation success rates. During embryo transfer, direct visualization of the catheter tip ensures precise embryo placement and prevents embryo retention. With the support of these complementary products, nearly all diagnostic examinations for uterine cavity diseases and approximately 70% of related surgical procedures can be completed in an outpatient setting.

Built on its core technology platform and grounded in a deep understanding of clinical needs, Akuyu identifies key application scenarios and continuously launches a series of products with clinical value. With a foothold in China and a global footprint—this is the business development strategy that Akuyu consistently puts into practice.

CITIC Medical Fund stated, “Endoscopes serve as the ‘eyes’ of physicians. The traditional endoscopy sector is characterized by high technical barriers and a dominance of imported brands. Disposable endoscopes will achieve rapid overtaking by leveraging advantages such as low cost, high efficiency, clinical relevance, and suitability for outpatient settings. Together with traditional endoscopes, they address clinical pain points, making diagnosis and treatment safer and more effective. The founding team of Akuyu comes from globally renowned medical device companies, with the founder having led the development of multiple globally innovative products. The company’s technology platform and products are globally leading, positioning it to drive the development of this niche industry. With its disposable hysteroscope as the flagship product and gynecology as the entry point, the company is comprehensively deploying a full product portfolio in women’s health, including assisted reproduction and family planning. We highly recognize this team and its products, and we are committed to working alongside Akuyu to jointly promote the advancement of global women’s health.”

Chang’an Private Capital stated, “With advancements in technology, medical diagnosis and treatment are inevitably evolving toward minimally invasive, intelligent, and precise approaches. This trend imposes higher demands on medical device R&D teams: they must not only comprise top-tier talent across multiple disciplines—including mechanical engineering, electronics, software, and polymer materials—but also possess strong product thinking capabilities to identify optimal application scenarios in clinical practice. The AkuYu team is precisely such a world-class, high-performing group. Under the leadership of its founder, the team has achieved technological breakthroughs in hardware, software, and polymer materials, while gaining a deep understanding of the pain points faced by healthcare professionals and patients. As a result, they have successfully tapped into the blue-ocean market for endoscopic diagnosis and treatment with their outstanding products. We believe that this team will undoubtedly develop more and better products in the future, creating greater value for physicians, nurses, and patients alike.”

CITIC Medical Fund is CITIC’s equity investment management platform dedicated to the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector, committed to building a comprehensive, value-added healthcare industry fund with deep capabilities in sector consolidation. The fund’s team comprises industry specialists with extensive operational experience at multinational pharmaceutical companies and financial experts with profound expertise in the finance sector.

Chang’an Private Capital has a 22-year history in equity investment, with partners deploying their own capital for ultra-long-term technology investments. Positioned as “loyal investors sharing common interests,” Chang’an focuses on investing in value-creating companies with the potential to become industry leaders during the “0 to 1” stage. The firm primarily covers niche sectors such as innovative drugs and medical devices, chips, automotive and aircraft-related technologies, and cybersecurity. Adhering to the investment principle of “few but excellent,” Chang’an has invested in more than 70 companies, 16 of which have gone public. Among them, Walvax Biotechnology set historical records on the ChiNext Board for both its IPO price and P/E ratio; Chipscreen Biosciences became the first innovative drug company listed on the STAR Market, with its IPO P/E ratio also setting a historical record.