HEALTH WEALTH September 19, 2026 0 Comments

Harmony Medical’s Breakthrough Moment: Why the Top US Cardiovascular Accelerator Just Hit “Go” on Their Game-Changing Tech

Ever wonder what it takes for a Dublin-based startup to break into the ultra-competitive world of cutting-edge cardiovascular technology — all the way from the Emerald Isle to the sunny shores of California? Well, Harmony Medical just did exactly that, landing a coveted spot in the inaugural Octane-Mussallem Cardiovascular Accelerator, rubbing shoulders with six of the sharpest cardiovascular startups on the globe. This isn’t your average accelerator gig; backed by the titans Linda and Mike Mussallem — Mike himself the founding CEO of Edwards Lifesciences — and helmed by Stanford Biodesign pioneer Sandy Miller, it’s a launchpad for those serious about revolutionizing patient care. Harmony’s game-changing Anchoring Sheath aims to provide a steady, controlled pathway to the beating heart for pediatric patients — potentially slicing open-heart surgeries, recovery times, and family hardships in half. Talk about mission-driven innovation! With a US patent secured and FDA feedback in hand ahead of a crucial De Novo submission, CEO Brian Bailey and his team are not just dreaming big; they’re making it happen. Join me as we dive into how this lone Irish contender is making waves and unlocking America’s pediatric cardiac scene — proving once again that when grit meets genius, borders just become lines on a map. LEARN MORE

Dublin-based medical device company Harmony Medical has been selected for the inaugural Octane-Mussallem Cardiovascular Accelerator in California.

The Enterprise Ireland High Potential Startup (HPSU) client is the only Irish company chosen for the programme, joining a cohort of six cardiovascular start-ups.

The accelerator is backed by the Mussallem Foundation, established by Linda and Mike Mussallem.

Mussallem was the founding CEO of Edwards Lifesciences, a global structural heart company.

The programme is led by Sandy Miller, co-founder of Stanford Biodesign, which focuses on developing technologies to address unmet needs in patient care.

Harmony Medical is developing a cardiac access stabilisation platform for hybrid and structural heart procedures, with the aim of providing clinicians with a stable and controlled route to the beating heart.

Its lead product, the Anchoring Sheath, is designed specifically for paediatric patients undergoing hybrid cardiac procedures.

The company said the technology could help reduce the need for open-heart surgery, shorten recovery times and reduce the treatment burden for children and their families.

The device has received a US patent and completed beating-heart proof-of-concept testing.

Harmony Medical has also received feedback from the US Food and Drug Administration ahead of a planned De Novo submission.

Brian Bailey, CEO and co-founder of Harmony Medical, said the company was founded with the goal of reducing invasive procedures for children with congenital heart disease.

“Every child who can avoid open-heart surgery, or undergo fewer surgeries over the course of their life, is the reason we started Harmony Medical,” he said.

“Being selected as the only Irish company in the inaugural Octane-Mussallem cohort places us alongside some of the most promising cardiovascular companies in the world.”

The accelerator will provide Harmony Medical with access to US paediatric cardiac centres, clinicians, industry experts and investors as it works towards commercialising the Anchoring Sheath.

Cepta Duffy, head of life sciences at Enterprise Ireland, said the company demonstrated the strength of Ireland’s health technology sector.

“Harmony Medical is a strong example of the research-led innovation and depth of life sciences and health tech capability produced from Ireland,” she said.

The US-based Octane innovation accelerator has supported more than 2,500 companies since 2010, which have collectively raised over $12.1bn in capital and created more than 45,000 jobs.