Spectrum Vascular announced the acquisition of Piccolo Medical, a developer of catheter guidance technologies, strengthening an existing partnership and expanding Spectrum’s vascular access offerings. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
As part of the acquisition, Piccolo Medical CEO Augustus Shanahan and the company’s team will join Spectrum to continue developing and commercializing Piccolo’s 510(k)-cleared catheter guidance and location technologies.
Piccolo’s technology utilizes proprietary blood flow sensing capabilities to provide real-time catheter guidance and precise tip placement, eliminating the need for confirmatory chest X-rays. The company achieved the first successful patient placements using its next-generation Nav+ Stylet in May 2026.
Spectrum said the acquisition will enable it to integrate Piccolo’s navigation technology with its existing catheter portfolio and accelerate the commercialization of the platform. The combined organization aims to establish a new standard of care in vascular access by improving patient outcomes and increasing procedural efficiency.
Backed by SK Capital Partners, Spectrum Vascular provides vascular access and medication management products designed to reduce healthcare-acquired infections. The company was formed through the acquisitions of the vascular access businesses of Cook Medical and AngioDynamics and has emphasized innovation in areas including antimicrobial protection and thrombus reduction.
Piccolo Medical was founded in 2016 and spun out of the Theranova medical device incubator. The San Francisco-based company has received support from private investors and grant funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Its technologies are designed to improve clinical outcomes, streamline vascular access procedures, and reduce complications.
KEY QUOTES:
“Joining the Spectrum team marks an exciting new chapter for Piccolo and for vascular access as a whole. I am incredibly proud of what the Piccolo team has built over the past decade, and together with Spectrum, we now have the platform, the portfolio, and the reach to set a new standard, delivering better outcomes for patients and real economic value for the hospitals that serve them.”
Augustus Shanahan, CEO, Piccolo Medical
“The acquisition of Piccolo Medical represents an important milestone in our mission to transform vascular access. By combining Piccolo’s breakthrough navigation technology with Spectrum’s vascular access portfolio and commercial reach, we are uniquely positioned to accelerate innovation, improve patient care, and redefine the standard of care for clinicians worldwide.”
Kenneth Miller, CEO, Spectrum Vascular
