IVOS Medical Names Francis Duhay, MD, MBA as Vice President, Clinical & Regulatory Affairs and Business Development

Feb 25, 2025 | Press Release

Irvine, CA – February 11, 2025, – IVOS Medical, Inc., a medical device startup specializing in airway management solutions, today announced the appointment of Francis Duhay, MD, MBA, as Vice President of Clinical & Regulatory Affairs and Business Development.

Dr. Duhay is a seasoned medical device executive, entrepreneur, and expert with extensive experience in product development, business operations, and commercialization for startup companies. In his new role, he will support IVOS in advancing regulatory strategy, overseeing clinical trial development, driving business development initiatives, and guiding processes for market entry.

IVOS Medical is developing the IVOS BOSS G4™, an economical, single-use video laryngoscope sleeve that incorporates novel features to help maintain clear vision during intubation and increase first-pass success in emergency, soiled intubations.

“Now that IVOS has received the SBIR Phase II Award, the timing is perfect for Francis to expand his role within the company, supporting the pre-commercialization of our product line and business operations,” said Gabriel Punsalan, MS, CRNA, CEO and Co-Founder of IVOS Medical, Inc. “We look forward to an exciting year ahead as the company anticipates reaching several key milestones on our path to market entry.”

DISCLAIMER: Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R44HL164325. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Francis Duhay, MD, MBA  

Dr. Duhay is an accomplished entrepreneur, executive, and heart surgeon with extensive experience in medical device innovation. At Edwards Lifesciences, he led development of the world’s first transcatheter aortic valve and later served as Chief Medical Officer overseeing Global Medical, Clinical, and Regulatory Affairs. He went on to co-found multiple startups—including Kino Biosciences, Makani Science, and Koa Accel—and served as Senior Vice President of Global Medical & Clinical Affairs at Olympus Corporation. His broad expertise in device development and operations will help guide IVOS toward successful commercialization.

About IVOS Medical
IVOS Medical is a medical device company advancing airway management technology, particularly for challenging intubations. Its flagship product, the patented Breathing Optimization and Suction System (BOSS™), enhances critical intubation success through video laryngoscopy. Founded by clinicians with extensive airway management experience, the company addresses the challenges health care providers face during critical and emergency intubations. Supported by over $2 million in non-dilutive NIH SBIR funding and exclusively licensed from UC Irvine, IVOS Medical remains focused on elevating patient safety and healthcare efficiency through better intubation tools.

For more information, visit www.ivosmedical.com or email info@ivosmedical.com.

For media inquiries, please contact: press@ivosmedical.com

###The IVOS BOSS G4 is a trademark of IVOS MEDICAL, Inc. All other products or service names are the property of their respective owners.

Obstructed Vision in Soiled Airways

0-11 sec:

The initial insertion of the video laryngoscope resulted in obstruction of the camera view due to fluids in the oral cavity. The device was removed from the mouth, and the lens was manually cleaned to restore the camera to baseline functionality before being reinserted.

12-21 sec:

Once the video laryngoscope was reinserted into the oral cavity, critical time had already been lost, as the simulated patient remained apneic and gastric fluids continued to enter the lungs.

22-30 sec:

A Cormack-Lehane grade 1 view was achieved after aggressive suctioning with a Yankauer suction catheter. This provided clear visualization for the healthcare provider to insert the endotracheal tube using indirect visualization.

Obstructed Vision in Soiled Airways

0-13 sec:

The video laryngoscope is equipped with the IVOS BOSS G4™ system. The device integrates gas flow into the handle to continuously provide a clear camera window throughout the entire intubation process, without requiring removal of the device from the patient’s mouth.

14-27 sec:

The G4’s integrated suction channel removes oral cavity fluids and reduces the potential for aspirate to enter the lungs. Maintaining a clear view of the airway in an emergency setting can increase first-pass success, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality in patients.

28-37 sec:

The patient remains apneic for only a minimal amount of time while the healthcare provider inserts the endotracheal tube into the trachea and secures the airway for lifesaving ventilation.