MELORIX MEDICAL
Transforming small vessel anastomosis
Lymphedema
250M
250M
250M
people in the world suffer from lymphedema, a chronic illness with no cure, characterized by swelling due to build-up of lymph fluid [1]
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10M
250M
250M
people in the U.S. suffer from lymphedema, the main treatment options are limited to costly and cumbersome compression garments [2]
7M
250M
7M
cases in the U.S. are caused by cancer treatments that damage the lymphatic system [1]
Our Mission
At Melorix Medical, our mission is to revolutionize the field of small vessel anastomosis. We are dedicated to developing innovative devices that enhance the safety, reliability, and ease of use in treating diseases affecting the lymphatic system.
Lymphovenous Anastomosis (LVA)
Lymphvenous anastomosis (LVA) is an effective microsurgery for treating or preventing lymphedema by rerouting the flow of lymph fluid through the venous system [3, 4].
Surgeon Challenges
However, lymphatic vessels are smaller than veins, under 2mm and typically ranging from 0.15-0.8mm in diameter [5]. Lymphatic vessels are also very delicate, making microsurgical procedures like LVA very technically challenging - requiring significant training for surgeons.
Patient Challenges
In the US, there are only 4 Lymphatic Disease (LD) Surgery Centers of Excellence (COE) certified by the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN), creating an urgent need to make lymphatic microsurgeries like LVA more intuitive for surgeons and more accessible for patients [6].
Our Team
William Zouzas
Sumner Barenberg, Ph.D., MBA
Colin Leonelli
Co-Founder & CTO
Education
MS in Human Factors | Northeastern
BS in Biomedical Engineering | UMass Lowell
About
William brings a background that bridges academia and industry, building key skills in medical device design and R&D. He discovered the value of integrating human factors into surgical device development while working at EnVision Endoscopy, an innovative startup where he gained hands-on experience in rapid prototyping, packaging design, usability testing, design verification, test protocol development, and more.
Colin Leonelli
Sumner Barenberg, Ph.D., MBA
Colin Leonelli
Co-Founder & CEO
Education
MS in Bioengineering | Northeastern
BS in Bioengineering | Northeastern
About
Colin is passionate about solving unmet clinical needs for both patients and clinicians. His co-op at EMD Serono sharpened his focus on protocol adherence and attention to detail. At Paragonix Technologies and Day Zero Diagnostics, he gained hands-on experience with the engineering design process and user needs. These roles strengthened his innovation skills and collaboration with high-performing, multidisciplinary teams.
Sumner Barenberg, Ph.D., MBA
Sumner Barenberg, Ph.D., MBA
Sumner Barenberg, Ph.D., MBA
Advisor & Board of Directors
Experience
Professor of the Practice | Northeastern
About
Sumner is a devil’s advocate that brings products from conceptualization to commercialization by bridging the gap between management and technical teams. Having been an intrapraneur, he understands firsthand the various challenges that arise when attempting to commercialize a product – stemming mainly from needing to consider the perspective of the customer, but also the customer’s customer.
Educational Resources
Lymphatic System Basics
Lymphatic System Basics
The lymphatic system plays a major role in your immune, digestive, circulatory systems and more.
What is Lymphedema?
Lymphatic System Basics
Lymphedema is characterized by localized swelling caused by abnormal accumulation of lymph fluid.
Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema (BCRL)
In 2022, 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide. The 5 year survival rate is around 91%, meaning that breast cancer is largely a quality of life issue.
Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction (ILR)
Immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) reroutes severed lymph vessels to nearby veins during lymph node removal surgery in breast cancer patients.
Patient Stories
Lymphedema can be debilitating and take a severe mental toll. Up to 10 million people in just the USA have lymphedema. It is essential to hear their stories and work toward a better standard of care.
LE&RN Centers of Excellence
Lack of knowledge on care centers can prevent or delay treatment, limiting their effectiveness. The Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN) maintains a list of certified Centers of Excellence (COE) for Lymphatic Diseases.