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About Aruga

Aruga's Story in 5 Bullet Points

  • Aruga was founded in 2017 by surgeons and engineers at the University of Pittsburgh that envisioned better off-the-shelf prosthetic implants for patients with various forms of arterial complications.
  • The team was investigating how natural surfaces stay so clean even when exposed to adhesive materials like blood clots and plaque when a pattern started to emerge in the findings.
  • Wrinkles on the surfaces, usually tens of microns in size, appeared to acting as a mechanical repellant and were effectively self cleaning the surfaces. 
  • Through novel construction of synthetic surfaces with breakthrough materials science, biomimetic prototypes were tested and validated to remain cleaner because of the incorporated surface wrinkles. 
  • The team is now furthering the vision by commercializing the technology for applications in vascular graft and shunt implants -- working with government labs, hospitals, and research organizations to deliver the innovation solution to the public. 

SurgBioMech Lab

Continuing work in the Pocivavsek lab at The University of Chicago. 

Learn more

Ongoing Animal Trials

We're testing Aruga grafts in animal model shunt protocols with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

Core Team

Luka Pocivavsek MD PhD

Luka Pocivavsek MD PhD

Luka Pocivavsek MD PhD

Chief Technical Officer 

Co-founder

Inventor

Joe Pugar PhD

Luka Pocivavsek MD PhD

Luka Pocivavsek MD PhD

Chief Executive Officer

Co-founder

Tony Torres

Luka Pocivavsek MD PhD

Tony Torres

Board Director

LifeX Portfolio Company

Products of the Pitt Ecosystem

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