# CoapTech

> CoapTech is a Baltimore-based medical technology company that built the world's first ultrasound-guided gastrostomy system. Its FDA-cleared PUMA-G System lets bedside clinicians place feeding tubes using only ultrasound imaging and a patented magnet-aligned catheter, replacing procedures that traditionally required an operating room, endoscopy, or interventional radiology. The approach aims to make feeding-tube placement faster, safer, and cheaper, and has been used in more than 1,000 patients across ICUs, step-down units, and long-term acute care hospitals.

- **Founded:** 2016
- **Headquarters:** Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- **Founders:** Steven Tropello (Co-Founder, critical care physician (University of Maryland School of Medicine)), Howard Carolan (Co-Founder and former CEO (now advisor))
- **Team size:** ~22 employees
- **Products:** PUMA-G System, PUMA-G Pediatric, Magnetic Balloon Catheter (2nd generation)
- **Notable:** Developed the world's first and only FDA-cleared ultrasound gastrostomy (PUMA-G) System, Received FDA clearance for a pediatric version of the PUMA-G System, PUG procedure used in more than 1,000 patients

## Products & services

- **PUMA-G System** — The world's first and only FDA-cleared ultrasound gastrostomy system. It lets bedside clinicians place gastrostomy (feeding) tubes using solely ultrasound imaging and a patented magnet-aligned balloon catheter, without endoscopy, fluoroscopy, or an operating room.
- **PUMA-G Pediatric** — An FDA-cleared pediatric version of the PUMA-G System, extending ultrasound-guided feeding-tube placement to younger and smaller patients.
- **Magnetic Balloon Catheter (2nd generation)** — An internally manufactured magnetic balloon catheter, the core consumable that aligns the stomach wall to the abdominal wall under ultrasound, now built in Baltimore.

## Achievements

- Developed the world's first and only FDA-cleared ultrasound gastrostomy (PUMA-G) System
- Received FDA clearance for a pediatric version of the PUMA-G System
- PUG procedure used in more than 1,000 patients
- Received CE Mark approval and a dedicated CPT procedure code for the PUMA-G System
- Reshored device manufacturing to Baltimore in partnership with The LaunchPort
- Published clinical evidence of major ICU length-of-stay and per-patient cost reductions

## Latest updates

- **2025-11** — Board appointed Brad Kreger (former Velo3D CEO) as Chief Executive Officer; co-founder Howard Carolan stepped down as CEO and remained an advisor.
- **2025-06** — Closed a Series B round led by Good Growth Capital (~$7.1M latest amount) with participation from USM Momentum Fund, UMB, NuFund, TEDCO, The Abell Foundation, and Ecphora Capital.
- **2024** — Clinical studies reported per-patient hospital cost reductions of $34,778 (Jackson Memorial) and ICU length-of-stay reductions up to 10 days.
- **2022** — Launched second-generation magnetic balloon catheter and shifted manufacturing to Baltimore; received pediatric device consortium seed grant.

## Links

- Website: https://coaptech.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coaptech
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/coaptech
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/coaptech/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/coaptech
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-15