Through The Cords

Through The Cords is a private, pre-revenue medical device startup based in San Diego, founded in 2018 by Dr. Runnels, an anesthesiologist. The company is addressing a critical gap in airway management by developing steerable introducer tools that leverage the improved visualization of modern video laryngoscopes to enhance first-pass success and depth control during intubation. Targeting a massive market with over 30 million procedures annually in the US and over $5B in complication costs, the company's technology aims to reduce patient harm and generate significant healthcare savings. Its initial commercial strategy appears to be direct engagement with medical professionals and institutions.

A hardware platform for airway management featuring steerable, articulating introducers with depth control, specifically designed to integrate with and exploit the visualization capabilities of modern video laryngoscopes.

Competition includes large medical device companies (e.g., Medtronic, Verathon, Ambu) that sell video laryngoscopes and traditional airway adjuncts, as well as generic introducer/stylets. Through The Cords' differentiation is its specialized focus on steerability designed explicitly for the video laryngoscopy workflow, a niche not fully addressed by broad-portfolio competitors.