CIRCA Scientific Taps MedTech Titan Vafa Jamali to Steer Growth

ENGLEWOOD, CO – April 09, 2026 – CIRCA Scientific, Inc. has appointed Vafa Jamali, a heavyweight executive with a formidable track record in the medical technology sector, to its Board of Directors. The move is a clear signal of the company's ambitious growth strategy as it expands from a niche leader in monitoring technology into the competitive and complex field of advanced cardiac access.

Jamali, the current Chairman, President, and CEO of ZimVie, brings over three decades of leadership experience from some of the industry's most recognized giants, including Medtronic, Covidien, and Cardinal Health. His appointment is seen by industry observers as a significant endorsement of CIRCA's potential and a strategic maneuver to leverage his expertise in scaling medtech businesses for global success.

"We are thrilled to welcome Vafa to the CIRCA Scientific Board of Directors," said Lee Geist, President and Chief Executive Officer of CIRCA Scientific, in a statement. "Vafa is a highly respected leader with deep experience scaling global medical technology businesses and bringing innovative products to market. As we continue executing our CardioCentric™ strategy and expanding our portfolio of advanced cardiac access technologies, his strategic insight and leadership experience will be invaluable."

An Architect of MedTech Value

Vafa Jamali’s reputation precedes him, particularly for his role in creating substantial shareholder value. His tenure on the board of Baylis Medical Technologies, beginning in 2014, is a case study in strategic guidance. He was instrumental in shaping the strategy that led to the phenomenal growth of the company's transseptal crossing portfolio. This success culminated in a landmark deal in 2022 when Boston Scientific acquired those assets for an impressive $1.75 billion.

This history of guiding a specialized cardiac access company toward a lucrative exit makes his appointment to CIRCA's board particularly noteworthy. It suggests a confidence in the company's technology and a potential roadmap for its future. Jamali’s expertise is not just in high-level strategy; his background includes overseeing a $3 billion business unit at Medtronic, demonstrating a deep understanding of operational excellence and commercial execution on a global scale.

In addition to his roles at ZimVie and now CIRCA Scientific, Jamali serves on the boards of Eptam Plastics and is slated to join the board of Inogen, further cementing his status as a sought-after advisor in the manufacturing and medical device sectors.

"CIRCA Scientific has built a compelling portfolio of access and monitoring solutions for electrophysiologists and interventional cardiologists, positioning it well for meaningful growth," Mr. Jamali commented. "I am excited to join the board and work with the leadership team to help advance the company's mission of improving procedural outcomes for physicians and patients."

Fueling a 'CardioCentric' Expansion

Jamali joins CIRCA Scientific at what its leadership calls an "exciting inflection point." Founded in 2009, the company built its reputation and market leadership on its esophageal temperature monitoring systems. Its multi-sensor probes have become a benchmark for safety and accuracy during electrophysiology procedures where heat-based energy is used to treat arrhythmias, protecting patients from thermal injury.

Now, guided by its 'CardioCentric™ strategy,' the company is making a bold leap into the broader interventional cardiology space. This strategy involves developing and commercializing a suite of tools designed to give physicians greater control, efficiency, and precision during complex heart procedures. The recent additions to its portfolio, the CrossWise™ RF Transseptal Access System and the PeriCross™ Epicardial Access Kit, are the cornerstones of this expansion.

The CrossWise™ system, which gained FDA clearance in September 2024, is designed to streamline one of the most critical steps in many left-heart procedures: crossing the septal wall. It uses radiofrequency (RF) energy at the tip of a shapeable cannula, allowing physicians to create a clean, controlled puncture with enhanced visibility and without exchanging tools, a workflow improvement that resonates in busy catheterization labs.

The PeriCross™ kit, cleared by the FDA in April 2025, addresses another technically demanding challenge: accessing the pericardial space around the heart. Traditional methods carry significant risks, including puncturing the heart muscle itself. The PeriCross system features a unique tine-based retraction mechanism that creates a safe space between the pericardium and the heart wall before the needle is advanced, a design aimed at making the procedure safer and more predictable.

Clinical Validation and Market Entry

CIRCA Scientific is backing its strategic shift with strong clinical data and a methodical commercial rollout. The PeriCross™ system has shown promising results in the EASY-R clinical study. An initial cohort of 39 patients demonstrated a 100% success rate in achieving pericardial access, with an average access time of just three minutes. Crucially, the rate of ventricular puncture was 7.7%, a substantial improvement over the historically reported 20% risk associated with traditional needle techniques.

Early users have praised the system's intuitive design. A lead investigator in the clinical trial noted that the device simplifies a complex step and fits naturally into existing workflows, reducing procedural variability. Another European electrophysiologist involved in the study called it an "elegant and intuitive" solution that performs reliably across different patient anatomies.

Meanwhile, the CrossWise™ system has already completed its limited market release and is now commercially available nationwide. The company has focused on ensuring its compatibility with a wide range of commonly used sheaths from major manufacturers like Medtronic and Boston Scientific, facilitating easier adoption. An early user at a prominent U.S. cardiovascular center called the system a "valuable addition" to the electrophysiology lab, highlighting its benefits for a variety of procedures requiring transseptal access and its seamless integration with existing tools.

This dual focus on pioneering new technology and validating it through rigorous clinical study and physician feedback is central to the company's growth plan. As it moves to scale commercialization, Jamali's experience becomes paramount.

"As we expand commercialization of our transseptal and epicardial access platforms while continuing to lead in esophageal temperature monitoring, Vafa's perspective as a seasoned medtech operator and board member will help guide our next phase of growth," Geist added, underscoring the strategic importance of the new appointment.