Salus Scientific, a Charleston, SC-based developer of radiation protection systems for fluoroscopy labs, has raised $10.1 million in Series A funding. The company engineers wearable and room-level shielding solutions that reduce both radiation exposure and orthopedic strain for cath lab staff. The capital will fund commercial scale-up, manufacturing expansion, and clinical infrastructure.
Radiation Protection Funding Accelerates
The timing comes amid rising investor interest in occupational safety tools for interventional procedures. Radiaction Medical raised $46.3 million total including a $12.6 million Series C2 in August 2023, while Rampart IC secured $24.7 million including a $21.6 million Series B in April 2025. Salus differentiates by combining weight-redistributing endoskeletons with inflatable table-mounted barriers rather than replacing aprons entirely.
Lead Apron Injuries Drive Demand
Interventional physicians face near-certain musculoskeletal damage over a career, with 50-70% reporting neck, back, or shoulder injuries from traditional 20-pound lead aprons. Hospitals also contend with regulatory pressure under ALARA standards and growing fluoroscopy procedure volumes. Current solutions either burden the wearer or require expensive room modifications that disrupt workflow.
Endoskeleton and Inflatable Shield System
Salus built GLiFT, a patented endoskeleton that transfers apron weight from the shoulders and spine to the pelvic rim via rigid mantis bars. AeroShield adds a table-mounted inflatable barrier that delivers over 85% dose reduction for primary operators while deploying in seconds with no workflow impact. The company pairs these with real-time dosimetry via PeRM and inventory management through Salus Lab.
As CEO Todd Flohr noted:
"This investment allows us to accelerate our commercial growth, expand our manufacturing and clinical capabilities, and continue developing technologies that redefine occupational wellness in procedural medicine."
Oversubscribed Round Signals Confidence
The round exceeded its $8 million target and closed ahead of schedule. Investor demand reflects validation of Salus's full-stack approach and physician-founded origins. The company previously raised only a few hundred thousand dollars in seed funding, making this a significant step toward scaling clinical evidence and production.
Market Expands at Steady Pace
The global radiation protection market stands at $1.43 billion and is projected to reach $2.04 billion by 2033 at a 5.2% CAGR, according to Coherent Market Insights. Separate estimates from Research & Markets place it at $2.07 billion growing to $2.66 billion by 2030. Medical radiation shielding is forecast to grow from $1.79 billion to $3.02 billion by 2034. Structural drivers include lead-free material shifts, stricter occupational limits, and hospital focus on clinician retention.
Physician Founders Anchor Strategy
Founder Dr. William P. Buchanan, an interventional cardiologist, developed GLiFT after experiencing chronic pain from lead aprons. This clinical origin story shapes product decisions and credibility with target users.
Commercial Expansion Underway
With the first AeroShield deployment completed at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and multiple conference presentations secured, the company is moving from early validation to broader sales. New hires in sales, clinical affairs, and operations support the post-funding growth phase.