DURHAM — Deep Blue Medical Advances, which received FDA clearance to begin selling its hernia mesh product in August 2020, has increased its equity to $3.44 million, according to a regulatory filing. The company raised $1.57 million in debt in January.

The company disclosed both raises in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company says its T-Line Hernia Mesh “provides superior anchoring strength and eliminates a key point of failure for conventional mesh fixation.” It is designed to counter “mesh migration, contraction and eventual failure.

Deep Blue previously raised more than $800,000 in funding.

The company was founded in 2014 by Duke plastic surgeon Howard Levinson, MD.

In separate efforts, Levinson is working on additional  projects including an anti-biofouling Foley catheter, a non-invasive light imaging technology to diagnose skin disorders, and tissue-engineered skin that resists contraction.

“Sewing a bit of each extension into the abdominal wall, in lieu of traditional sutures, significantly increases mesh anchoring strength and thus the durability of the repair,” Levinson says of the T-Line. “We believe this approach will greatly improve patient outcomes without necessitating significant changes to current surgical practice.”

Millions of hernia surgeries are done globally at billions in clinical costs and support a $1.1 billion hernia device market.

Durham medtech startup Deep Blue receives FDA clearance for hernia mesh product