Freedom to breathe life in, with ACES®

About Us

Pleural Dynamics was founded on a simple but urgent realization: patients with recurrent pleural effusions deserve a better way to manage their condition. In 2020, an Interventional Pulmonologist–Inventor and a seasoned Engineering Leader combined more than 25 years of clinical expertise and medical device innovation to pursue an intervention that could improve patient care—clinically and meaningfully. Their collaboration led to the development of ACES™ (Automatic Continuous Effusion Shunt), which received U.S. FDA clearance in 2023. Alongside commercial launch, the company initiated the ACES Study for Aseptic Pleural Effusion (NCT06210685) to evaluate real-world performance. Early clinical results have been significant. The device has achieved a 96% technical success rate and delivered up to a 94% reduction in pleural effusion volume—with no daily maintenance requirement.1,2 Patient-reported outcomes further 
underscore its impact, with many saying that ACES treatment has “given them their lives back.”

Today, Pleural Dynamics continues to advance innovative solutions that address key unmet needs to improve the lives of patients.

Look at the Leaders of Pleural Dynamics

CEO & Co-Founder

CTO, Co-Founder

Fractional CFO

Our Product

How ACES® works

 

Just 0.5 mm of compression moves a drop of fluid: meaning roughly 23,040 breaths a day can move up to 1.2 liters of fluid per day

Natural breathing motion gives patients the freedom to breathe life in

Just 0.5 mm of compression moves a drop of fluid: meaning roughly 23,040 breaths a day can move up to 1.2 liters of fluid per day

Natural breathing motion gives patients the freedom to breathe life in

ACES™ (Automatic Continuous Effusion Shunt) uses respiratory motion to drive continuous, automatic transfer of pleural effusion fluid into the abdomen where it is naturally reabsorbed—without the need for pleurodesis or external drainage catheters.1.2

Image 6-22-26 at 10.54 AM

A single implant, performed inpatient or outpatient1,2

 

The implant is placed in a straightforward procedure with an expected hospital 
stay of one day or less.

 

Minimally invasive
Through a small incision, the pump chamber is placed under the skin between the ribs. One catheter is positioned in the pleural space, the other in the abdomen for drainage.

Continuous relief
The pump continuously shunts fluid from the pleural space to the abdomen—without the need for external catheters.

Image 6-22-26 at 10.56 AM

Easy to adopt, with a familiar technique

Drawing on two familiar procedures—chest tube placement and peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion—the ACES implant technique is designed to feel intuitive with minimal training. Clinicians routinely report the procedure is “easy to perform” and fits naturally into current practices.

Low maintenance, with no external hardware, tubes or bottles1,2

ACES eliminates the need for at-home fluid management and helps lower the overall 
cost of pleural effusion care.

Company Spotlight Video

News and Events

Study Demonstrates Significant Reduction in Pleural Effusion Volume Using Pleural Dynamics’ ACES Fully-Implantable System

October 28, 2025 — Pleural Dynamics, Inc. today announced positive results from a prospective, multicenter study evaluating its Automatic Continuous…

The ACES Study for Aseptic Pleural Effusions

Aug 19, 2025 Pleural Dynamics Announces Completion of Enrollment of “The ACES Study for Aseptic Pleural Effusions,” a Post Market Study…

CMS Grants HCPCS Code and NTAP Classification for Pleural Dynamics’ Novel ACES Automatic Continuous Effusion Shunt

October 14, 2025 –The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a new Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code and New…

Memorial Healthcare System Participates in GroundbreakingClinical Trial for Innovative Pleural Effusion Treatment

March 27, 2025 – Memorial Healthcare System is one of only four healthcare centers in the nation to have participated in a clinical…

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