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Airolign Advantage

Aperture Medical is redefining nasal airway treatment with Airolign – a non-surgical, in-office balloon device that realigns the septum and restores airflow in just minutes.

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Aperture

We are a pioneering force in the realm of medical device innovation, currently focused on ENT surgery, dedicated to enhancing healthcare outcomes and improving the quality of life for individuals worldwide.

  • Non-surgical nasal treatment

    Non-surgical nasal treatment

    Airalign realigns the septum and restores airflow in minutes — no surgery needed.

  • Durable design

    Durable design

    Crafted from medical-grade materials built to perform reliably during surgery, ensuring both strength and safety for optimal patient outcomes.

  • Quick in-office procedure

    Quick in-office procedure

    Fast, simple, and performed during a regular clinic visit.

Nasal Blockage: The Core Problem

 

Nasal blockage occurs when airflow through the nose is reduced or obstructed, making it harder to breathe comfortably. This can result from structural issues, such as a deviated septum, or tissue changes, such as enlarged turbinates.

Impact on Patients
Chronic nasal obstruction can lead to symptoms including congestion, mouth breathing, poor sleep quality, and reduced overall quality of life.

The Airolign Advantage

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What Is Airolign?

Airolign is a next-generation treatment for chronic nasal obstruction. Unlike traditional surgery, it offers a fast, comfortable in-office experience – with results that patients can feel immediately.

  • Performed in-office

    Performed in-office

    No general anesthesia. No hospital. Airolign is delivered by your ENT in a routine clinical setting.

  • Non-surgical and  minimally invasive

    Non-surgical and minimally invasive

    Our balloon-based system gently repositions the nasal septum, avoiding incisions or tissue removal.

  • Quick and safe, with  minimal downtime

    Quick and safe, with minimal downtime

    Treatment is typically completed in under 30 minutes, with minimal discomfort and no extended recovery period.

Meet Our team

Shannon Trozzo
Saleem Elmasri
Dr. Shahz Ahmed

Shannon Trozzo

COO

Shannon Trozzo is an accomplished Operations Executive with experience in high-level management and oversight within the medical technology industry. With 10+ years in management and operations, she excels in strategically positioning team members to drive the company’s success and her work focuses on creating measurable performance outcomes.

Saleem Elmasri

CFO

Saleem Elmasri began his career at PwC, working with Fortune 500 clients in Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical industries, before transitioning to lead advisory practices at boutique consulting firms specializing in transaction and complex accounting advisory. As a CPA, Mr. Elmasri brings over 15 years of experience in financial & healthcare management consulting.

Dr. Shahz Ahmed

Chief Medical Officer & Co-Founder

Doctor Shahzada Ahmed, MBChB, FRCS (ORL-HNS), is a globally recognized ENT surgeon specializing in rhinology and skull base surgery. He serves as Clinical Director at University Hospitals Birmingham and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. Dr. Ahmed is the clinical mind behind Airolign™ and leads its application development, drawing from over two decades of surgical expertise and deep insight into patient needs. He is a widely published academic, keynote speaker, and mentor for future ENT innovators. He began surgical training aiming to be a vascular surgeon, but a three-month ENT rotation changed everything and he “immediately fell in love” with the field. He completed advanced ENT training across the West Midlands and earned competitive fellowships in Cape Town, Pittsburgh, Zurich, Hanover, and Nottingham gaining cutting-edge experience in rhinology and skull base surgery. In 2010, Dr. Ahmed was appointed Consultant Rhinologist and Skull Base Surgeon at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB), the nation’s fourth-largest NHS trust, where he helped shape the ENT service into a leading tertiary and quaternary-referral center. He leads one of the UK’s most selective Rhinology Fellowship programs and serves as Clinical Director for Tertiary Services, reflecting his role in clinical innovation.   Dr. Ahmed’s commitment to excellence extends beyond clinical care. He earned his PhD in Chronic Sinus Disease in 2013, supervised numerous academic degrees, authored 170+ peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and frequently reviews for journals including The Laryngoscope. In 2017, he performed a world-first endoscopic pituitary surgery under local anesthesia, preserving an elderly patient’s eyesight. An accomplished educator and KOL, Dr. Ahmed lectures globally, chairs national ENT panels, and hosts an annual international surgical masterclass. He’s an active trustee for head-and-neck cancer charity Get Ahead and sits on prestigious bodies like the Royal Society of Medicine’s Rhinology Council, British Skull Base Society, and Midlands Institute for Otology. In late 2023, driven by his deep understanding of structural nasal disease and the limitations of traditional septoplasty, Dr. Ahmed co-founded Aperture Medical Technologies. As the clinical mind behind Airolign, he envisioned a safer, simpler, and more intelligent way to correct septal deviation and turbinate hypertrophy. His experience in both high-volume ENT practice and advanced skull base surgery informed the design of Airolign’s anatomy-sensitive balloon — a device that combines mechanical precision with smart technology to improve outcomes for patients and workflow for surgeons. Under his guidance, Aperture aims to redefine ENT care by bringing innovative, intuitive tools into every operating room.

Guided by Clinical & Scientific Excellence

Our advisory board brings together leading voices in otolaryngology, medical device innovation, and regulatory strategy.

Travis Nieman

Advisor

Travis Nieman a distinguished commercial leader in the medtech sector, having led Stryker's international ENT division. Currently serving as a chief commercial officer, his more than 20 years of experience ranges from large to small organizations — Medtronic, Baxter, Stryker and numerous start-ups – with successful track records across multiple critical care specialties.

Cara Bachenheimer

Advisor

Cara Bachenheimer is a seasoned Government Affairs professional with extensive experience in the medical device and provider industry. She possesses a strong track record in healthcare consulting, lobbying, and regulatory affairs, with expertise in negotiation, medical devices, Medicare, Medicaid, and the broader healthcare sector.

Laura DiBella

Advisor

Laura DiBella made history as Florida's first female Secretary of Commerce, bringing her extensive experience in economic development to the forefront. Her unique blend of business acumen, government insight, and strong connections in the capitol empowers her to expertly navigate regulatory and procurement processes.

Ed McMullen

Advisor

<p class="p1">Professor Ricardo Carrau is a leading otolaryngologist with 35+ years of experience in head and neck oncology and endoscopic skull base surgery. He is a tenured professor at The Ohio State University, directed an $11M NIH-funded study, and authored 300+ articles. Former president of the North American Skull Base Society (2018), he is also among "America's Top Doctors."</p>

Steve Bruun

Advisor

Steve is a Regulatory Affairs expert with 31 years of medical device experience. He began as a process engineer at W.L. Gore, specializing in validations and device testing, before transitioning to Regulatory Affairs, where he led global submissions for vascular devices. Steve holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and now provides independent Regulatory consulting.

Prof. Christos Georgalas

Professor Christos Georgalas is a renowned otolaryngologist with 130+ publications and 12,000 citations. Trained in London, Paris, and Amsterdam, he co-authored major textbooks and guidelines in rhinology and skull base surgery. He is a tenured professor at the University of Nicosia and practices at Hygeia Hospital in Athens.

Prof. Richard Harvey

Professor Richard Harvey is a top rhinologist specializing in sinus, allergy, and skull base surgery at Macquarie University and St. Vincent's Hospitals. As head of Rhinology & Skull Base Surgery at UNSW and former president of the American Rhinologic Society, he has over 300 publications and ranks as Australia's top otolaryngology researcher.

Prof. Ricardo Carrau

Professor Ricardo Carrau is a leading otolaryngologist with 35+ years of experience in head and neck oncology and endoscopic skull base surgery. He is a tenured professor at The Ohio State University, directed an $11M NIH-funded study, and authored 300+ articles. Former president of the North American Skull Base Society (2018), he is also among "America's Top Doctors."

Prof. James Palmer

Professor James Palmer is a top expert in minimally invasive sinus and skull base surgery, with a focus on endoscopic techniques and CSF leak repair. His research on bacterial biofilms and cilia function has resulted in 100+ peer-reviewed articles. He served as president of the American Rhinologic Society (2018- 2019), advancing patient outcomes in complex sinus conditions.

Prof. Brad Woodworth

<p class="p1">Professor Brad Woodworth is an Associate Profess or of Surgery at UAB School of Medicine, holding the James J. Hicks Endowed Chair. Expert in sinus and skull base disorders, he completed a fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Securing over $1M in NIH funding, he focuses on mucociliary clearance and has 100+ publications.</p>

Prof. Claire Hopkins

<p class="p1">Professor Ricardo Carrau is a leading otolaryngologist with 35+ years of experience in head and neck oncology and endoscopic skull base surgery. He is a tenured professor at The Ohio State University, directed an $11M NIH-funded study, and authored 300+ articles. Former president of the North American Skull Base Society (2018), he is also among "America's Top Doctors."</p>

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Key Benefits

Airolign offers a modern, non-surgical solution for chronic nasal obstruction.

  • Non-surgical

    Non-surgical

    No cutting, no stitches. Airolign repositions nasal structures without traditional surgery, reducing risks and recovery time.

  • Performed in-office

    Performed in-office

    Conveniently completed in your ENT’s office — no hospital stay or general anesthesia required.

  • Clinically effective

    Clinically effective

    Backed by research and cadaveric trials showing significant improvement.

  • Innovative technology

    Innovative technology

    Utilizes advanced balloon design to gently realign the septum and open nasal airways, minimizing tissue trauma.

  • Comfortable experience

    Comfortable experience

    Designed with patient comfort in mind, the procedure uses gentle balloon technology for a quick and well-tolerated treatment.

  • No downtime

    No downtime

    Return to daily activities right away — no long recovery period required.

What Clinicians
& Advisors Are Saying

Trusted voices in ENT and MedTech are already recognizing the impact Airolign could have on nasal airway treatment. Here's what they’re saying:

Prof. Thibaut Van Zele

Prof. Thibaut Van Zele

“I think the Airolign balloon is a minimally invasive tool for real, office-based rhinology procedures under local anesthetics.”

Prof. Shawkat Abdulrahman

Prof. Shawkat Abdulrahman

“[Airolign] is a very nice, simple device. Everything is designed by an experience rhinologist, and there is a great possibility to reduce any complications.”

Prof. Isam Alobid

Prof. Isam Alobid

“[Airolign] leaves intact mucosa, no lacerations, and it’s more comfortable for the patient. I believe it is better for the patient and there will be no synechiae.”

Prof. Iacopo Dallan

Prof. Iacopo Dallan

“[Airolign] could be a really good opportunity because it can add value to management of nasal obstruction and can add value to the patient.”

Prof. Darlene E Lubbe

Prof. Darlene E Lubbe

“I really love [Airolign]. We used it in a cadaveric specimen with a big septal spur. It beautifully fractured it… and created such a large airway.”

Prof. Cem Meco

Prof. Cem Meco

“[Airolign] will help us to help our patients in a very simple way, with little burden to them, achieving the same good results.”

M.S. Quaraishi

M.S. Quaraishi

“From the cost and economics point of view, [Airolign] will be an amazing benefit both to the patient and to the hospital.”

Dr. Camilo Van Strahlen

Dr. Camilo Van Strahlen

“You can use [Airolign] to do in-office procedures to widen the airway of an adult … instead of putting the patient through anethesia and the long waiting time for surgery.”

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