Mendaera, a Silicon Valley-based firm, recently raised $73 million to further develop a handheld robotics platform designed for a range of medical procedures including biopsies, organ and vascular access, and pain management. This funding initiative marks a substantial push towards revolutionizing commonly practiced medical procedures through advanced robotics. The company was co-founded by Josh DeFonzo and Jason Wilson, both of whom had prior associations with Auris Health—a prominent robotics company acquired by Johnson & Johnson for an initial sum of $3.4 billion.
Intuitive Surgical pioneered the robotic surgery industry by introducing sophisticated equipment primarily used for complex surgical operations like prostate gland removal. Over the past 25 years, the sector has seen growth and diversification; however, essential medical interventions such as needle biopsies and regional anesthesia largely remain manual practices, which are highly skill-dependent. Mendaera’s mission is to simplify these processes, enhancing accessibility and reducing the requisite skill level through their innovative platform that integrates robotics, artificial intelligence, and imaging technologies.
Josh DeFonzo detailed the operational virtues of the system at an investment event, explaining its user-friendly interface which allows healthcare providers to perform medical interventions with just a few taps on a touchscreen monitor. The system is designed to select an optimal trajectory for the instrument based on the selected target area within the patient’s body. It can adjust this path in real-time during the procedure to ensure precise navigation and avoid critical anatomical structures. Once the correct placement is achieved, the system alerts the provider, thereby enhancing the accuracy and safety of procedures such as biopsies and vascular access.
The foundation of Mendaera was set by individuals deeply entwined in the development of Auris, reflecting a rich lineage of expertise in medical robotics. Fred Moll, founder of both Intuitive Surgical and Auris, along with other venture capital entities such as Lux Capital and PFM Health Sciences that previously invested in Auris, supported Mendaera financially in its initial and subsequent funding rounds.
Since its inception in 2020, Mendaera has rapidly progressed, leveraging past innovations and partnerships to solidify its technological foundations and market presence. In August 2023, the company expanded its operations into a new production facility, focusing on finalizing its development phase and seeking regulatory approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A significant technological advancement was made in December 2023 when Mendaera entered into a partnership with Butterfly Network to incorporate their ultrasound-on-chip technology into its robotics system, aiming for an FDA submission by 2025. Further enhancing its technological capacity, Mendaera also acquired the telepresence technology from Avail Medsystems in March.
This strategic integration of cutting-edge technologies and partnerships underscores Mendaera’s commitment to innovation and its potential to transform healthcare delivery. By reducing dependency on highly skilled practitioners for routine and critical procedures, the company hopes to alleviate care bottlenecks and reduce healthcare costs, ultimately making efficient, safe, and reliable medical interventions more accessible to a broader population.
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