Mendaera Pockets $73M to Bolster Surgical Robotics AI

Mendaera has closed a $73 million Series B funding round by Threshold Ventures. The round also included participation from Lux Capital, PFM Health Sciences, and Fred Moll (founder of Intuitive Surgical and Auris Health).
 
The Silicon Valley-based company is developing a handheld robotic interventional platform. Mendaera said the proceeds from this funding round will further its efforts to scale robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) across mainstream procedures.
 
Specifically, the company said it will utilize the new funding to complete development of its robotic technology, accelerate development of its AI and connectivity capabilities, and begin clinical introduction of its platform.
 
The company aims to pioneer a new medical robotics category by making advanced technologies readily available for foundational, everyday procedures like biopsies, organ and vascular access, and pain management interventions. Its handheld interventional platform includes robotics, AI, real-time imaging, and virtual connectivity.
 
The platform was designed to be accessible to a variety of specialties and service sites to meet the growing demand for needle-based interventions. Mendaera hopes that its technology will improve hundreds of millions of patient encounters annually and drive system-wide efficiencies.
 
“Traditional surgical robots have established footing in the operating room,” said Josh DeFonzo, founder and CEO of Mendaera. “But robotics and AI have evolved to a point where we can deliver broader benefits across all parts of the healthcare system and enable higher standards of care for more patients. We believe that our technology will allow healthcare systems and providers to provision medical procedures at scale – enhancing patient experience, increasing access to high-quality care, reducing overall cost, and improving healthcare provider satisfaction.”
 
Earlier this year, the company acquired Avail Medsystems’ telepresence technology to add virtual connectivity to its portfolio. Last year, Mendaera began a commercial agreement with Butterfly Network, a point-of-care ultrasound company.