The FDA has granted de novo authorization to Neurolutions Inc. for its Ipsihand upper extremity rehabilitation system. The first-of-its kind device leverages robotics and brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to facilitate muscle training in patients with upper limb weakness or immobility following a stroke.
Memic Innovative Surgery Ltd. secured a major cash infusion to bring its freshly FDA-authorized Hominis robotic-assisted surgical platform to market. Peregrine Ventures and Ceros led the $96 million series D financing round with participation from Ourcrowd and Accelmed.
PARIS – Ecential Robotics SAS has just secured $120 million series C funding in equity and debt financing, to support the manufacturing and commercial development of its robotic platform for spinal surgery. This is the largest financial transaction undertaken by any med-tech company in France.
Ascendum Capital, a health care-focused investment platform founded in 2020, acquired the majority of the shares of a developer of a disposable robotic system designed to navigate tricky vascular passages for an undisclosed amount. Yehuda, Israel-based Endoways Ltd. developed the technology in the Medx Xelerator and will move to Dinova Medtech’s Israeli incubator until its catheter laboratory-focused robot launches for commercial use.
Johnson & Johnson has been looking to make a big splash in robotics. Now, its Depuy Synthes unit has made progress on this front, gaining U.S. FDA clearance for the Velys robotic-assisted solution designed for use with the Attune total knee system. The solution aims to help simplify surgeons’ existing workflow around total knee replacement.
Salient Bio launched a robotics-driven PCR test for COVID-19 with 99% for use in mass testing for the virus. The company says the "fastest ever" test notifies users of test results in less than a day and is priced to be cost effective for businesses. Salient plans to expand the number of tests utilizing the modular diagnostics platform in 2021 to include a range of pathogens. Even with vaccines on the horizon in the coming months, the London-based company expects brisk demand for its product.
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) said it will deliver its differentiated value propositions for patients Thursday as it provided details on its Ottava platform during its Virtual Medical Devices Update. Analysts appear to have left the meeting with a good impression. “We came away impressed with JNJ's digital surgery vision & holistic approach,” wrote Cowen’s Josh Jennings.
Neocis Inc., which developed the first U.S. FDA-cleared robotic-assisted dental surgery system, has completed a $72 million series D financing led by Dfj Growth. The funds will be used for broader commercialization and future advancements to the Yomi platform. Also participating in the series D round were Vivo Capital and existing investors Mithril Capital Management, Norwest Venture Partners, Section 32 and Fred Moll. With this latest capital infusion, Miami-based Neocis has raised a total of $120 million in financing to date.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a bump in the road for developers of digital surgical systems that include robotics, but the technology is still in demand. That was the message from industry leaders at the Advanced Medical Technology Association’s Virtual Medtech Conference.
The U.S. FDA has given the green light to Xact Robotics Ltd. for its Xact Ace robotic system for computer tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous procedures. The company plans to roll out the system later this year with an initial focus on interventional radiologists.
