Latest Post
French medtech startup Robeauté is creating the world’s first microrobots, which could traverse through the very delicate structures within the brain and therefore provide the first minimally invasive solutions to neuropathology diagnostics, treatments, and monitoring. This recent $28 million fundraising round is a major milestone in taking this innovative technology closer to clinic.
Company Background
Starting with Bertrand Duplat and Joana Cartocci, Robeauté has been working on microrobotic technology to transform neurosurgery for the last eight years. Coming with 30 years of experience in robotics, from his work with McGill University and the European Space Agency, Duplat has a lot of experience in designing robots for extreme environments. Cartocci complements this with her specialty in operations. The inspiration behind Robeauté’s mission is personal; Duplat’s mother was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a very aggressive form of brain cancer, which highlights the urgent need for new neurosurgical tools.
Read also: Zeto Secures $31M to Revolutionize EEG Brain Monitoring
Funding Details
The $28 million funding round was co-led by Plural, Cherry Ventures, and Kindred Ventures. The round included additional participation from LocalGlobe, Think.Health, previous investor APEX Ventures, and a strategic investment from Brainlab. This significant investment shows strong confidence in Robeauté’s vision for transforming neurosurgical procedures with microrobotics technology.
Technological Innovation
These grain-of-rice-sized microrobots, engineered to navigate the brain’s extracellular matrix along curved paths, can hit multiple sites of interest with minimum invasiveness. Modular and specific mission-oriented, the devices can be designed for such missions as therapeutic molecule delivery, electrode implantation, or the collection of cellular and live-data samples through sensors. This puts them in the best position as ideal tools in personalized, precision medicine in neurology.
The microrobots are equipped with a tiny engine, propeller, steering mechanism, and tracking device, enabling precise control and real-time monitoring during neurosurgical procedures. This design allows surgeons to perform complex interventions with unprecedented accuracy, potentially reducing the risks associated with traditional neurosurgical techniques.
Read also: FastWave Medical Secures $19M to Advance Intravascular Lithotripsy Systems
Addressing Neurological Challenges
In traditional neurosurgery, many methods tend to be invasive with stiff instruments, thus causing considerable tissue damage. Another important issue is the blood-brain barrier, which creates a significant barrier to the delivery of therapeutic agents to the targeted areas of the brain. Robeauté’s microrobots circumvent the abovementioned issues, providing safe, minimally invasive access to several sites in the brain, thus promoting targeted treatments and real-time acquisition.
This technology has the potential for early diagnosis and intervention in neurological disorders, ultimately improving patient outcomes by allowing the precise targeting of affected areas with reduced collateral damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Strategic Objectives
With the funds recently secured, Robeauté intends to:
- Advance Research and Development: Continue the refinement of their microrobotic technology with further enhancements in functionality and safety and efficacy in neurosurgical applications.
- Start Clinical Trials: Initiate human trials by 2026 to assess clinical benefits and feasibility of their microrobots in actual clinical practice.
- Operate Globally: Open operations in the United States for FDA approval and further expansion, allowing them to penetrate the global health care system with their technology.
- Forge Strategic Partnerships: Engage with industrial partners and research laboratories to further investigate the applications of their microrobotic technology and how it can be adapted into existing medical practice.
Market Context
The neurosurgical market is expected to go through massive growth in the coming years with more cases of neurological disorders and a higher demand for less-invasive surgical approaches. Robeauté has introduced a disruptive technology that addresses the current imperfections in neurosurgery and has the potential to set new standards in the field of neurosurgery.
Read also: Axial3D Secures $18.2 Million to Revolutionize Personalized Surgical Solutions
Competitive Landscape:
While several companies are exploring advancements in neurosurgical tools and minimally invasive techniques, Robeauté stands out by focusing on microrobotic technology that can navigate the complex architecture of the brain. The successful funding round and backing by prominent investors underscore the company’s leading position in this niche yet rapidly evolving sector.
Future Prospects
Robeauté’s microrobotic technology represents a leap forward in neurosurgery. This technology is expected to change the way neurological disorders are diagnosed and treated. It offers tools that can provide access to the brain in a minimally invasive, precise manner, opening the way to more effective interventions and better patient outcomes.
As the company moves into the clinical trial stage and gains the regulatory approval required, it marks the threshold for a new wave of medical technology, at which microrobots would possibly integrate into the standard neurosurgical practice.
Summary
The $28 million funding received by Robeauté is a significant step forward in the company’s quest to revolutionize neurosurgery with microrobotic innovation. Robeauté has the potential to make a profound difference in the neurology field and the broader medical community by resolving the inherent issues of traditional neurosurgical techniques and providing minimally invasive, precise solutions.
