These 5 surgical startups want to build the OR of the future

4. Innoblative Designs

Innoblative Designs is developing Sira, a saline-assisted intraoperative radiofrequency ablation device, that uses bipolar current to intraoperatively create a controlled zone of ablation. Sira’s design and saline microinfusion system allow it to have maximum contact with target tissue and to be powered with existing electrosurgical generators. CEO Tyler Wanke says the device represents a new option for intraoperative ablation of soft tissue. Particularly, the team sees the devices being used post-lumpectomy to reduce the time required for radiation therapy.

Wanke anticipates that Sira will be able to treat a variety of diseases and incorporates machine learning algorithms to control targeted treatments. “This could be an otherwise expensive treatment, but we can bring it anywhere at a fraction of the cost,” he said.

Innoblative aims to balance delivering clinical and economic value, Wanke said, noting that the system uses a tablet and sensors in the ablative tool to measure real-time treatments and determine the correct energy therapies. He said Sira represents a marked improvement over traditional analysis, which could sometimes take overnight to determine the energy treatment needed. “Now equations are done in milliseconds; we can do analysis intraoperatively.”

It means that surgical teams can adjust treatment during an operation – at the same time the device learns to customize and shape treatment.

In terms of design, Wanke said his team spent a lot of time considering how the device fits in the workflow in a way that won’t disrupt surgeons. For him, that is part of the value equation. He said because there are a lot of energy devices on the market, it was important to develop a form factor that surgeons in control.

Wanke noted that Innoblative is a lean startup and just closed a round of funding.

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