Cancer treatment just got smarter with Current Surgical’s latest innovation. The DC-based startup has developed a ‘smart’ needle designed to treat cancerous tumours. Recently, it raised USD 4 million in a seed funding round led by True Ventures, with the participation of 1517 Fund and SciFounders.
The technology and mission of Current Surgical focus on utilising ultrasound, electrical and mechanical engineering to improve surgical procedures. Let’s understand Current Surgical’s innovative technology and how it can revolutionise cancer treatment.
Current Surgical’s ‘smart needle’ technology
Current Surgical aims to provide a curative solution to cancer patients by developing a precision-guided ‘smart’ needle technology which uses high-resolution sensors and real-time image analysis.
The smart needle technology is an advancement in the traditional use of needles that rely on thermal ablation to eliminate cancerous masses. By integrating ultrasound sensors, this innovative technology enables doctors to precisely locate and destroy solid tumours (throughout the body) in real time without harming nearby healthy tissue.
The smart needle has the potential to revolutionise cancer treatment, debilitating side effects of traditional treatment options.
The startup is currently working to develop a clinical embodiment of the device and test it in a preclinical setting. Its ultimate goal is to bring ‘smart needle’ technology to the forefront of cancer treatment and provide patients with a less invasive and more effective solution beyond tumour treatment.
About Current Surgical
Alireza Mashal and Chris Wagner, medical professionals with prior startup experience, founded Current Surgical in 2020. The startup is currently in its preclinical stage, and Mashal and Wagner hold the positions of CEO and CTO, respectively.
Current Surgical’s team has developed a software-enabled surgical platform to treat various conditions, including chronic pain, cardiac arrhythmia and tumours. Their smart needle technology has the potential to curatively treat cancer.
The team comprises experienced medical professionals and engineers with a deep understanding of surgical robotics and biophysics. The startup plans to recruit more engineers to join its team and contribute to its ongoing research and development efforts.
Funding and growth
Investors such as True Ventures have expressed their excitement for Current Surgical’s work and its compassion for the patients who will benefit from its technology.
“There’s so much to be excited about with Current Surgical. Al and Chris have put their energy and deep experience with surgical robotics and biophysics into creating smart surgical needles that give surgeons ‘eyes inside’ so they can work with greater precision, like never before. This team also has immense compassion for the patients and customers who will benefit. We seek that in founders, and we can’t wait to see this work come to life.”
– said Natasha Sharma, principal at True Ventures.
The recent funding round led by True Ventures helped Current Surgical raise total funding of $4 million. This will enable the company to continue its mission to automate key steps of surgery and develop smart surgical tools that allow doctors to treat currently untreatable solid tumours.
Parting words
Current Surgical’s ‘smart’ needle technology has the potential to revolutionise cancer treatment by precisely targeting tumours. However, the company is yet to confirm regulatory protocols and tests with the FDA.
The road to the successful commercialisation of a medical device is long and full of regulatory hurdles, making it difficult to predict whether the ‘smart’ needle will ultimately receive regulatory approval. Even Neuralink by Elon Musk hasn’t received FDA approval for its brain-machine interface technology.
Despite the challenges, the Current Surgical team remains optimistic about the future of their product and is actively working towards bringing it to market. We hope this promising technology will be able to live up to its potential and make a meaningful impact on the lives of cancer patients.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
