The partnership will introduce Butterfly's Ultrasound-on-Chip to the robotic intervention market, with revenue expected for each unit sold upon commercialisation
Butterfly joins forces with Mendaera on Ultrasound-on-Chip technology driven robotic system. (Credit: Butterfly Network, Inc.)
Digital health company Butterfly Network and Mendaera have agreed to commercialise a novel robotic system driven by the former’s Ultrasound-on-Chip (UoC) technology.
Mendaera is engaged in developing technology that facilitates healthcare providers in performing procedures with greater ease and confidence through the application of medical robotics.
The collaboration will introduce Butterfly’s Ultrasound-on-Chip to the robotic intervention market, with revenue expected for each unit sold upon commercialisation.
Mendaera’s robotic technology has compatibility with Butterfly’s proprietary semiconductor-based ultrasound device. The technology is connected through the latter’s software development kit, known as Butterfly Garden.
This integration establishes a system engineered to enhance precision and consistency across various image-guided, needle-based interventions.
Butterfly chief strategy officer Darius Shahida said: “Mendaera’s robotic system is perfectly suited to leverage Butterfly’s proprietary Ultrasound-on-Chip by benefiting from the wide array of ultrasonic sensing applications that only our chip can offer.
“We are excited to welcome the Mendaera team as a Powered by Butterfly partner and believe our joint solution will expand Butterfly’s reach and clinical impact into the interventional space.”
According to the parties, the new robotics category that they will create seeks to enhance access to high-quality interventional treatments, with the ultimate goal of streamlining patient care within a healthcare system facing workforce shortages and burnout.
Both companies anticipate submitting the product for approval from the US Food and Drug Administration by 2025.
Mendaera co-founder and CEO Josh DeFonzo said: “At Mendaera, we envision a world where high-quality intervention is available at every care facility, for each and every patient encounter.
“It was a clear choice for us to collaborate with Butterfly on our technology roadmap, given their unique and programmable Ultrasound-on-Chip platform and aligned mission to make ultrasonic imaging and intervention ubiquitous.”
In October 2023, Butterfly Network signed a five-year co-development agreement with Forest Neurotech to develop next-generation whole-brain brain computer interfaces using the former’s proprietary Ultrasound-on-Chip technology.