Two companies team up to develop a new category of robotics

Developer of portable, semiconductor-based ultrasound technology Butterfly Network is teaming up with Mendaera, a Silicon Valley-based company developing technology to help healthcare providers more easily and confidently perform procedures through the power of medical robotics.

The two companies announced an agreement to commercialize a novel robotic system that is powered by Butterfly's Ultrasound-on-Chip technology.

How will it work?

Mendaera's robotic technology is compatible with Butterfly's proprietary semiconductor-based ultrasound device and connected via Butterfly's software development kit — Butterfly Garden — creating a system designed to improve precision and consistency for a broad range of image-guided, needle-based interventions.

This new category of robotics will increase access to high-quality interventional treatment, ultimately aiming to streamline patient care within a healthcare system burdened by workforce shortages and burnout. Both companies anticipate FDA submission of the product by 2025.

On the record

"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," said Darius Shahida, Chief Strategy Officer of Butterfly Network. "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."

"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," added Josh DeFonzo, Co-Founder and CEO of Mendaera.

The context

The news follows Mendaera's August 2023 announcement of securing $24 million in Series A funding. The company has also announced the completion of the research and design process for this novel robotic system.

On its end, Butterfly created the world's first handheld, single-probe, whole-body ultrasound system using semiconductor technology, the Butterfly iQ+. Butterfly's mission is to democratize medical imaging and contribute to the aspiration of global health equity, making high-quality ultrasound affordable, easy-to-use, globally accessible, and intelligently connected. Through its proprietary Ultrasound-on-Chip technology, Butterfly is paving the way for earlier detection and remote management of health conditions around the world.