New company (Astranu) launched by Nokia and Celesta Capital to advance healthcare imaging technology

In a move that blends deep-tech innovation with practical healthcare needs, Nokia and Celesta Capital have unveiled Astranu — a spin-out startup born from the labs of Nokia Bell Labs. Astranu isn't just another medtech startup. It's their first joint venture and a taste of what's to come in a planned pipeline of commercial offshoots. With its eyes (and lenses) set on middle-ear diagnostics, Astranu is swinging big — promising sharper, faster, and cheaper 3D imaging that could reshape how we diagnose hearing issues.

How does it work?

At the heart of Astranu's magic is a cutting-edge imaging technology called integrated Optical Coherence Tomography (iOCT). Think of it like ultrasound, but with light. iOCT delivers crystal-clear, high-resolution 3D images of the middle ear without needing to poke, prod, or cut.

Here's what makes it stand out:

• Speed and accuracy: Instantly captures middle-ear images with precision.
• No scalpels, no stress: It's fully non-invasive.
• High performance, low cost: Delivers top-tier results without the eye-watering price tag of CT or MRI.

This isn't just an upgrade — it's a leap forward, especially for ENT doctors who've long relied on expensive, bulky machines or best-guess assessments.

Why does it matter?

Hearing care is riddled with hurdles: misdiagnoses, unnecessary referrals, invasive procedures, and long waits for expensive imaging. Astranu's tech could bulldoze right through them. By putting powerful imaging directly into clinics and primary care offices, it helps doctors spot issues on the spot — and treat them before they escalate.

Mike Chen of Nokia summed it up nicely: "Astranu's revolutionary imaging technology holds transformative promise for healthcare." And in a world where timely, accurate diagnosis can mean the difference between recovery and long-term damage, that promise matters — a lot.

It's also a rare win for cost-conscious healthcare systems. With iOCT's ability to sidestep more expensive procedures, it could help streamline care and save money.

The context

Astranu isn't coming out of nowhere. This is Nokia Bell Labs flexing its muscles — taking decades of deep research and finally pushing it into the hands of clinicians. It's a deliberate move. As part of a broader strategy with Celesta Capital, Astranu marks the first of what's expected to be many startups launched from within Bell Labs' vault of innovations.

And the team at the helm? It's no patchwork. Trevor Hawkins, a veteran of healthtech ventures, is stepping in as CEO. The original brains behind the tech — Dr. Michael Eggleston and Dr. Bibek Samanta — are sticking around to steer the science. Add to that industry heavyweight Dr. Achin Bhowmik, CTO at Starkey, joining the board, and you've got a serious lineup.

As Sriram Viswanathan of Celesta Capital put it, "This is the ideal convergence of innovative technology and high-impact healthcare applications." In other words, this is just the beginning — and it could be loud.