Proprio's AI Powered Surgical Navigation System

Significant advancements in surgical navigation technology have been made over the years, as they are an all-important tool for surgeons of various specialties in the healthcare industry.

Whether in the form of electromagnetic tracking or image-based navigation, these technologies are aimed to provide real-time guidance for doctors and surgeons during surgical procedures, enabling better accuracy and safety. Some of the more common image-based navigation systems that exist in the healthcare industry today include X-ray, CT, and MRI scans.

While said systems have been highly contributive and beneficial to the industry, Proprio, a healthcare technology company founded by CEO Gabriel Jones and Chief Medical Officer Samuel R. Browd, utilizes machine learning, computer vision, data intelligence, and light field imaging technology to offer a navigation system beyond anatomy visualization.

High Precision in High-Stakes Environments

Like all other surgical image-based navigation systems, Priorio focuses on collecting preoperative imaging data to create a 3D model of a patient’s anatomy. The model serves as a roadmap that allows surgeons to navigate through critical structures of the body with precision during surgical procedures.

This type of technology has been utilized for years to minimize the risk of surgical errors and complications as well as avoid any unintended damage. By having a clear visualization of the anatomy, surgeons have also been able to perform minimally invasive surgeries.

Conventional image-based navigation systems often rely on traditional camera setups or optical tracking, which do help provide a great deal of assistive information for medical professionals but can still be limited in terms of effectiveness.

Systems such as these can lack quick real-time feedback, have limited line of sight that can be obscured by tissue or blood, and often need manual calibration before every surgery, which can introduce potential errors if the technical staff were to be in a rush between procedures, for example.

Proprio’s platform, which the startup calls Paradigm, has the ability to collect more comprehensive, necessary surgical data by incorporating visualization from light field imaging with performance-refining machine learning capabilities.

Enhanced Data and Adaptability

Using 3D scanning technology and an array of advanced image sensors as well as video cameras, Proprio’s system can capture HD multimodal images of both anatomical structures and surgical environments before and during surgery. The images can be displayed on screen or in virtual and mixed reality.

Due to the startup’s use of light field imaging technology, named PRISM, the risk of dangerous radiation exposure is also removed, unlike what the usage of many existing image-based navigation systems in the healthcare industry still brings.

Following the startup’s FDA clearance, Paradigm has been used in surgeries to collect helpful data and develop its algorithmic system all at the same time. Last April, Proprio received a 510(k) clearance that deems its technology safe and effective for surgical procedures.

Recently, Proprio completed the very first successful in-human light field-enabled spine surgery, marking a significantly pivotal milestone in the future of surgery. The startup has raised a total of about $85M in funding following its $43M Series B, with participation from Bird B, Wheelhouse Capital, DCVC, BOLD Capital Partners, and more.

With the goal of improving patient outcomes, surgeon well-being, and the general betterment of insightful, responsive information for medical professionals, Proprio aims to continue putting physician expertise and intelligent technology together. As we consider how complex and dynamic the human anatomy can be, Proprio’s advanced imaging tech may just bring a seismic shift in how medical professionals handle surgical procedures now and in the times to come.

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Job Posting

• Proprio - Software Engineer, Algorithms - Seattle, WA (Hybrid)

• Proprio - Principal Software Quality Engineer - Seattle, WA (Hybrid)

• Proprio - Electrical Systems Engineer - Seattle, WA (Hybrid)

• Tempus - Machine Learning Scientist, Generative AI - Chicago, IL+ (Remote/Hybrid)

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