SAS JEREMIE LR (France)

Medtech: Innovating beyond the conventional limits of imagination

It has been long discussed whether robots will replace human labour at some point. As controversial as this topic may seem, undoubtedly some areas exist where intelligent technology should be credited for helping us achieve previously unimaginable levels of precision and accuracy. Brain and spine surgery are prominent examples that should better not be left to luck.

The ROSA™ robotic devices, developed by the French company Medtech, were designed to increase the safety and reliability of various neurological interventions and procedures without compromising established surgical protocols, but acting as a reliable surgical assistant.

Medtech was set up in 2002 by Bertin Nahum, an expert of robot-assisted solutions for surgery who worked at leading companies for many years before setting up his own enterprise. Today, he employs more than 40 people.

Medtech has become very successful in a short time: first it launched an orthopedic surgical robot named BRIGIT™. Following the sale of BRIGIT™'s patent portfolio, Medtech created ROSA™ Brain and more recently, ROSA™ Spine. In essence, the mission of Medtech is to “broaden the use of medical technology for the benefit of both patient and practitioner as Medtech strives for improved overall health and well-being”, according to CEO Nahum.

ROSA™ Brain is like a GPS: ahead of the surgery, doctors can scan the patient’ brain and plan the intervention in advance using the collected preoperative data. In addition, the precise positioning and handling of instruments aids the surgeon in carrying out the operation. The device has a number of unique features – such as a robotic arm with six degrees of freedom, an advanced haptic capability as well as a laser measurement system that makes the earlier use of invasive markers or a frame superfluous. Thus, it enhances the comfort of both doctor and patient. ROSA™ Brain is most frequently used in curing diseases such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s or tumours. 

To support Medtech’s further growth, SAS JEREMIE LR – a financial intermediary under the JEREMIE Languedoc Roussillon initiative – invested in the company, supporting among others the development of ROSA™ Spine, the brand new robot that is currently being introduced throughout Europe and the United States. The region of Languedoc-Roussillon was the first in European to set up the JEREMIE initiative that is managed by EIF co-financed equally by the Languedoc-Roussillon region’s own resources as well as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Company: Medtech (France)

Type of business: Surgical technology, medical robotics

EU-supported EIF co-investment: JEREMIE Languedoc-Roussillon

For further information about EIF intermediaries in France, please refer to:
http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/where/fr