Brainlab Acquires Medineering to Advance Personalized Robotic Surgical Solutions

VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) has learned that on March 20, 2019, Brainlab, a global pioneer in medical software technology, announced the acquisition of Medineering, a company specializing in the development and promotion of robotic technologies. Through this acquisition, Brainlab will drive the widespread adoption of digital surgery and provide scalable clinical solutions for the healthcare sector. This strategic move deepens Brainlab’s presence in neurosurgery, strengthens its position in spinal surgery, and delivers robust digital tools to enhance clinical workflows.

Brainlab is currently marketing a medical device under the name Cirq. The combination of its base arm and attachable “hand” modules makes Cirq scalable and safe. Inspired by the shape of the human arm, Cirq serves as a powerful assistant to surgeons during procedures. The highly adaptable Cirq can be quickly installed and calibrated to target positions across seven degrees of freedom, maximizing its positioning flexibility. Once Cirq is securely locked in place, surgeons are free to use both hands to focus on subsequent surgical maneuvers. Additionally, Cirq’s navigation integration system leverages established data streams, settings, and instruments to expand its utility.

This acquisition adds a platform to Brainlab’s open hardware architecture for its surgical digital ecosystem, enabling other medical technology companies to design personalized healthcare solutions and apply them across numerous subspecialties. Unlike other closed, single-industry products, Medineering’s robotic system will provide an open platform for a wide range of clinical medical cases.

As early as January 2017, Brainlab invested in Medineering’s Series A financing round. To date, Brainlab has served as an investor and distribution partner for Medineering for nearly three years. Initially conceived as a $1 million robotics concept, the lightweight Medineering arm is cost-effective and easy to install, enabling over 4,000 Brainlab customers to access and utilize various robotic systems. This collaboration has allowed Brainlab to penetrate the ambulatory surgery center market and expand its reach. Additionally, Brainlab has made two rounds of investments in the medical data company Jan Medical, totaling $11 million.

Medineering has showcased a mechatronic arm capable of holding a variety of “hands,” ranging from simple instrument holders to robotic arms used for calibrating biopsy needles, drilling guides, and endoscopes. Currently, several Medineering applications are being used clinically in Europe under the name Cirq, while the U.S. FDA is conducting its review.

Stephan Nowatschin, Co-Founder and CEO of Medineering, stated, “Becoming part of Brainlab means that Medineering’s technology will be scaled to reach a broader market. By integrating Medineering’s open technology platform with Brainlab’s software ecosystem, we will also be able to develop highly competitive clinical solutions more effectively.”

Stefan Vilsmeier, President and CEO of Brainlab, stated: “Three years ago, when Brainlab first established its partnership with Medineering, the latter launched a completely new surgical robotic system. Today, Brainlab is shifting its strategy by accelerating its collaboration with Medineering, providing additional resources to jointly address a broader clinical market.”

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Munich, Germany, Brainlab is dedicated to integrating innovative medical software with physicians’ expertise to provide patients with continuous, superior, standardized, and more cost-effective healthcare services. Brainlab aims to become a leading software provider, assisting physicians in delivering surgical treatments for patients ranging from minimally invasive procedures to cancer care. By developing, manufacturing, and selling software, Brainlab drives advancements in medical technology, enabling patients to access advanced and less invasive treatment options.

Brainlab’s core products include image-guided surgery, radiosurgery, precision radiation therapy, digitally integrated operating rooms, and information and knowledge exchange technologies. Brainlab has currently installed more than 12,850 systems in over 100 countries, with nearly 1,400 employees across 18 global offices, including more than 420 R&D engineers who are an integral part of the product development team.

Also based in Munich, Germany, Medineering was founded in 2014 as a medical technology company that develops, manufactures, and markets a portfolio of robotic products for specific applications. This portfolio includes Medineering’s positioning arms and compact, specialized robots designed to assist surgeons in complex anatomical regions. Dr. Maximilian Krinninger and Dr. Stephan Nowatschin established Medineering in June 2014. The startup has grown rapidly, boasting a young, international team composed of highly specialized robotics engineers, marketing experts, and regulatory affairs specialists.

Medineering has also developed an innovative robotic system for minimally invasive cranial surgery. This patented portfolio consists of a set of modular surgical manipulators, allowing clinics and surgeons to freely select the level of automation and functionality based on specific procedural requirements and financial constraints. Medineering completed its seed round and Series A financing in September 2014 and January 2017, respectively.

(Compiled by Wang Shuijing)