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SectionStar is a tissue sectioning and switch robotic designed to extend capability, reliability, and consistency. | Supply: Clarapath
Whereas robotics and automatic methods have been launched in healthcare settings as a method to alleviate workforce points and standardize practices, a lot of the progress has been geared toward surgical robots or bodily rehabilitation. Clarapath Inc. hopes to alter this.
Final week, the Hawthorne, N.Y.-based firm introduced that it has raised $36 million in Collection B-1 funding. Clarapath stated it goals to modernize and rework how pathology laboratories course of tissue. This newest spherical brings its complete funding to $75 million.
The corporate stated its SectionStar system combines robotics, synthetic intelligence, and automation to modernize how labs course of tissue samples. With the newest spherical of funding, Clarapath asserted that it’s going to develop and deploy “a brand new class of healthcare robotics, machine imaginative and prescient, and digital automation instruments, elevating the usual of take care of hospitals and sufferers.”
Pathology can profit from automation
The self-discipline of pathology entails the microscopic examination of cells and tissue, Clarapath defined. This work underpins the analysis, analysis, and remedy pathways of almost each illness sort, together with most cancers, autoimmune situations, degenerative ailments, and extra.
Greater than 12 million human and veterinary biopsies are carried out annually within the U.S., with thousands and thousands extra carried out for biopharmaceutical drug security. Laboratories face a multi-pronged disaster, together with extreme labor shortages; rising caseloads; and an antiquated, handbook means of getting ready tissue samples, in line with Clarapath.
“For too lengthy, pathology laboratories haven’t seen the extent of know-how innovation that different areas of drugs have seen,” stated Gregg Sossaman, M.D., chair of pathology and laboratory drugs at investor Ochsner Well being and incoming president of the American Society for Scientific Pathology. “Clarapath demonstrates the correct mix of technical, robotic experience coupled with healthcare workflow expertise.”
Clarapath says SectionStar can enhance slide high quality, lower turnaround time, and scale back value. | Supply: Clarapath
Clarapath to commercialize SectionStar
Northwell Ventures led Clarapath’s Part B-1 spherical, which additionally included new strategic buyers together with CU Healthcare Innovation Fund, Mayo Clinic, and Ochsner Ventures.
“Innovation is embedded in Northwell’s tradition and integral to the best way we method funding in novel options which enhance affected person care and decrease value.” stated Wealthy Mulry, CEO of Northwell Holdings. “We recognized Clarapath seven years in the past as an organization with a daring imaginative and prescient to seriously change laboratory drugs and are dedicated to continued assist of their progressive journey which can rework medical diagnostics.”
With the brand new capital, Clarapath stated it plans to additional speed up the commercialization of SectionStar. It would additionally use the funds to increase its gross sales, providers, and precision manufacturing capabilities, in addition to to proceed analysis and growth.
“Our strategic buyers share in our mission to considerably overhaul this crucial side of affected person care that has lengthy been ignored,” acknowledged Eric Feinstein, CEO of Clarapath.
“As labs undertake digital pathology downstream, automation in prior steps is essential to determine constant outcomes and supply best-in-class samples for diagnostic evaluate,” he added. “Our automation and new digital instruments seize and combination never-before-seen knowledge, finally benefiting sufferers with quicker outcomes and fewer subjectivity.”
