Robotic surgical technology developer iotaMotion announced that it received a $1.65 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Iowa City, Iowa-based iotaMotion said in a news release that it is using the grant funds to continue developing its real-time tissue trauma sensing technology in the iotaSoft robotic surgical system designed for assistance in cochlear implantation surgery.
The iotaSoft system is a robot-assisted insertion device designed to allow surgeons to advance cochlear implant electrodes with more control and precision, which the company believes will allow for less surgical variability.
In addition to the NIH grant, iotaMotion said it received the inaugural Iowa Biosciences Medtech Award. The $20,000 prize recognizes significant progress and investor support over the last year and has been earmarked for supporting regulatory and pre-commercialization efforts.
“These NIH funds will be used to advance technology development to support real-time feedback and monitoring during cochlear implant electrode insertion,” iotaMotion co-founder & president Chris Kaufmann said in the release. “We appreciate the support of the NIH as well as the local investor community as we make meaningful progress towards commercialization of our first suite of solutions.”