Proprio is a company modernizing the way we predict, perform, and perfect surgery. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Proprio co-founder and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Samuel Browd to learn more about the company.
Dr. Samuel Browd’s Background
What is Dr. Samuel Browd’s background? Dr. Browd said:
“I received my MD and Ph.D. through the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Florida in 2000. Following that, I completed a seven-year Neurosurgery Residency at the University of Utah, alongside a research fellowship focused on functional magnetic resonance imaging. In 2007-2008, I undertook Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship Training at the University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Hospital.”
“Currently, I serve as an attending neurosurgeon at Seattle Children’s Hospital, Harborview Medical Center, and the University of Washington Medical Center. Additionally, I am the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer at Proprio. At Proprio, my focus is on designing surgical navigation technology that seamlessly integrates into intraoperative workflows, enhancing patient outcomes while minimizing overall workloads for surgical teams.”
Formation Of Proprio
How did the idea for the company come together? Dr. Browd shared:
“The inception of Proprio began over a decade ago when Oculus released their development kits. We saw an opportunity to integrate data and information within the operating room, enabling surgeons to focus on patients while having access to critical data for decision-making. Josh Smith, who helped found Proprio, and his team visited the OR, where I showed them the myriad of equipment, each with its separate monitor. They suggested utilizing light field imaging technology, which led us to explore VR microscopy.”
“During our university-based work, we realized the necessity of continuous real-time navigation of anatomical structures, addressing a long-standing challenge in surgical technology. This realization pivoted us towards developing a platform that not only provided imaging but also real-time navigation and data integration. Gabriel Jones joined us as CEO and we spun out of the University of Washington, leading our commercialization efforts.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Dr. Browd reflected:
“There have been countless moments of joy and awe witnessing our technical progress transform into reality. However, if I were to highlight one, it would be the first in-human use of the Paradigm system. Knowing that something we conceptualized over a decade ago is now actively used to treat patients is profoundly rewarding. It really showed the tangible impact of our work on patient care and surgical practice.”
Core Products
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What are the company’s core products and features? Dr. Browd explained:
“Our flagship product, Paradigm, is an advanced surgical navigation system designed to revolutionize how surgeons perceive and interact with patient anatomy in the operating room. Paradigm integrates preoperative imaging and planning with real-time intraoperative performance data, offering a unified and comprehensive view. It is the first system to employ lightfield technology in spinal surgery navigation, providing a real-time 3D visualization of patient anatomy and the surgical field without harmful radiation exposure.”
“The platform’s sensor suite captures high-definition multimodal intraoperative images, fusing them with preoperative scans. Surgeons can access critical, real-time data and powerful visualization tools without disrupting their workflow, enhancing precision, accuracy, and efficiency during procedures.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? Dr. Browd acknowledged:
“One of the biggest challenges we face in our sector is navigating the complex regulatory landscape surrounding AI technologies, especially those involving active learning and real-time machine learning. Regulatory bodies like the FDA have taken a cautious approach to these technologies, which directly impacts how we develop and deploy AI-driven solutions in healthcare. To overcome this, we have focused on creating robust, non-active learning AI applications that comply with existing regulations and deliver advanced functionality. Ensuring the highest quality and validation of our training data is critical to us.”
“We’ve implemented rigorous validation processes for our labeled surgical images and video data to guarantee accurate and reliable outcomes. Additionally, we work in close collaboration with the FDA, aligning our technological advancements with their regulatory requirements to ensure our innovations are both safe and effective for clinical use.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Dr. Browd noted:
“Initially, Proprio explored virtual reality as a method to unify disparate information in the operating room, allowing surgeons to concentrate on patients without needing to step away to review medical imaging. This led to the development of VR microscopy, which eventually revealed the need for continuous real-time navigation of anatomical structures. Recognizing the limitations and regulatory challenges of integrating VR headsets, we pivoted to focus on real-time surgical navigation, abandoning the headset approach due to technical and regulatory hurdles.”
“This pivot enabled us to refine Paradigm’s core functionality: real-time capture of the surgical field and precise 3D projection for implant placement. Additionally, as we developed this technology, we discovered an immense volume of data being generated, which presented opportunities for further innovation. This data allows us to analyze surgical performance and outcomes more comprehensively, providing insights that go beyond immediate surgical procedures to inform broader healthcare practices, such as billing and coding. Thus, our technology has evolved from a VR-focused prototype to a sophisticated, data-driven navigation system that enhances surgical precision and generates valuable information for the healthcare ecosystem.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Dr. Browd cited:
“One of our key milestones was receiving FDA 510(k) clearance for the Paradigm system in April 2023. In March of this year, we announced the phased implementation of Paradigm in select hospitals with Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, aiming to collect real-time data to drive product improvements in operating rooms.”
“The first human procedure using Paradigm took place in October 2023 at the University of Washington’s Harborview Medical Center. Since gaining FDA clearance, interest in Paradigm has surged, and we are actively deploying the system across hospitals throughout the United States.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Dr. Browd about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“We recently hit a significant milestone of 50 use cases of Paradigm at the University of Washington’s Harborview Medical Center. The system has been employed in a diverse array of spinal surgeries, ranging from minimally invasive decompressions to multi-level deformity corrections. Surgical teams using Paradigm have successfully placed over 100 pedicle screws with positive initial outcomes, demonstrating the system’s effectiveness in enhancing surgical precision and patient safety.”
Funding
When asking Dr. Browd about the company’s funding details, he revealed:
“To date, Proprio has secured a total of $73 million in funding from leading healthcare and technology investors, including DCVC, BOLD Capital Partners, Bird B. AG, Cota Capital, Intel and HTC. This investment has been instrumental in driving our research and development, expanding our team, and accelerating the commercialization of our Paradigm system.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Dr. Browd affirmed:
“Unlike conventional surgical navigation systems that rely on static pre-operative imagery and physical markers, Proprio’s Paradigm provides real-time, dynamic feedback directly in the operating room. Our use of lightfield technology allows for continuous tracking and visualization of patient anatomy without the need for excess ionizing radiation such as X-rays or fluoroscopy. This real-time capability ensures precise and informed surgical decisions, transforming the surgical experience. Paradigm’s advanced sensor suite and AI-driven data integration offers a level of accuracy and efficiency that has the potential to redefine surgical precision and elevate patient outcomes. Our system allows surgeons to visualize tissue in novel ways and adapts to anatomical changes during surgery, offering a real-time representation of the surgical space. This approach is unique and sets our product apart in the AI-based surgical revolution.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future company goals? Dr. Browd emphasized:
“Proprio aims to fundamentally transform the practice of surgery by expanding our deployment across more hospitals and health systems to reach a broader patient population. We plan to extend our services into additional medical specialties and continuously advance our AI and technology capabilities. Our goal is to harness new use cases and high-quality data to drive innovation, ultimately revolutionizing surgical procedures and techniques. We are committed to expanding our footprint and exponentially increasing the number of surgeries utilizing Paradigm, building on our technological advancements to provide surgeons with even more powerful tools for delivering exceptional patient care.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Dr. Browd concluded:
“As a founder of Proprio, I am incredibly excited to be on the brink of transforming surgical performance and improving the lives of millions of patients. My passion for medicine and helping people finds a profound outlet here, where we bring together top clinicians and technologists to drive impactful change. We are witnessing a transformational moment in healthcare, and being a part of it, contributing to what I believe will be a fundamental revolution in patient care delivery, is both inspiring and rewarding.”
