Robotic Prostatectomy Has Run Its Course with Dr. Arun Menawat

In this episode of The Crux of MedTech, Henry Norton is joined by Dr. Arun Menawat, Chairman and CEO of Profound Medical, the company behind the TULSA-PRO® system, an MRI-guided, incision-free platform that’s directly challenging robotic prostatectomy with head-to-head clinical data.Arun shares the clinical trial results that show step-change improvements in patient outcomes, the commercial lessons from building and exiting Novadaq (acquired by Stryker), and why he believes incision-free surgery isn’t just a product, it’s the next wave.Key Topics:Head-to-head clinical trial data: TULSA-PRO vs. robotic prostatectomyHow MRI-guided thermal ultrasound works and why it matters for patient outcomesThe Novadaq journey: from fluorescence imaging to a Stryker acquisitionBuilding a KOL strategy for a novel surgical platformWhy incision-free surgery is positioned to disrupt the next decade of surgical careRelated Insights:Why you can’t sell to surgeons by telling them they need to be betterThe role of AI in standardising MR imaging for surgical planningWhy CMS reimbursement for TULSA now exceeds robotic surgeryHow different KOL personas early adopters, visionaries, and conservatives each serve a commercialisation strategyCore Challenges:Robotic prostatectomy, despite being the current standard, carries a 75% risk of incontinence or erectile dysfunction. The robot mimics the surgeon’s hands with more reach, but it doesn’t address the precision problem the prostate sits in a highly congested area surrounded by nerve bundles and sphincter muscles.Profound Medical’s TULSA-PRO uses real-time MRI guidance and thermal ultrasound to ablate tissue at 57°C the lowest lethal temperature with AI-driven boundary mapping. The result: dramatically reduced side effects, no incision, and patients going home the same day.Tune in now to hear how Profound Medical is challenging the robotic surgery status quo with clinical data, MR-guided precision, and a vision for incision-free surgery across oncology and beyond.The Crux of MedTech podcast is brought to you by Cruxx, a specialist surgical robotics recruitment agency. To learn more about Cruxx,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠click here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A big thank you to our sponsors on this season of the podcast; ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ With a 35-year track record, TTP excels in turning innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. Their team of 300+ experts deliver breakthrough solutions in areas ranging from endoluminal robotics and navigation systems to ultrasound imaging. Whether you're a startup or a multinational, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can accelerate your development with the latest technologies. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠