Healthcare has entered an era where precision, safety, and consistency are becoming essential elements of modern medical care. As minimally invasive procedures expand across specialties, physicians require advanced tools that allow them to perform delicate interventions with greater accuracy and reliability. Image-guided procedures, particularly those using ultrasound, have become an important part of clinical practice, providing physicians with real-time visibility during critical stages of care.

Despite these developments, ultrasound-guided procedures often require extensive training and years of experience to master. Accurate targeting, instrument placement, and procedural execution depend on clinical expertise and technical skill. This creates opportunities for innovative technologies that simplify procedural workflows while preserving the expertise of healthcare professionals.

Robotics, imaging systems, and intelligent software are creating new possibilities in modern medicine. These technologies enable physicians to perform minimally invasive procedures with improved precision and consistency while creating more accessible pathways for delivering high-quality care. By bringing together advanced engineering and clinician-focused design, new solutions are addressing longstanding challenges associated with image-guided interventions.

The integration of robotics and real-time imaging represents an important development in healthcare innovation. These technologies provide physicians with sophisticated tools designed to improve procedural execution, support informed clinical decisions, and create more predictable outcomes for patients. From needle placement procedures to image-guided interventions, technology is redefining possibilities in minimally invasive medicine.

As healthcare continues to evolve, demand for solutions that improve procedural accuracy and efficiency will remain strong. The next generation of medical technologies will be defined by systems that fit naturally into clinical workflows, address unmet needs, and help physicians deliver high-quality care across diverse specialties. Through innovation in robotics and imaging, the future of minimally invasive medicine is moving toward greater precision, consistency, and accessibility.

Mendaera is a healthcare technology company dedicated to developing robotic solutions that improve clinical capabilities and enable providers to perform safe, reproducible procedures. Founded by Josh DeFonzo and Jason Wilson, the company brings together engineers, clinicians, and operators united by a mission to develop robotic technology that improves healthcare delivery for providers and patients worldwide.

By integrating advanced technology with intuitive design, Mendaera creates solutions designed to improve procedural precision, clinical workflows, and patient experiences. The company is committed to developing technologies that make image-guided procedures more accessible, consistent, and effective across healthcare settings.

Technology

Mendaera develops handheld robotics and real-time imaging technologies designed to improve precision in ultrasound-guided procedures. While healthcare providers rely on ultrasound imaging every day to deliver accurate care, precise targeting remains a demanding skill that requires significant training and experience.

Mendaera’s technology addresses these challenges by enabling clinicians to achieve greater control and consistency during needle-based interventions. Through robotic assistance and real-time imaging capabilities, the company’s solutions are designed to improve procedural execution and outcomes across minimally invasive procedures.

Focalist™ Advances Precision in Ultrasound-Guided Procedures

In September 2025, Mendaera announced the world’s first procedures performed using the Focalist™ handheld robotic system. Urologist Karen Stern, M.D., of Mayo Clinic Arizona, used Focalist™ to achieve precise kidney access during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), a standard treatment for large kidney stones. The milestone procedures were presented at the World Conference on Endourology and Uro-Technology (WCET), a global forum for developments in minimally invasive kidney stone treatment.

PCNL requires accurate needle placement into the kidney under imaging guidance to establish a pathway for stone removal. Using Focalist™, Dr. Stern and her colleagues achieved rapid, efficient, and precise first-pass needle placement into the targeted kidney location.

The milestone procedures marked the beginning of Focalist’s limited U.S. launch in urology, with expansion into additional specialties planned. Through its handheld robotic platform, Mendaera continues to develop technologies for minimally invasive procedures by enabling greater precision and consistency in image-guided interventions.

JOSH DEFONZO | CO-FOUNDER AND CEO

Josh DeFonzo is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mendaera, bringing experience in healthcare technology, medical innovation, and the development of solutions that address unmet clinical needs. He has built a career around developing disruptive technologies, creating new markets, and guiding early-stage ventures through product development, strategic planning, and commercialization.

DeFonzo brings expertise in leadership, business development, product strategy, clinical trial design, healthcare reimbursement, and medical technology commercialization. His experience spans minimally invasive procedures, robotics, surgical technologies, imaging systems, medical devices, and advanced diagnostics.

At Mendaera, DeFonzo leads the company’s efforts to develop robotic technologies that improve clinical capabilities and enable healthcare providers to perform safe, reproducible procedures. His work focuses on expanding the role of robotics and image-guided technology in minimally invasive care.