VitVio, a London-based startup at the forefront of integrating AI into healthcare, has raised €1.8 million in pre-seed funding to transform surgical operating theaters by improving efficiency, enhancing patient outcomes, and reducing costs.
The funding round was led by LDV Capital with participation from Bek Ventures, Tiny Supercomputer Investment Company, and angel investors.
The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital (ROH) NHS Foundation Trust, renowned for its orthopaedic care, has also launched a pilot programme with VitVio’s platform to enhance the safety and efficiency of surgical procedures.
“The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital is known as one of the UK’s leading institutions in terms of outcomes and efficiency and, naturally, they have decided to utilize our platform and leverage the cutting-edge AI technology to even further increase the efficiency of surgical procedures,” says Thomas Knox, Co-Founder and CEO at VitVio. “By autonomously tracking surgical processes and tools, VitVio minimises the potential for human error and adds no extra steps to the surgical process, aligning with industry experts’ consensus on the importance of non-intrusive technology.”
Founded by Thomas Knox (CEO), Dr. Peter Rennert (CTO), Maks Kozarzewski (COO), and Aleks Pajewski(CPO), VitVio leverages computer vision and AI expertise honed during over 150 deployments at leading autonomous retail companies AiFi and Standard AI. This technical foundation positions the startup to address inefficiencies in hospitals, where operating rooms (ORs) account for 40% of expenditure – as per comments by VitVio.
With cameras and sensors installed in operating theaters and integrated with the hospital’s existing health information systems, VitVio’s AI algorithms operate seamlessly, tracking and analysing aspects of the surgical procedure—from tool usage and surgical stages to adherence to safety protocols. This real-time data is accessible to medical professionals via a dashboard, providing updates on surgery progress, estimates of remaining times, and alerts for deviations from standard protocols.
Theater coordinators and hospital administrators benefit from OR analytics, utilizing VitVio’s insights for scheduling surgeries more efficiently, planning resource allocation, and making informed decisions to improve overall OR utilisation. The platform’s analytics also offer feedback for continuous improvement in surgical practices and patient care.
Post-surgery, VitVio provides detailed reports, identifying successes and opportunities for
improvement, and encouraging continuous learning opportunities. These insights fuel debriefing sessions for surgical teams to review performance, address flagged issues, and plan enhancements.
Cumulative data gathered by VitVio can aid in understanding surgical operations and guiding evidence-based strategies to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and elevate patient safety.
Steve Washbourne, Executive Director of Finance at the ROH said: “We are excited to be partnering with VitVio to take advantage of advances in technology that will help us drive improvement in our theaters. The NHS faces significant challenges, so we need to be innovative to find solutions. New technology is one area we have been keen to explore – though this collaboration isn’t just about advanced technology. It is about empowering our staff with the tools they need to focus on what matters most – providing the best care for patients. By streamlining processes, we’re looking forward to a more efficient surgical experience.”
According to data supplied by VitVio, the NHS faces significant strain, with 7.6 million people on waiting lists as of April 2024, a threefold rise since 2010. In the US, inefficiencies in ORs contribute to an estimated €67.9 billion in excess costs annually, this figure does not include any additional knock-on effects, delays, or costs beyond the operating room. VitVio’s platform directly addresses these challenges by enabling better resource allocation, reducing surgical complications, and cutting waste.
“We at LDV Capital are thrilled to partner with the brilliant team at VitVio. Their real-time AI-powered platform will exponentially increase operating room ROI and safety for hospitals while hopefully positively impacting patient care. VitVio will deliver a leapfrog technical solution to operating theaters by leveraging computer vision and artificial intelligence which have been a core expertise of our LDV Capital firm since being founded in 2012,” said Evan Nisselson, Founder and General Partner at LDV Capital.
“When we met the founder team at VitVio, we were immediately attracted to their technical capability proven out in an adjacent area and the giant impact that VitVio’s technology can have on the economics of hospitals, as well as improved health outcomes. The vast advantage that applied AI can bring to healthcare makes for a very compelling investment case. We are excited to partner with VitVio on its journey,” added Cem Sertoglu, Managing Partner at Bek Ventures.
The recent funding will allow VitVio to expand its platform’s capabilities and deploy the technology across hospitals in the US, UK, and Europe. More partnerships with leading hospitals are set to be announced soon.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/01/vitvio-secures-e1-8-million-for-ai-powered-operating-rooms-in-hospitals/
