In any industry, strong leadership is key to long-term success and resiliency. And in the medical technology space, the right leadership can make the difference between being able to create life-saving innovations and stagnation. Few understand this better than Tim Murawski, whose dedicated leadership has shaped some of the most influential MedTech companies over the past 20 years. With an emphasis on charting new paths for minimally invasive procedures, the companies led by Tim Murawski have contributed incredible advancements to healthcare, and continue to do so today.
Here’s a quick overview of how Mr. Murawski has helped propel these revolutionary companies forward over the past two decades, and what ventures he plans .
Tim Murawski and Intuitive
Intuitive began in 1995 with the goal of bringing innovative technological solutions to the healthcare space. The company launched the da Vinci system, bringing advanced robotics systems to an area of healthcare that desperately needed it. One of the very first robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgical systems to be cleared by the FDA, the da Vinci has helped enable OR teams across the world to perform a wide variety of minimally-invasive procedures.
Historically, many operations have been characterized by long recovery times, invasive incisions, and higher patient risk. With the da Vinci system in place, physicians can consistently deliver better patient experiences and improve operational efficiency. Of course, with this kind of innovation, Intuitive quickly became and continues to advance its array of products even now. For example, the recently-launched Ion system makes it much easier for physicians to perform minimally invasive lung biopsies. This kind of procedure is critical in diagnosing life-threatening illnesses like lung cancer.
Since launching the da Vinci system, Intuitive has been able to spread its tech around the globe, creating access to better care for millions. Since the company’s beginning, over 8.5 million procedures have been performed with the support of the da Vinci system. A true game-changer for the industry, Intuitive has allowed OR teams to provide a greater level of care than ever before.
Augmedics and the Xvision system
In 2019, Mr. Murawski joined Augmedics as . Augmedics is a MedTech company that has pioneered one of the most successful uses of augmented reality (AR) in the operating room. Through a custom-fitted headset with a near-eye display, surgeons can use AR to ‘see’ digital information overlaid onto the real world. For example, during a spinal operation, they can see through a patient’s skin and tissue to see the exact location of any tools and implants in use. This is all made possible through their Xvision system.
The Xvision spinal system was created to give surgeons the closest thing possible to x-ray vision. Especially in these types of procedures, accuracy and efficiency of time are of paramount importance in reducing patient risk and recovery time. However, traditional navigational systems only allowed surgeons to see this info when looking at a separate screen away from the patient. The Xvision system removes the need to look away from the patient at all, giving those using the headset all the information they need to complete a procedure. Given this newfound ability to eliminate lost time, surgeons are able to finish these often life-changing procedures in as little as ⅓ of the time. What’s more, patients are often able to enjoy greatly reduced and much less painful recovery times as a result.
As , Tim Murawski’s leadership was one of the biggest factors contributing to Augmedics and the Xvision system’s success. As with many companies, the beginning of the pandemic marked a period of uncertainty about the future. Thanks to leading an incredible internal effort to raise funds for the Xvision system, Mr. Murawski was able to ensure a fully successful launch of the company’s technology in 2020. Over the next year, Augmedics was able to close out a series C funding round with an impressive $36 million, bringing the total funds raised to over $63 million.
In addition to closing the oversubscribed funding round, Augmedics recently announced new board leadership. Rick Anderson, chairman of Revival Healthcare Capital has joined as executive chairman of the board while Bradley Paddock, president & CEO of CeQur SA serves as the board’s independent director. These appointments and the connections they bring will play a vital part in expanding Augmedic’s mission to bring the Xvision system to more surgeons and patients globally.
What’s next?
For Mr. Murawski, the future is all about . 20 years ago, it was hard to imagine that doctors would one day be able to ‘see’ in x-ray vision. Now, OR teams across the globe are eagerly awaiting new advancements in MedTech to improve efficiency and support an even wider array of patient needs. While the Augmedics team’s primary focus continues to be getting the xvision spinal system in the hands of as many surgeons as possible, the team is also researching new applications of AR. Augmented reality technology is loaded with potential use cases. In the future, the Xvision system may very well be able to adapt to a variety of usages across different types of procedures, including brain surgeries.
Such advancements would not be possible without the passionate work ethic of the wider Augmedics team and determined leadership from President . In the journey toward better patient outcomes, Augmedics is just getting started.