Endomaster

About Endomaster

Endomaster Pte. Ltd. is a Singapore-based medical device company developing a robotic-assisted surgical platform to advance endoscopic procedures. The firm was established in October 2011 as a spin-off from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS). The foundational research for the company's technology began as a project at NTU in 2004.

The company was co-founded by Professor Louis Phee, then an Associate Professor at NTU's School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, and Professor Lawrence Ho Khek Yu, a gastroenterologist at the National University Hospital. Prof. Phee, an expert in medical robotics and mechatronics, served as the founding CEO and translated his research into a commercial venture. Prof. Ho provided the clinical vision, aiming to develop a robot capable of performing surgery inside the gastrointestinal tract without incisions. The inspiration for the robotic system's design reportedly came during a chilli crab meal, where the founders observed the dexterity of the crab's pincers.

Endomaster's core product is the MASTER (Master and Slave Transluminal Endoscopic Robot) system, which mounts two robotic arms on the tip of a flexible endoscope. This setup allows a surgeon, operating from a remote console with a joystick, to perform complex, incision-less surgeries. The system is designed to provide greater precision and intuitive control compared to traditional endoscopic tools, enabling procedures like Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) for removing gastrointestinal tumors. The dual robotic arms, which are only a few millimeters in diameter, can perform bimanual tasks, offering enhanced manipulation, dissection, and even suturing capabilities, which are limitations in conventional single-instrument endoscopy. Benefits for patients include reduced discomfort, faster recovery times, and a lower risk of infection and scarring.

The company serves hospitals and specialized endoscopy centers, operating in the high-growth market for minimally invasive surgical devices. Its business model revolves around the development, manufacturing, and sale of its robotic surgical system and associated instruments. Endomaster has conducted successful first-in-man trials and larger clinical trials, demonstrating the system's safety and effectiveness in reducing procedure times for removing early-stage gastrointestinal cancers. In 2020, a second-generation system, the EndoMaster EASE, was used in a clinical trial for colorectal ESD.

Financially, Endomaster has secured significant investment to fund its long-term development and commercialization efforts. It raised an undisclosed seed round from HOYA Corporation in 2013 and a Series B round of S$20.5 million (approximately US$14.6M) in 2017. The company's key investors include HOYA, Chuang Capital, and NTUitive.