Illuminant Surgical has been awarded a competitive Phase 1 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to further develop and validate its platform for spine surgery. This non-dilutive funding supports research into improving accuracy, efficiency, and affordability in surgical navigation through the development of a system that directly projects images onto the patient that guide surgical interventions in real-time.  By enabling direct visualization and by requiring minimal consumable components, the project aims to address usability and cost barriers that hinder adoption of current platforms. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

This grant solidifies Illuminant's position as a leader in next-generation surgical technology and lays the groundwork for a future Phase 2 grant to accelerate commercialization. By securing federal funding, the company gains critical resources to refine its technology and validate its efficacy in real-world surgical applications. With increasing pressure to reduce operative times and revision surgery costs, Illuminant’s innovations are well-positioned to redefine the standard of care in spine surgery.

Read more at SBIR.GOV.