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Relevance Ventures has announced that it led a multimillion-dollar Series B financing round for Aqua Medical, Inc., a clinical-stage medical technology company developing a minimally invasive endoscopic treatment for Type 2 diabetes. The announcement comes as Relevance participates as a sponsor and exhibitor at the 2026 NAFOA Fall Finance & Tribal Economies Conference in Santa Fe, which brings together Tribal leaders, investors and financial professionals to discuss economic development, access to capital and sovereignty. “Type 2 diabetes represents exactly the kind of challenge Relevance Ventures exists to combat. This is a significant human need with an opportunity for innovation to materially change outcomes and people’s lives,” said Dean Newton, Chairman and General Partner of Relevance Ventures. “Aqua is pursuing a fundamentally different approach to a disease that affects Native Americans at twice the national average, while claiming hundreds of millions of sufferers globally. We believe that combination of potential impact and scale is where some of the most compelling investment opportunities are created.” Aqua Medical cites figures indicating that Type 2 diabetes affects approximately 589 million people globally and is associated with more than $1 trillion in healthcare spending each year worldwide, including around $327 billion in the United States. The company is developing an investigational Proximal Intestinal Mucosal Ablation (PIMA) procedure, which uses a proprietary radiofrequency vapor ablation platform to address the condition. “Rather than relying solely on pharmaceutical management or more invasive surgical interventions, Aqua is building a minimally invasive, device-based approach to addressing metabolic disease,” explained Bob Haggerty, President and CEO of Aqua Medical. “Proceeds from this financing will support the completion of our ongoing U.S. RESTORE-1 pilot study and preparations for a planned U.S. pivotal trial, subject to regulatory authorization.” The RESTORE-1 study is evaluating the PIMA procedure at participating clinical sites across the United States under an FDA-approved Investigational Device Exemption. Aqua Medical’s product is FDA-cleared for the coagulation and ablation of bleeding and non-bleeding sites within the gastrointestinal tract, while its application in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes remains under clinical investigation. “Our investment philosophy is aimed at solving meaningful problems while creating enduring businesses,” said Cameron Newton, Managing Partner of Relevance Ventures. “That means backing companies across personal health, digital health, community health and financial health that address systemic challenges while pursuing market-rate financial outcomes. Aqua fits squarely within that framework.” The timing of the announcement is particularly relevant as Relevance Ventures co-sponsors and attends NAFOA, underscoring how Native-owned capital can contribute to the development of treatments addressing health challenges affecting Native communities. “NAFOA is an important gathering because it brings together leaders thinking seriously about capital, sovereignty and long-term economic strength,” added Kelly Holmes, Venture Partner & Tribal Ambassador of Relevance Ventures. “For us, announcing an investment like Aqua in that environment reinforces that Native participation in the capital markets brings real benefits to Indian Country, while not being limited to one sector or one geography.” As part of the financing, Dean Newton has also joined Aqua Medical’s Board of Directors. The appointment further strengthens the relationship between Relevance Ventures and Aqua Medical, reflecting Relevance’s commitment to supporting portfolio companies not only as a source of capital, but as a long-term strategic partner focused on creating lasting health outcomes.

Medtronic has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the LigaSure™ RAS Maryland jaw device for use with the Hugo™ robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system. The clearance broadens the range of instruments available for the Hugo RAS system, bringing Medtronic’s established vessel-sealing technology to U.S. surgeons performing robotic-assisted procedures. With robotic-assisted surgery continuing to expand across the U.S., surgeons are increasingly looking for access to the same trusted energy technologies they use in open and laparoscopic procedures within robotic workflows. The LigaSure RAS Maryland instrument addresses this need by combining the versatility of a robotic platform with vessel-sealing technology that surgeons have used and trusted for decades. “Vessel sealing sits at the center of how surgeons work through the most demanding moments of a procedure, and surgeons have trusted LigaSure to do it across open and laparoscopic surgery for decades,” said Dr. Matthew Kroh, chief medical officer within the Surgical business at Medtronic and a practicing surgeon. “Bringing that same performance to the Hugo RAS system in the U.S. means surgeons carry the confidence and control they already rely on into their robotic-assisted cases.” The Hugo RAS system is currently cleared for urologic surgical procedures in the U.S. and is being adopted by an increasing number of leading hospitals and health systems across the country. Medtronic is also continuing to advance plans to expand Hugo’s indications to a broader range of soft-tissue surgical procedures in the U.S., including general and gynecologic surgery. Internationally, the Hugo RAS system has supported tens of thousands of patients across more than 35 countries and more than 50 different surgical procedures spanning urology, general surgery and gynecology. Developed specifically for use with the Valleylab™ FT10 energy platform on the Hugo™ RAS system, the LigaSure™ RAS Maryland instrument is designed to seal and cut vessels, thick tissue and lymphatics up to and including 7 mm in diameter. The instrument can seal vessels in approximately two seconds while helping to minimise thermal spread to surrounding tissue. As Medtronic’s first robotic-driven LigaSure™ instrument, the technology builds on a platform that has been used in more than 45 million procedures across more than 65 countries over the past two decades. Following its CE Mark, the LigaSure RAS Maryland instrument was introduced for use with the Hugo™ RAS system in Europe in 2025. The addition of the LigaSure™ RAS Maryland instrument further demonstrates Medtronic’s commitment to supporting surgeons across open, laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgical approaches. By expanding the technologies available through the Hugo RAS system, Medtronic aims to provide surgeons and health systems with greater choice and support as they develop effective surgical programmes tailored to the individual needs of their patients.

Philips is expanding its obstetrics and gynecology ultrasound portfolio with the launch of its new eV14-2v transvaginal transducer. The eV14-2v has received FDA 510(k) clearance and CE marking, and Philips says the new transducer combines high-quality imaging with broad clinical capabilities in a lightweight design. According to Philips, the eV14-2v has been developed to reduce the need for clinicians to switch between transducers when seeking the optimal balance between penetration and image resolution. Such changes can disrupt workflow and increase examination times. The new transducer addresses these challenges with a 41.7% increase in penetration, a 10% improvement in 2D resolution, a 15.8% wider field of view and a 22% reduction in weight compared with the previous design. The eV14-2v is also compatible with Philips Collaboration Live, enabling real-time remote consultation during ultrasound examinations and supporting greater connectivity between clinicians. “Advancing women’s health is a priority for Philips ultrasound, and we are committed to developing innovations that make women’s healthcare more accessible and more comfortable for patients,” Ajay Gannerkote, Ultrasound business leader at Philips, said in a news release posted. “At Philips, we’re focused on bringing together high-quality imaging, intelligent workflows and connected capabilities to simplify the ultrasound experience for clinicians and patients. The eV14-2v transducer reflects that approach, giving clinicians greater versatility in a single transducer and helping support high-quality care for women.” Dr. Michael S. Ruma of Perinatal Associates of New Mexico also highlighted the potential benefits of reducing transducer changes during examinations. “Reducing transducer changes during exams has a meaningful impact, not just on efficiency, but on the patient experience as well. With the eV14-2v, we’re able to complete more exams with a single transducer while maintaining excellent image quality, which helps streamline our workflow and improve patient comfort.”

Siemens Healthineers has been awarded up to $31.1 million by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to accelerate the development of an autonomous, remotely operated endovascular robotic system designed to perform mechanical thrombectomy on stroke patients. The funding will be provided over five years, with the aim of developing a robotic system capable of carrying out endovascular procedures without direct human input. Siemens Healthineers will contribute a further $5.4 million through a cost-sharing arrangement. The initiative aims to address a critical gap in U.S. stroke care, where many patients do not have immediate access to neurointerventional specialists capable of performing thrombectomy. Without rapid intervention, patients may be limited to pharmacological thrombolytics, which do not always provide optimal outcomes. Catheter-based thrombectomy, which removes blood clots through an interventional procedure, has become a standard of care in some parts of the U.S., but access remains concentrated primarily in major cities and comprehensive stroke centres. When performed quickly, thrombectomy can significantly improve outcomes and reduce the risk of long-term disability. The development of this technology mirrors the major transformation that took place in cardiac care for heart attacks around 35 years ago. During the early 1990s, hospitals increasingly moved from thrombolytics towards percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The significantly improved outcomes associated with PCI ultimately made thrombolytics largely obsolete for myocardial infarction. Many experts believe a similar transition is now taking place in stroke care, although there remains a shortage of highly trained neurointerventional specialists. Autonomous robotic technology could help address this shortage by expanding access to advanced stroke treatment across the country, including rural and potentially remote communities. “Early access to the right treatment makes all the difference for stroke patients," explained Philipp Fischer, head of advanced therapies at Siemens Healthineers, in a statement. "By integrating robotics, imaging, devices and artificial intelligence, we want to transform the way endovascular therapy is delivered, towards greater accessibility and precision across a broader range of care settings.” Fischer added that the ARPA-H investment represents a major step forward in the development of autonomous, remotely operated endovascular robotics, with the potential to benefit patients and communities around the world. In the U.S., more than half of the population lives more than an hour away from a hospital capable of performing thrombectomy. ARPA-H estimates that only around 12% of the 335,000 stroke patients eligible for mechanical thrombectomy receive the treatment each year. Because stroke treatment is highly time-sensitive, delays can increase the risk of long-term disability or death while also driving up healthcare costs. Stryker, which has an established collaboration with Siemens Healthineers, is also receiving a portion of the funding. The two companies entered into a strategic partnership in 2025 aimed at accelerating innovation in robotic neurovascular interventions.