Auris Surgical Robotics raises $150m for microsurgical robot for eye surgery
Auris Surgical Robotics has raised $150m to develop its microsurgical robot for eye surgery, which it publicly announced back in 2013. Despite being in stealth mode, the company has secured an impressive amount of funding from a list of big investors, such as Peter Thiel backed Mithril Capital Management, Lux Capital and NaviMed Capital.

Stealth Bay Area startup Auris Surgical Robotics has just raised an astounding $150 million in equity, according to a regulatory filing. The company’s got an all-star list of investors – including Lux Capital, NaviMed Capital and the Peter Thiel-backed Mithril Capital Management.

The company’s remained quiet about its activities. But it did announce in 2013 that it’s developing a microsurgical robot for eye surgery, particularly cataract removal.

A representative for Auris said Wednesday the company’s deep in stealth mode and will not comment about the funding, or how it will be used.

Just last year, Auris raised a substantial Series A round of $34 million from some 20 backers, including Highland Capital Partners, Lux Capital and Mithril Capital Management.

Here are some of the names behind Auris, as listed on the filing:

“We evaluated a variety of advanced cutting technologies for use in our robotic cataract-removal system,” Moll said in the 2013 statement. “For cutting precision, system compatibility, and lack of tissue trauma, we found significant advantages in using BIOLASE’s Waterlase technology. We anticipate that our system will have major advantages over traditional phacoemulsification and should create a new standard for safety, speed, and effectiveness in cataract removal.”

At the time, it said it had teamed up with Orange County dental and pain reduction laser manufacturer Biolase.

Photo: Flickr user Andrew M. Butler