Shape Sensing provides an integrated platform of fiber‑optic sensors, high‑speed interrogation hardware, and software SDKs that embed full‑length, real‑time 3D shape awareness into flexible medical devices. This enables radiation‑free navigation, precise control, and continuous procedural data streams for device manufacturers in cardiology, endoscopy, orthopedics, and robotic surgery.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Minimally invasive procedures rely on intermittent imaging or external tracking, which provides only partial information about the shape and position of long, flexible devices such as catheters, guidewires, and endoscopes. This limits navigation precision, increases radiation exposure, and prevents systematic capture of procedural data.
Solution
The Shape Sensing Company offers an integrated platform that embeds fiber‑optic shape sensors directly into flexible medical devices, delivering continuous, real‑time 3D geometry of the entire instrument. High‑speed interrogation hardware converts raw optical signals into accurate shape reconstructions, while software SDKs stream the data to existing visualization, navigation, or control systems. By providing full‑length, radiation‑free device awareness, the platform enables more precise navigation, supports advanced guidance algorithms, and creates a persistent procedural data stream for analytics and closed‑loop control. The solution is delivered through a partnership model in which device manufacturers incorporate the sensors, integrate the hardware, and adopt the software interfaces, while the company supplies engineering support and long‑term supply.
Target Audience
Primary customers are medical device manufacturers developing flexible instruments for cardiology, endoscopy, orthopedics, and robotic‑assisted surgery, as well as OEMs and CDMOs seeking to add real‑time shape awareness to their product portfolios.
Features
- Embeddable fiber‑optic sensors that measure the full 3D shape of a device along its entire length
- High‑speed interrogation system that reconstructs shape data in real time with sub‑millimeter accuracy
- Software APIs and SDKs for seamless integration with existing visualization, navigation, and robotic control platforms
- Radiation‑free operation eliminates reliance on fluoroscopy or intermittent imaging
- Continuous procedural data stream enables analytics, AI‑driven guidance, and closed‑loop feedback control
- Scalable partnership framework covering technical evaluation, integration support, and production supply