Jun 8, 2025

The Memo: Novuson Surgical Using Precision Sound to Eliminate Surgical Smoke

The Memo: Novuson Surgical Using Precision Sound to Eliminate Surgical Smoke

Dr-Stuart-Mitchell-Founder-and-CEO-of-Novuson-Surgical

Under the direction of Founder and CEO Dr. Stuart Mitchell, Novuson Surgical is redefining surgical energy with a new class of precision instruments powered by direct therapeutic ultrasound (DTU). By minimizing thermal damage and eliminating surgical smoke, Novuson’s technology offers a safer, more scalable alternative to conventional electrosurgical tools.

“We’re not trying to be a refinement,” said Mitchell. “We’re replacing the entire energy modality.”

With regulatory clearance on the horizon and global commercialization plans underway, Novuson is ready to transform how surgery is done—safer for patients and simpler for providers.

Origin Story

Novuson Surgical was founded while Mitchell was a researcher at the University of Washington, where he was studying high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for non-invasive cancer treatments and bleeding control. While preparing animal models with standard electrosurgical devices, he encountered a problem—one that turned into a mission.

“Complaints of smoke and the smell from neighboring offices,” Mitchell recalled. “And it made us realize: why are we still using devices that produce carcinogens and smoke in surgery?”

Combining his engineering expertise and real-world surgical collaborations, Mitchell began developing a solution that would eliminate the root cause: extreme heat.

“I’ve had skin cancer treatments, and I have Crohn’s disease—I know I’ll need surgery one day,” he said. “And I’ve seen what this exposure does to nurses. We can fix this.”

The Current Landscape

The dominant electrosurgical technologies today—radiofrequency (RF) and harmonic—use extreme heat to seal and cut tissue. That process generates harmful smoke and causes unintended damage to surrounding tissue.

“They operate at temperatures way above the threshold for permanent and instant tissue damage,” said Mitchell. “That includes lateral thermal spread, charring, and surgical smoke—which puts carcinogens in the patient and exposes the OR staff.”

Hospitals have taken notice. Nearly half of U.S. states have enacted mandates requiring surgical smoke mitigation systems, but adoption is hampered by cost and workflow complexity. “Our technology eliminates the smoke altogether,” said Mitchell. “Hospitals don’t need extra equipment—and surgeons don’t need to change behavior.”

Inside the Innovation

Novuson’s platform is based on DTU, which uses high-intensity ultrasound to treat tissue from the inside out. Instead of generating heat on the surface, Novuson’s devices create a focal zone within the tissue that cauterizes and seals with unmatched precision.

“We’re operating at significantly lower temperatures and doing the same procedures,” said Mitchell. “We have less than a quarter millimeter of lateral thermal spread—compared to roughly three millimeters for RF and harmonic. That opens the door to operating safely near nerves, in the endocrine system, or on delicate tissues like the lung and liver.”

Novuson’s smaller-diameter devices are also enabling minimally invasive access. One standout application: a percutaneous gynecological procedure to remove fallopian tubes without removing ovaries or using trocars. “It reduces cancer risk for females by up to 40%—and we can do it through a single skin puncture.”

Progress and Milestones

Novuson is in the final stages of preparing for market entry. “We just completed a major milestone—what we hope is our final version of generator software,” said Mitchell. “We’ll be validating that over the next few months.”

Production units will be built in Seattle, with regulatory submission and market entry targeted by the end of 2025. The company is currently raising $3 million as part of a $15 million preferred equity round to support launch and scale-up.

Key milestones include:

  • Collaborative R&D revenue from surgical robotics partnerships
  • Finalizing next-gen generator with enhanced power output
  • Building production devices and preparing for validation studies
  • Active global commercialization planning

“We already have a distributor lined up in Europe,” said Mitchell. “And in Asia, we’re seeing strong interest from strategic partners—they’re just waiting for U.S. regulatory clearance.”

Join Us at LSI Asia ‘25 and LSI Europe ‘25

Mitchell has been selected to present at LSI Asia ‘25 (June 10-13) and LSI Europe ‘25 (September 7-11) in front of hundreds of global medical technology companies. Join us in welcoming Mitchell to the events in Singapore and London, where he will share the latest updates on Novuson’s technology and development.