Mark Rentschler, a professor of mechanical engineering, is a named inventor on 24 U.S. patents and 18 international patents, along with numerous additional patent applications pending. Each of his issued and pending patents are commercially licensed or in the process of being licensed.
Virtual Incision Corporation, founded substantially upon Rentschler’s doctoral research, is one of these licensees. Focused on a novel miniaturized in vivo robotic assistant, Virtual Incision seeks to help those who need colon resection procedures to treat lower gastrointestinal diseases. Today, Virtual Incision has over 25 employees and has raised $50 million of venture capital.
Aspero Medical, Inc., a CU spin-out company based on technology and intellectual property developed in Rentschler’s research laboratory, currently has five employees and plans to expand in 2021. Aspero, which provides solutions for those who suffer from incomplete gastrointestinal endoscopies, has raised $2 million in venture-capital funding and secured National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants.
Rentschler and the students working in his Advanced Medical Technologies Laboratory are developing a new patent portfolio around robotic endoscopy for gastroenterology. He was recently awarded funding to further translate the basic research concepts for this approach.
