Method AI, a Cleveland Clinic spinout focused on improving cancer surgery outcomes, has raised $20 million in Series A funding to advance its AI-powered surgical navigation platform. The round was led by a private family office, with participation from Cleveland Clinic and JobsOhio Growth Capital Fund.
Founded in 2021, Method AI was born out of challenges Cleveland Clinic’s robotic surgeons faced in visualizing subsurface anatomy during complex oncology procedures. Today’s surgical cameras provide only surface-level views, making it difficult to identify tumor margins in real time—a gap that can lead to incomplete cancer removal.
Mapping the Invisible
Method AI’s platform combines continuous 3D ultrasound imaging with AI-generated surgical plans, creating a dynamic map of anatomy hidden below organ surfaces. The system delivers real-time guidance, showing surgeons tumor boundaries and critical features that would otherwise remain unseen.
The goal: improve cancer-free survival rates while cutting an estimated $1 billion in annual healthcare costs tied to repeat surgeries and complications.
“In complex oncology procedures, surgeons often must remove tumors embedded deep within organs,” said Doug Teany, Co-Founder and CEO of Method AI. “Our technology makes the difference between fully removing a tumor or leaving part of it behind—an outcome that has a direct impact on long-term survival.”
Tackling a High-Failure Rate in Cancer Surgery
Despite progress in robotic and minimally invasive surgery, up to 40% of oncology surgeries fail to completely remove cancer, leaving patients vulnerable to recurrence. By providing real-time, AI-guided visualization, Method AI aims to close that gap and preserve organ function where possible.
The company’s algorithms continuously process ultrasound inputs during surgery, updating a 3D map that guides physicians step by step. Over time, the platform is expected to leverage machine learning to refine surgical strategies across different cancer types and patient anatomies.
Why It Matters
The funding underscores growing investor confidence in AI-powered medtech, particularly in oncology where precision and outcomes are paramount. Method AI is positioning itself at the intersection of robotics, imaging, and artificial intelligence, a convergence area drawing increasing attention from both hospital systems and venture backers.
If successful, the technology could become a standard of care in oncology surgeries, especially as healthcare providers seek innovations that improve outcomes while lowering systemic costs.
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