Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite improvements in screening, detecting small nodules is still a major challenge. Many tiny nodules are hidden deep in the lung, making them hard to reach with standard tools. Patients often face months of scans and uncertain results while waiting for definitive treatment. Joanna Nathan co-founded Prana Surgical to change that. Her team is developing a new surgical device designed to locate and remove small lung nodules without invasive open surgery or unnecessary tissue removal.

Joanna Nathan’s Journey and Vision

Joanna Nathan has a diverse background that spans research, product development, investing, and entrepreneurship. She started her career as a biomedical engineer working in translational research, where she saw firsthand how ideas can turn into prototypes and early tests. Moving into product development, she learned how difficult it is to create reliable medical devices. Her experience as a venture investor at Mercury Fund and at Johnson & Johnson’s medtech innovation center gave her insight into building companies from the ground up. All these experiences led her to founding Prana Surgical, combining her passions and knowledge to solve real patient problems.

Her goal is to improve the way small lung nodules are found and treated. She believes technology can make procedures less invasive and more precise. Her team focuses on building tools that help doctors locate tiny, peripheral nodules—sometimes just 4 millimeters in size—that are difficult to reach with traditional biopsy methods. Her approach is grounded in practical experience and a deep understanding of both technology and medical challenges.

The Prana Surgical System and Its Impact

Prana Surgical is developing the Prana System, a minimally invasive tool designed to locate and remove small lung nodules efficiently. This device aims to address a major gap in current procedures, where tiny nodules often remain undetected or require extensive tissue removal during surgery. In November, Prana Surgical conducted its first early clinical trials in Melbourne, Australia. During these trials, surgeons successfully targeted nodules as small as 4 millimeters, which are typically difficult to access with existing biopsy tools.

The system’s innovation lies in its ability to accurately localize small, peripheral nodules without the need for open surgery. This reduces recovery time, minimizes tissue removal, and improves patient outcomes. Joanna Nathan emphasizes that their focus is on creating a reliable, easy-to-use device that enhances surgical precision while reducing risks associated with traditional methods. The team’s goal is to make lung nodule removal safer and more accessible for patients worldwide.

Interestingly, while the team at Prana Surgical uses artificial intelligence daily in their development process, the device itself does not rely on AI during surgery. Joanna explains that this deliberate choice stems from her understanding of both the potential and the pitfalls of AI in medical devices. She advocates for cautious integration of AI, ensuring that it supports clinicians without replacing critical decision-making. Her perspective is shaped by her extensive experience in the industry and her commitment to patient safety and device reliability.

Inspired by

• https://justainews.com/industries/healthcare-and-medical/interview-joanna-nathan-ceo-and-co-founder-prana-surgical/

Sources

• who.int
• pranasurgical.com