Robeauté, a French medtech startup, has raised $28 million to develop microrobots the size of a grain of rice that can travel through the brain to treat neurological conditions. These robots are designed to move through the brain’s delicate tissue, deliver drugs, take samples, and implant electrodes — all with minimal damage to healthy areas. Human trials are expected to begin by 2026.
This article explains what these microrobots do, how they work, and why this funding is a major step forward for the future of neurosurgery.
What Are Robeauté’s Brain Microrobots?
These microrobots are just 1.8 millimeters long. They’re small enough to move through the brain’s extracellular space — the space between cells — without cutting or tearing through tissue. That’s a major change from traditional neurosurgery, which often requires large incisions or drilling into the skull.
Each robot has a tiny engine and a navigation system. It can be steered inside the brain using external magnetic fields or programmed to follow a specific path. Once inside, it can do things like:
- Take a tissue sample for biopsy
- Implant tiny electrodes to monitor activity
- Deliver targeted doses of drugs
- Collect live data for diagnostics
These features make the robot a multi-functional tool — part probe, part lab, part treatment device.
Why Is This Important?
Brain surgeries are among the most delicate medical procedures. Traditional tools risk damaging nearby healthy tissue. With a device this small, doctors could reduce the risk, speed up recovery, and access hard-to-reach areas.
This is especially important for conditions like:
- Brain tumors
- Parkinson’s disease
- Epilepsy
- Glioblastoma
- Deep brain infections
The robot doesn’t replace surgeons — but it could become a tool they use for more precise, less invasive operations.
Key Advantages of Robeauté’s Microrobots
| Feature | Benefit |
| Size (1.8mm) | Reaches areas traditional tools can’t |
| Remote navigation | Steered externally, no large incisions |
| Live data collection | Helps doctors monitor treatment in real-time |
| Multi-purpose design | Delivers drugs, takes samples, implants sensors |
| Minimally invasive | Reduces damage to healthy brain tissue |
How Did Robeauté Get Here?
Robeauté was co-founded by Bertrand Duplat and Joana Cartocci. Duplat, who has a background in robotics, was inspired by his mother’s brain cancer diagnosis. He realized that existing tools were too large, risky, and limited.
Together, they spent over eight years developing the technology. The company has filed more than 50 patents related to micromotors, tracking systems, and safety features for use inside the human brain.
Robeauté is also working with medical labs and research institutions to test the robots in animal models. These tests show the robots can navigate the brain’s pathways without causing bleeding or trauma.
What Will the $28 Million Be Used For?
The funding round, backed by investors like Plural, Cherry Ventures, Kindred, and Brainlab, will help Robeauté:
- Begin clinical trials by 2026
- Expand operations into the U.S. market
- Apply for FDA approval
- Scale manufacturing of the microrobots
- Continue building partnerships with hospitals and research labs
This investment signals growing confidence in microrobotics as a part of future neurosurgery.
Robeauté’s Funding Overview
| Use of Funds | Impact |
| Clinical trials in humans | Paves way for regulatory approval |
| FDA pathway in the U.S. | Prepares robots for U.S. hospitals |
| Manufacturing and scaling | Makes tech ready for real-world use |
| Research partnerships | Expands testing and real-world feedback |
How Do These Robots Work Inside the Brain?
The brain isn’t a straight tunnel. It’s a soft, complex network of tissue, fluid, and cells. To move safely, Robeauté’s robots are designed to:
- Curve along natural pathways
- Use sensors to avoid sensitive zones
- Get tracked in real-time using external scanners
- Power themselves using tiny onboard motors
The robot doesn’t cut — it glides through spaces between brain cells. This allows for far less trauma than traditional surgical tools.
Once it arrives at its destination, it can perform a task like taking a sample or releasing medication, then move out again — all without open surgery.
What Does This Mean for Patients?
If Robeauté’s trials are successful, patients with neurological diseases may no longer need major surgery. Instead, they could have a microrobot inserted via a small needle or port, with no hospital stay or long recovery.
In the long term, this technology could help:
- Detect brain conditions earlier
- Deliver treatments in hard-to-reach areas
- Customize treatment based on real-time brain data
- Reduce the need for repeat procedures
The robot becomes not just a surgical tool, but a living sensor inside the brain.
How This Connects to Future Tech
Robeauté’s work shows how microrobotics, AI, and real-time data collection are merging in healthcare. In the future, we could see:
- Fully autonomous surgical robots
- AI models that read live brain signals from implants
- Personalized treatments delivered through nanotech or microtools
- Brain-computer interfaces powered by embedded sensors
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Conclusion
Robeauté’s rice-sized microrobots could change how we approach brain surgery. By shrinking the tools and increasing their precision, this technology could improve outcomes, lower risks, and give doctors new ways to diagnose and treat conditions deep in the brain.
The next few years will be critical as Robeauté moves from the lab to real patients. If successful, this could be the start of a new era in neurosurgery — one where high-risk brain operations become safer, faster, and more personalized than ever before.
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