Key Investor Signals
Cut flap-harvest time by 19 minutes in randomized trial
A 2019 randomized trial in 60 DIEP breast-reconstruction patients tested the Anatomy Projector, the technology that preceded Exolumen’s current AR Projector, and reduced flap-harvest time by 19 minutes versus Doppler ultrasound.
Anatomy Projector used in more than 400 surgeries
Before Exolumen was incorporated, the Anatomy Projector—the technology that evolved into its current AR Projector—was used in more than 400 surgeries at Radboudumc.
Mapped 82% of vessels within 3 cm in feasibility study
A 2025 feasibility study in 20 thigh flaps tested projected thermal imaging for vessel localization; 82.1% of surgically identified vessels were within 3 cm of a projected hotspot.
Team
Stefan Hummelink
CTO and Co-founder
- Developed the Anatomy Projector during doctoral research at Radboud, translating a surgical planning problem into a working device.
- Completed a clinical fellowship in 2019 focused on breast reconstruction and lymphoedema within Radboudumc plastic surgery.
- Named inventor on US9763748B2, the anatomical image projection patent granted in 2017 and assigned to Radboudumc.
Jeffrey van Rootseler
Co-founder; former CEO
- Led connected medication management business development for BD in Benelux from 2021 to 2024, working with hospital executives.
- Managed BD Rowa and BD Pyxis accounts from 2019 to 2021, building commercial experience with medication-management systems.
- Helped shape BD’s connected medication-management offer for Benelux through hospital C-suite engagement and partner development.
Product
Exolumen combines anatomical image projection with automatic alignment to the patient. Its prototype platform supports surgical planning and thermal imaging, with clinical research focused on mapping small blood vessels before tissue-transfer reconstruction.
Anatomical planning on the skin
The planning module projects blood-vessel locations from preoperative CT scans onto the patient. Surgeons can use the visible map to plan tissue dissection before reconstruction, while colleagues see the same overlay.
Automatic movement correction
The system adjusts the projected image as the patient or device moves. This alignment mechanism is designed to keep anatomical information in place on the skin and support a shared view without individual headsets.
Thermal images for vessel mapping
A thermal sensor captures skin-temperature patterns, and the projector displays them directly on the patient. Researchers have studied this module for locating vessels in thigh tissue used for breast reconstruction.
Market Overview
Surgical visualization equipment helps operating teams connect scans and other clinical data to the anatomy in front of them. Hospitals buy these systems for image-guided procedures, where accurate localization and efficient use of operating-room time are central to clinical and purchasing decisions.
Reconstructive surgery is a focused entry segment for projection-based guidance. Hospitals already buy imaging hardware, planning software and navigation tools to translate scan data into intraoperative decisions. Projected augmented reality extends that workflow by placing patient-specific anatomy directly onto the operative field without requiring a headset.
Grand View Research estimates 2025 global surgical navigation revenue, including robot-assisted systems.
North America generated 41.6% of global surgical navigation revenue in the 2025 estimate.
Estimated 2025 global revenue for augmented-reality surgery-planning tools, including projection systems.
Projected annual growth in the global augmented-reality surgery-planning market from 2025 to 2031.
Comparable Outcomes
Scopis
Scopis developed surgical navigation that merged preoperative plans with endoscopic images, giving surgeons real-time anatomical guidance during sinus procedures. Stryker acquired Scopis in November 2017 and integrated its augmented reality technology into the Target Guided Surgery navigation platform.
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Sources
This profile was built from public company materials, ecosystem sources, market references, and professional profiles.