Precision-Guided Neuro Catheter Placement and Monitoring.
Supported by:
About Rhovica Neuroimaging
Rhovica Neuroimagings core technology allows optimizing the emergency treatment of patients at risk of raised intra-cranial pressure. Saving time, improving neurological outcomes, and reducing costs.
Placement of EVD’s is one of the most basic and often performed neurosurgical procedures and often can be a life-saving procedure. Freehand bedside EVD placement is usually performed solely by anatomical landmarks and carries the risk of misplacement.
Our novel EVD catheter SoNav™ allows a fast and secure placement of external ventricular drains as well as real-time monitoring after insertion.
We aim for a strong protection of our core technology.
Our core technology is patented and the intellectual property is owned by Rhovica Neuroimaging.
News
Latest news about Rhovica Neuroimaging.
Aug 25, 2025
Rhovica Neuroimaging secures CHF 2.3M (EUR 2.5M) financing led by M2care to accelerate development of SoNav™ neurosurgical device
Rhovica Neuroimaging AG, a Swiss MedTech start-up, has raised CHF 2.3 million (EUR 2.5 million) in a financing round led by M2care, with participation from Kickfund, Valuemaker and several other business angels. The funding will accelerate the development of SoNav, Rhovica’s bedside navigation system for EVD catheters used in emergency neurosurgery.
Feb 28, 2025
Rhovica Neuroimaging selected as a winner of the IMD Startup Competition
Rhovica Neuroimaging AG has been selected as one of the winners of the 27th annual IMD Startup Competition.
Dec 02, 2024
Collaboration between Rhovica Neuroimaging and M2care
Rhovica Neuroimaging and M2care have entered into a strong partnership to support the development of the startup and its technology. Through this contractual agreement, M2care provides both financial support as well as operational and strategic entrepreneurial expertise, which will accelerate the development of Rhovica Neuroimaging.
Dec 12, 2022
Rhovica Neuroimaging wins CHF 150,000
Rhovica Neuroimaging is developing a new external ventricular drainage catheter (EVD). Called SoNav, it has integrated sensors allowing for the safe, fast, and cost-efficient catheter placement and monitoring of brain ventricles. Their product addresses the high risk of a common neurosurgical intervention. The startup was awarded CHF 150,000 as a winner of Venture Kick’s third stage.
Jun 06, 2022
CHF 40,000 for a NMR-based fragment screening platform and miniature sensors in the EVD
NexMR and Rhovica Neuroimaging win Venture Kicks second stage of financial and entrepreneurial support. Their projects aim to facilitate the study of challenging systems and assist biotechs in their journey to address unmet medical needs, enable a safe and fast external ventricular drain insertion that prevents devastating complications.
Mar 03, 2022
Startups developing microwave passive devices, a NMR-based fragment screening platform, a new way to play videogames, miniature sensors in the EVD, an handwriting iPad app for children, and radiation hard silicon carbide sensors each win CHF 10,000
MinWave Technologies, NexMR, OVOMIND, Rhovica Neuroimaging, School Rebound, and SenSiC win Venture Kicks first stage of financial and entrepreneurial support. Their projects offer microwave passive devices 10 times smaller and 10 times lighter, aim to facilitate the study of challenging systems and assist biotechs in their journey to address unmet medical needs, compute biosignals from wearable devices and delivers real-time emotional data for interaction in videogames, enable a safe and fast external ventricular drain insertion that prevents devastating complications, help children improve their handwriting, and use a novel material, Silicon Carbide (SiC), and two novel technologies to fabricate and commercialize new beam monitors.
Executive Team
Meet the Executive Team behind Rhovica Neuroimaging.
Dr. med. Martin Hlavica
Neurosurgeon, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Board-certified neurosurgeon with 500+ neurosurgical interventions, completing residency in University Hospitals Zurich and Inselspital Bern, driven by evidence-based medicine, (co-)author of >20 publications in peer-reviewed journals and speaker at international congresses. Ambitious to make an impact in patient’s treatment with high interest in business creation and economics.
Blair Fraser, BSc
Chief Business Officer (CBO)
Blair has over 35 years of global medical device experience and serves as Chief Business Officer. He is skilled in a wide range of corporate functions, including general management, global evidence-based marketing, strategic analysis and planning, mergers, acquisitions and strategic alliances, and scientific and medical affairs. He has experience of start-up, rapid growth, and established MedTech companies, with a proven track record of new market identification, penetration with new technologies, KOL network building, and sustainably increasing market share.
Dr. med. univ. Thomas Rhomberg
Neurosurgeon, Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
Thomas Rhomberg is the company`s co-founder and board-certified Neurosurgeon currently working as an attending Neurosurgeon in Austria. He completed his MD from the Medical University of Innsbruck with a research exchange at the Harvard Medical School. Previous parts of his neurosurgical were completed at the University Hospital of Bern (Inselspital) and the Kantonsspital St. Gallen. He is driven by the desire to translate the latest technology into improved patient care.
Saeid Kasiri, PhD
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Engineer by training, Saeid has over 15 years of R&D experience in leading and developing Class II/III medical devices, including active, implantable, and catheter-based technologies. He has dedicated most of his career to startups and SMEs, with a successful track record of leading cross-functional teams, design control, and risk management. Saeid translates unmet clinical needs into innovative and effective design solutions.
Martin Fuchs
Vice President Quality, Governance & Compliance
Martin Fuchs has many years of sales experience in the healthcare sector and is experienced in conception and realization of eHealth software solutions and Quality Systems.
Advisory Team
Meet the Advisory Team behind Rhovica Neuroimaging.
Professor Andreas Raabe, MD, PhD
Clinical Advisor
Nicolas Guggenheim, PhD
Business Advisor
Testimonials
The SoNav catheter is supported by leading Neurosurgeons.
The SoNav-System from Rhovica Neuroimaging will finally solve the two major problems that are associated with the current external ventricular drains, leading to better patient outcomes.
Prof. Dr. med. David Bervini, MAdvSurg
Neurosurgeon at the University Hospital Bern (Inselspital)