The Memo: Medulla Pro Guiding the Next Generation of Needle-Based Procedures

Under the direction of CEO Boyle Suwono, Medulla Pro is reimagining how clinicians perform some of the most common—but error-prone—procedures in medicine. From lumbar punctures to nerve blocks, the company is building intuitive, real-time ultrasound guidance systems designed to boost precision, improve outcomes, and reduce procedural complications for patients and providers alike.

“We’re giving doctors clarity and confidence—even in the most challenging cases,” Boyle said. 

Headquartered in Singapore, Medulla Pro is preparing to launch two products: one for lumbar punctures and one for peripheral nerve blocks. With clinical trials on the horizon, the company is moving fast—and aiming to make a meaningful difference in how care is delivered across a wide range of specialties.

Origin Story

Medulla Pro was born out of a real-world problem. In 2018, a Singapore-based hematologist struggled to perform a lumbar puncture on a cancer patient struggling with obesity—ultimately traumatizing the patient and jeopardizing his treatment.

“This doctor needed to deliver chemotherapy via lumbar puncture due to the type of cancer but couldn’t safely access the cerebrospinal fluid after multiple attempts,” Boyle explained. “That failure led to the patient refusing the procedure entirely.”

The physician brought the problem to Trendlines, an Israeli-Singaporean medtech incubator, which helped design the early technology. In 2024, Boyle—a former startup executive with engineering roots and a background in dental 3D printing—joined as CEO.

“I realized I wasn’t as interested in the printing technology—I was interested in the healthcare impact,” Boyle said. “When I came across Medulla Pro, it checked every box: meaningful clinical need, smart engineering, and the chance to help patients.”

The Current Landscape

Needle-based procedures like lumbar punctures and nerve blocks are widely used across specialties—from oncology to anesthesiology. However, the current tools and techniques are difficult to master and error-prone even for experienced physicians.

“In a tough case, you might see 10 or more puncture marks on a patient’s back,” Boyle said. “And if you miss the target, it’s not just inefficient—it can cause significant pain and discomfort, anxiety, or even post-procedural complications like spinal headaches.”

While ultrasound is often used to guide needle placement, it’s limited by the physics of the probe: the needle has to enter from the side (in-plane) or be blindly inserted (out-of-plane), making real-time alignment difficult, especially in patients with atypical anatomy.

Inside the Innovation

Medulla Pro’s platform technology allows clinicians to bend the ultrasound wave—creating a visual that mimics a centrally aligned needle path.

“Our device makes it feel like the needle is coming straight out of the center of the ultrasound probe,” Boyle explained. “That makes it far more intuitive, especially for less experienced doctors, and dramatically increases first-pass success rates.”

The company’s lead product targets lumbar punctures, allowing for simplified real-time guidance with a more ergonomic needle trajectory. A second product, designed for peripheral nerve blocks, enables single-operator procedures—eliminating the need for an experienced assistant (e.g., a nurse).

“Today, nerve blocks usually require two people,” Boyle said. “Our system frees up that second pair of hands while improving accuracy and safety.”

Progress and Milestones

Despite joining less than a year ago, Boyle and the Medulla Pro team have already hit several major milestones:

• Completed development of a functional prototype for the lumbar puncture device.
• Received strong validation from clinical advisors, including public hospital anesthesiology leaders in Singapore.
• Gained approval to initiate clinical trials for the lumbar puncture product in a couple of months.
• Preparing for ISO 1345 certification and HSA (Singapore’s regulatory authority) approval.
• Began development and preclinical validation for the nerve block product, with clinical trials targeted for Q4 2025.
• Successfully demonstrated the nerve block prototype at a cadaver workshop hosted by a leading German needle and pain management company.

The company is also actively raising funds to support both product lines and accelerate market entry. 

Join Us at LSI Asia ‘25

Boyle has been selected to present at LSI Asia '25 (June 10-13) in front of hundreds of global medical technology companies. Join us in welcoming Boyle to the event in Singapore, where he will share the latest updates on Medulla Pro’s technology and development.