FIGUR8 Joins a Nationwide Network Working to Accelerate Transformative Health Solutions

“The opportunity to become a spoke member of ARPA-H is extraordinary and we welcome collaborators and innovators alike to join our mission to disrupt healthcare.”— Nan-Wei Gong

FIGUR8 Selected as Member of ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub Spoke Network

Workers’ comp has long been an industry that heralded hands-on management and stand-alone education as key to improving workplace safety.People, it was thought, can best connect with one another and promote good working conditions.

Revolutionizing Workplace Safety: How New Tech Tools are Enhancing Injury Prevention and Recovery in Workers' Comp

Workers’ Comp Plus New Tech Tools? It Could Equal Injury Prevention and Enhanced Recovery

The flood of data to interpret — from predictive analytics and the ongoing complexity of insurance policies — leaves adjusters with plenty of work to do. The question is how to best support them.

Transforming Claims Adjusting: AI's Role in Shaping the Future of Insurance

The Future of Claims Adjusting in the Age of AI

Managing what you can measure is just as important for an injured worker recovering from a knee or low back injury as it is for a Risk Manager managing their total cost of risk or a Vice President of Claims managing their combined loss ratio.

FIGUR8 is changing the game when it comes to analyzing and informing injured workers’ recovery from musculoskeletal injuries.

A body in motion stays in motion. The old adage applies not just to physics, but also to the quest to ensure that injured workers, regardless of the severity of their injury, are restored to function in body and mind. 

A mix of technology and old-school best practices is driving return-to-work results in workers’ comp.

How the Return-to-Work Revolution Balances Technology and Human Touch

Workers’ compensation professionals are well aware of the detrimental effect chronic pain can have on return-to-work and patient wellbeing. Despite this, kinesiophobia — the fear of reinjury — is still said to affect the majority of workers who have experienced a workplace injury.  

How the fear of reinjury can affect workers’ comp claims.

The Silent Saboteur: How Kinesiophobia Affects Workers’ Comp Recovery

Over 90% of musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries can be treated without surgery — especially now that we have sophisticated biomarker data to inform the severity and recovery of MSK injuries.

Unlocking Recovery Potential: Leveraging Digital MSK Biomarkers for Enhanced Injury Rehabilitation and Improved Outcomes

How Digital MSK Biomarkers Can Improve Injury Recovery Outcomes

Risk & Insurance editor-in-chief Dan Reynolds sat down with Nan-Wei Gong and Scott Sexton of FIGUR8 to discuss how they’re working to standardize and codify data that can help care teams better gauge an injured workers’ musculoskeletal recovery process.

Gaining Insights: Delving into FIGUR8's Vision and Strategy with Nan-Wei Gong and Scott Sexton - 8 Key Questions Explored

8 Questions for Nan-Wei Gong and Scott Sexton of FIGUR8

FIGUR8, the leading innovator in the measure of musculoskeletal (MSK) health, has successfully closed a $25 million Series A-1 funding. The round was led by First Spark Ventures (FSV) with participation from DigiTx Partners and Phoenix Venture Partners.

FIGUR8 will use the proceeds to drive growth and adoption of its core bioMotion Assessment Platform (bMAP). By leveraging lab-grade biomechanics data captured in the clinic setting, valuable insights into musculoskeletal health and injury recovery can lead to more personalized and data-driven recovery pathways.

“We are thrilled to have FSV leading this important investment round,” said Nan-Wei Gong, founder and CEO of FIGUR8. “FSV’s experience in backing transformative technologies and strategic guidance will not only bolster our efforts to elevate the musculoskeletal industry, but also pave the way for significant advancements in digital MSK health, as FIGUR8 elevates the standard of care with codified, clinically-relevant data.”

FIGUR8’s bMAP produces accurate, precise and objective data for musculoskeletal care and injury recovery. FIGUR8’s advanced data empowers providers to better communicate symptoms, diagnosis and progress, while enabling payers to improve claims and underwriting processes, optimize risk management strategies, and promote faster recovery among injured workers.

“Mobility is an essential part of who we are and how we function. FIGUR8 brings a proven, deeply scientific way to guide the best pathways for restoration of mobility,” stated Manish Kothari, Founding Managing Partner of First Spark Ventures. “Objective MSK data enables a new level of personalized healthcare and risk evaluation, while simultaneously reducing cost and strongly improving satisfaction across patients, providers and payers.”

“As a physician and staunch advocate of evidence-backed solutions, I am thrilled to serve on FIGUR8’s board,” said Dr. Christina Jenkins of Phoenix Venture Partners. “FIGUR8’s unique approach to biometric sensing technology removes some of the “art” of diagnosis and assessment, transforming MSK care into a standardized and data-driven science that empowers patients and providers to improve health.

The company’s model is rare, aligning incentives across payer, provider and patient, and helping to pave the way for adoption and the evolution of the standard of care. We’re excited for FIGUR8’s opportunity to set a new industry benchmark.”

Manish Kothari, PhD and Dr. Christina Jenkins will join FIGUR8’s board of directors.

FIGUR8 is the market leader for standardizing musculoskeletal (MSK) health and injury recovery data. Through its innovative bioMotion Assessment Platform (bMAP), FIGUR8 empowers individuals to monitor and optimize their injury recovery, physical performance and overall health, while also enabling providers, patients and payers to access valuable data for advanced insights, better recovery and more personalized care.

First Spark Ventures is a Deep Tech venture capital fund investing in breakthrough technologies that make the world healthier, safer, and more productive. With a strong focus on backing companies that drive positive change and create lasting impact, First Spark Ventures plays a pivotal role in fueling the growth of visionary ventures.

Media Relations at FIGUR8
Email: media@figur8tech.com

Empowering Motion: FIGUR8's $25M Series A-1 Financing Accelerates Innovation in MSK Health

FIGUR8, the market leader for measuring musculoskeletal (MSK) health and injury recovery, secures $25M Series A-1 financing

FIGUR8 announced this week that it closed a $25 million Series A-1 funding. First Spark Ventures led the round, with participation from DigiTx Partners and Phoenix Venture Partners.

Advancing Musculoskeletal Insights: FIGUR8's $25M Funding Round Fuels AI-Powered Analysis for Enhanced Health Assessment and Precision Care

MIT spinout FIGUR8 closes $25M round to analyze musculoskeletal health with AI

Nan-Wei Gong and Anirudh Sharma delivered the 2022 C. Ashton Newhall Lecture on Nov. 15 in the LaRose Digital Theatre at the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center.

MIT Media Lab graduates share their entrepreneurial journey during 2022 Newhall Lecture

FIGUR8, the digital health company that’s developed the most advanced musculoskeletal (MSK) health evaluation solution on the market, announced today that the American Medical Association (AMA) has issued a new technology-specific Category III Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code for FIGUR8’s musculoskeletal assessment technology. The AMA CPT Editorial Panel accepted FIGUR8’s request to add a Category III code for use of FIGUR8’s sensor fusion system combining inertial measurement system (IMU) and Surface Mechanomyography (sMMG), a proprietary technology developed by FIGUR8 to accurately assess muscle function and health.

“FIGUR8’s sensor fusion system provides the best-in-class biomarkers for musculoskeletal health and we are delighted that the American Medical Association has approved FIGUR8’s application for adding a new Category III CPT Code — the AMA’s first-ever billing code issued for such a procedure,” said Nan-Wei Gong, CEO and founder of FIGUR8. “The AMA issuance provides new pathways to enable wide adoption and dramatically expand the access of FIGUR8’s technology platform among clinicians and providers. As the first time the AMA has recognized digital physical examinations as a procedure, the new CPT code is particularly a game changer in providing new reimbursement channels for physical therapy providers.”

The specific code was granted after review and validation of FIGUR8’s technology by the AMA CPT Editorial Panel. The CPT codes created and maintained by the AMA CPT Editorial Panel are the most widely accepted medical language by government payers, including Medicare and Medicaid, and commercial health plans to describe healthcare services and procedures for reimbursement. The approved Category III CPT code will be in effect for at least five years, at which time the AMA may award a Category I code. Category III CPT codes serve as an important milestone for FDA approval and payment negotiations. While the code has been already posted to the AMA website, the new CPT code goes into effect in the CPT codebook on January 1, 2023.

“This milestone further advances FIGUR8’s efforts in equipping orthopedic providers with the most accurate precision analytics for measuring musculoskeletal function and with better tools for clinical efficacy,” said Dr. Michael Oberlander, Chief Medical Officer of FIGUR8. “AMA’s new code is the first major step towards obtaining a CAT I permanent code attached to RVUs for insurance billing, and establishes the foundation for reimbursement of FIGUR8’s solution for digital clinical exams.”

FIGUR8's advanced musculoskeletal assessment solution

FIGUR8’s advanced musculoskeletal assessment solution — developed over years of R&D by MIT engineers in collaboration with Mass General Brigham clinicians — enables a full musculoskeletal and orthopedic assessment to be conducted in minutes. In less than 15 minutes, the FIGUR8 solution can deliver data on key musculoskeletal biomarkers — including dynamic range of motion, movement quality, strength and functional mobility — in order to create an individualized and precise plan of care.

“FIGUR8 is spearheading the digital transformation of physical exams. As lead scientist for the initial development research of the surface mechanomyography (sMMG) sensor, I am extremely proud of the company’s recent accomplishment,” said Dr. Donna Moxley Scarborough, PT, MS, PhD, Senior Sports Medicine Research Scientist in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. “This milestone for FIGUR8 exemplifies the power of collaborative efforts across clinicians, researchers, biomechanists, engineers and data scientists culminating to provide the healthcare community with an impactful new assessment tool for musculoskeletal health that has not been possible before. The AMA’s issuance of a new CPT code for FIGUR8’s sMMG sensor for use in the clinical setting is a crucial step for applying this technology to help clinicians better monitor muscle integrity for both musculoskeletal injury recovery and prevention.”

The clinical benefits of FIGUR8’s musculoskeletal assessment system are backed by numerous published clinical studies from Mass General Brigham and Harvard University and an ongoing clinical study with Stanford Medical School.

“As an academic orthopaedic spine surgeon, I was delighted to hear about  FIGUR8 obtaining approval for a novel AMA CPT CAT III code for their musculoskeletal measurement technology. They have additionally notified us of their recent HITRUST certification,” said Todd Alamin, MD, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division Orthopaedic Spine, Stanford University School of Medicine. “This commitment to the security of PHI is extremely important for us when engaging with industry partners. As someone who is currently implementing their technology to evaluate my patients in a RCT on Spinal Stenosis treatment, these recent milestone accomplishments by FIGUR8 provide further affirmation of their commitment to the quality, value and security of the data being produced.”

FIGUR8’s musculoskeletal assessment technology is in deployments with major health systems, insurance carriers, and government organizations. FIGUR8’s technology drives significant improvements in patient outcomes and lowers re-injury rates while generating significant cost savings for employers, healthcare systems and both commercial health and casualty insurance carriers. More than 1.7 billion people suffer from musculoskeletal conditions, according to the World Health Organization. Musculoskeletal disorders account for one of the largest categories of workplace injuries, accounting for over 50 percent of workers’ compensation costs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

FIGUR8, a MIT spin-off company, is the innovation leader in musculoskeletal (MSK) biometrics, redefining the way MSK health is measured to deliver improved clinical and financial outcomes. Our bioMotion Assessment Platform (bMAP) is the first practical solution for measuring MSK function precisely and objectively, at any point of care. This technology enables patients, providers, and payers to have a full picture view regarding joint motion and muscle function during dynamic activities; using movement as a biomarker to improve MSK health. Our powerful, lightweight system combines clinically smart biosensors, intuitive software and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve MSK health — from injury through full recovery. figur8tech.com

Pioneering Precision: FIGUR8's Cutting-Edge Musculoskeletal Assessment System Earns Exclusive Technology-Specific CPT® Code Recognition from the American Medical Association

FIGUR8’s Advanced Musculoskeletal Assessment System receives the technology-Specific CPT® Code from the American Medical Association

BOSTON, Mass. & NEW YORK, New York — A new partnership unites Best In Class MD, the leading orthopedic telehealth platform with access to the nation’s top orthopedic physicians, and FIGUR8, the digital health company that’s developed the most advanced wearable musculoskeletal health management technology on the market. Building on the two companies’ shared mission in forging a new standard of care in advancing musculoskeletal health, the partnership creates the first offering of its kind on the market that combines precision musculoskeletal analytics with world-class orthopedic care.

To date, the lack of codified, accurate and objective data for musculoskeletal conditions has been one of the industry’s biggest challenges. FIGUR8’s breakthrough technology delivers data on key musculoskeletal biomarkers — including range of motion, movement quality, strength and functional mobility — and accurately pinpoints the source and severity of an injury while showing real-time recovery visibility.

“We’re excited to be charting a new course in the delivery of musculoskeletal health management together with Best In Class MD, which has built the deepest roster of world-class musculoskeletal clinicians,” said Nan-Wei Gong, co-founder and CEO of FIGUR8. “With this partnership, FIGUR8 and Best In Class MD are combining the best musculoskeletal data available with the best orthopedic physicians in the country to deliver best in class orthopedic care and optimal patient outcomes.”

Best In Class MD brings an unmatched network of the nation’s foremost orthopedic physicians — accepting only the top 1% of the nation’s orthopedic specialists — and a scalable, HIPAA-compliant and URAC-accredited telehealth platform, providing on-demand access to patients seeking musculoskeletal consultations with leading orthopedic physicians across the country.

“We founded Best In Class MD with the mission to enable direct access to world-class experts and personalized treatment plans,” said Dr. Benedict Nwachukwu, CEO and cofounder of Best In Class MD and an orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery. “FIGUR8 brings objective and meaningful data to the standard musculoskeletal clinical assessment in a way that’s never been done before, equipping Best In Class MD’s physicians with precision analytics to support diagnostic and treatment decisions for musculoskeletal conditions. Patients look to Best In Class MD for trusted and individualized plans of care for their musculoskeletal health, and our partnership with FIGUR8 further delivers on Best In Class MD’s mission.”

More than 1.7 billion people suffer from musculoskeletal conditions, according to the World Health Organization. Musculoskeletal disorders account for one of the largest categories of workplace injuries, accounting for over 50 percent of workers’ compensation costs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. FIGUR8’s advanced musculoskeletal health management solution — developed over years of R&D by MIT engineers in collaboration with Mass General Brigham clinicians — enables a full musculoskeletal and orthopedic assessment to be conducted in less than 15 minutes.

About Best In Class MD (BICMD)
BICMD is an integrated telehealth platform built to provide consumers and enterprises with immediate and direct access to a national network of leading medical doctors for personalized expert medical opinions. By increasing access to the country’s top providers, BICMD is on a mission to solve the well-defined challenge of obtaining medical certainty. To learn more, visit www.bicmd.com .

About FIGUR8 FIGUR8 is creating the most advanced musculoskeletal health management technology on the market. Its powerful, lightweight system combines clinically smart biosensors, intuitive software and AI to improve musculoskeletal health at every point of care — from injury through full recovery. FIGUR8 has developed the first musculoskeletal diagnostics decision support system of its kind that can accurately pinpoint the source and severity of an injury while showing real-time recovery visibility. Powering FIGUR8’s solution is breakthrough technology developed over years by MIT engineers in collaboration with Mass General Brigham clinicians. For more info, visit figur8tech.com.

Transforming Healthcare Together: Best In Class MD and FIGUR8 Forge Alliance to Revolutionize Precision Musculoskeletal Health Management

Best In Class MD and FIGUR8 Partner to Advance Patient Access to Precision Musculoskeletal Health Management

The partnership builds on the two companies’ continued innovations in engineering solutions that advance musculoskeletal health.

FIGUR8, Parker Hannifin partner to improve musculoskeletal health

FIGUR8 and the Quick Coupling Division of Parker Hannifin Corporation today announced a partnership for the deployment of the MIT spin-off’s breakthrough musculoskeletal health technology system in select Parker manufacturing facilities. Parker, a Fortune 250 global leader in motion and control technologies, provides precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of industrial and aerospace markets.

With over 54,000 team members and locations in 45 countries and over 315 manufacturing sites globally, one of Parker’s primary goals is to continuously improve safety performance and achieve zero injuries across the organization. The partnership brings the next generation of accessible, objective musculoskeletal health assessment information to the workplace.

“More than 1.7 billion people suffer from musculoskeletal conditions, and work-related musculoskeletal problems are among the most prevalent of occupational disorders worldwide,” said Nan-Wei Gong, co-founder and CEO of FIGUR8. “Parker’s Quick Coupling Division is tackling this challenge head on by implementing solutions for the intervention and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace. Parker brings a proactive approach to the management of employee safety, health and risk that reflects the company’s deep commitment to responsible operations.”

The partnership builds on the two companies’ continued innovations in engineering solutions that advance musculoskeletal health. Parker’s electroactive polymer (EAP) sensors and FlexSense sensing technology are helping revolutionize the measurement of human body movement.

“Safety is our highest priority, and we are deeply engaged in the continuous identification and implementation of solutions that create a safety-first workplace for team members,” said Jason Manning, Manager of Environmental, Health & Safety, Parker Quick Coupling Division. “With FIGUR8’s breakthrough musculoskeletal technology, we recognized an opportunity to further add to our range of safety-first initiatives — from equipment safety to employee health — to provide a safe and engaging work environment.”

FIGUR8’s technology is in deployments across major health systems, employers and government organizations nationwide to help reduce and prevent the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace. With the lack of codified, accurate and objective data for musculoskeletal conditions being one of the biggest industry challenges to date, FIGUR8’s ability to enable precision analytics has made its technology an indispensable tool (before MRI) to support the diagnostic and treatment decisions regarding musculoskeletal conditions.

FIGUR8’s advanced MSK assessment solution — developed over years of R&D by MIT engineers in collaboration with Mass General Brigham clinicians — enables a full musculoskeletal and orthopedic assessment to be conducted in minutes by anyone, anywhere, regardless of technical or clinical expertise. In less than 15 minutes, the FIGUR8 solution can deliver data on key musculoskeletal biomarkers — including range of motion, movement quality, strength and functional mobility — in order to create an individualized and precise plan of care.

FIGUR8 is creating the most advanced wearable musculoskeletal (MSK) technology on the market. Its powerful, lightweight system combines clinically smart biosensors, intuitive software and AI to improve musculoskeletal health at every point of care — from injury through full recovery. FIGUR8 has developed the first musculoskeletal diagnostics decision support system of its kind that can accurately pinpoint the source and severity of an injury while showing real-time recovery visibility. Powering FIGUR8’s solution is breakthrough technology developed over years by MIT engineers in collaboration with Mass General Brigham clinicians. For more info, visit www.figur8tech.com.

Fostering Ergonomic Excellence: FIGUR8 and Parker Hannifin Quick Coupling Division Collaborate to Enhance Workplace Musculoskeletal Wellness

FIGUR8 and Parker Hannifin Quick Coupling Division Partner to Improve Musculoskeletal Health in the Workplace

BOSTON, Mass. — FIGUR8, the med tech startup that’s developed the most advanced wearable musculoskeletal diagnostic decision support technology on the market, today announced the appointment of Scott Sexton as president in a move to support FIGUR8’s growth velocity and execution of the company’s strategic priorities. Sexton joins FIGUR8 from CorVel (NASDAQ:CRVL), one of the largest and most innovative providers of industry-leading risk, healthcare management and workers’ compensation solutions, where he most recently served as senior vice president.

“Scott brings to FIGUR8 30 years of workers’ compensation, casualty, disability and commercial health experience, most recently serving as a market leader for CorVel’s national carrier practice sales team,” said Nan-Wei Gong, CEO and co-founder of FIGUR8. “We are thrilled to welcome Scott to FIGUR8’s leadership team. His experience will be pivotal to FIGUR8’s next phase of growth as we expand our product and program offerings and accelerate expansion plans into strategic markets.”

Today’s announcement comes on the heels of other significant developments for FIGUR8. Earlier this year, the company raised $12 million in Series A financing to address significant customer demand and deployments with major health systems, insurance carriers and Fortune 500 businesses. FIGUR8’s technology drives significant improvements in patient outcomes and lowers re-injury rates while generating significant cost savings for employers, healthcare systems and both commercial health and casualty insurance carriers.

“FIGUR8 has developed a game-changing technology that is bringing precision analytics to the standard musculoskeletal clinical assessment in a way that’s never been done before,” said Scott Sexton, president of FIGUR8. “One of the biggest industry challenges to date has been the lack of codified, accurate and objective data for musculoskeletal injuries. FIGUR8 has pioneered a breakthrough musculoskeletal assessment technology — the first of its kind — that can accurately pinpoint the source and severity of an injury while showing real-time recovery visibility. I am excited to join FIGUR8 as we forge forward in establishing the new standard of care for advancing musculoskeletal health.”

At CorVel, Sexton held a variety of senior leadership roles in sales and business development. He led go-to-market sales strategies with the company’s key partners that included enterprise employers, insurance companies and government agencies. He introduced new technologies to the market — including AI and machine learning driven solutions — to deliver industry-leading results to the marketplace and enhance the managing of episodes of care and the related healthcare costs. In his role at FIGUR8, Sexton will develop and lead the implementation of growth strategies across key industries and markets in musculoskeletal health that FIGUR8 is poised to transform.

More than 1.7 billion people suffer from musculoskeletal conditions, according to the World Health Organization. Musculoskeletal disorders account for one of the largest categories of workplace injuries, accounting for over 50 percent of workers’ compensation costs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. FIGUR8’s system enables a full musculoskeletal and orthopedic assessment to be conducted in minutes by anyone, anywhere, regardless of technical or clinical expertise. It serves as an objective and scalable point-of-care screening tool (before MRI) to support the diagnostic and treatment decisions regarding soft tissue injuries and recovery.

About FIGUR8
FIGUR8 is creating the most advanced wearable musculoskeletal (MSK) technology on the market. Its powerful, lightweight system combines clinically smart biosensors, intuitive software and AI to improve musculoskeletal health at every point of care — from injury through full recovery. FIGUR8 has developed the first musculoskeletal diagnostics decision support system of its kind that can accurately pinpoint the source and severity of an injury while showing real-time recovery visibility. Powering FIGUR8’s solution is breakthrough technology developed over years by MIT engineers in collaboration with Mass General Brigham clinicians. For more info, visit www.figur8tech.com and follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Charting a Course for Growth: Scott Sexton Joins FIGUR8 as President, Bringing Extensive Industry Experience and Leadership Acumen

FIGUR8 Appoints Scott Sexton – Former CorVel Executive and Veteran Sales Leader – as President

FIGUR8, founded by MIT alumna Nan-Wei Gong SM ’09, PhD ’13, offers a wearable sensor system to improve the diagnosis and treatment of muscle injuries.

Empowering Wellness Through Precision: Revolutionizing Musculoskeletal Health with Advanced Technology

Bringing precision to musculoskeletal health

An insightful exploration into FIGUR8's recent $12 million funding round and its ambitious endeavor to transform musculoskeletal diagnostics through cutting-edge technology.

Empowering Precision in Diagnosis: FIGUR8 Secures $12 Million Funding to Revolutionize Musculoskeletal Health Assessment

FIGUR8 Raises $12 Million To Take The Guesswork Out Of Musculoskeletal Diagnostics

Enabling the provision of personalized training for functional improvement based on objective quantitative data.

Revolutionizing Fitness Training: Toppan and FIGUR8 Pioneer Online Instruction with Musculoskeletal Sensors in Promising Pilot Test

Toppan, FIGUR8 Conduct Pilot Test for Online Fitness Instruction Using Musculoskeletal Sensors

Figur8 has developed a range of sensors sensors to provide an easy way to capture body movement for athletes, dancers or any application that would like to track body movements.

FIGUR8 offers affordable motion capture without the need for cameras

A new startup created by a former Google research and development lead and researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab and Massachusetts General Hospital’s Sports Science Lab wants to take things in a new direction.

Figur8’s sensors can track body movement with astonishing levels of accuracy

The technology was co-created by researchers at MIT Media Lab and Massachusetts General Hospital Sports Science Lab.

FIGUR8 launches body movement tracking platform, announces $7.5M funding

Media Assets

Press

Connect with the FIGUR8 Team