​​Korean startup MEDISBY, specializing in AI-driven musculoskeletal rehabilitation robots, has secured a seed investment from Digital Healthcare Partners (DHP). Founded by Professor Junyeol Lim of Severance Hospital’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery, MEDISBY aims to transform rehabilitation therapy by automating repetitive joint mobilization procedures through robotics.

Joint mobilization is critical in treating musculoskeletal patients but traditionally requires labor-intensive, hands-on sessions by medical professionals. Manual therapy typically demands around 30 minutes per session, limiting therapists to treating only 10–15 patients daily. Moreover, less than 3% of sessions involve direct participation by the primary physician, leading to significant discrepancies in accessibility and treatment quality.

To address these issues, MEDISBY is developing a robotic medical device equipped with AI support. After a physician or therapist programs the desired treatment motion for approximately three minutes, the robot learns and repeats the movement autonomously. This innovation reduces the practitioner’s involvement to roughly five minutes per session. When multiple robots are used, a single medical professional could treat up to 90 patients per day, while physician-led treatment rates could rise to approximately 60%, allowing for more precise and consistent care.

MEDISBY’s technology offers clear advantages over existing devices, which are often limited in their range of motion and applicable postures. Their robot can support both upper and lower limb therapies, accommodate various movement types, and provide customized treatment postures based on patient needs, enabling stepwise therapeutic interventions.

Looking ahead, MEDISBY plans to evolve its system into a fully autonomous, AI-powered therapy platform. Initially, robots will execute movements set by clinicians, but eventually, the system aims to assess patient conditions independently and deliver tailored treatments automatically. The company also plans to expand globally, targeting markets in the United States, Japan, China, and Uzbekistan.

Founder and CEO Junyeol Lim, a clinical assistant professor at Gangnam Severance Hospital, launched MEDISBY based on his deep clinical experience in musculoskeletal therapy. After winning the top prize at the 2022 “Yonsei University Health System–Doosan Robotics Idea Fair” and the “New Medical Technology Award” at the 2023 Korean Orthopedic Association, he has rapidly advanced the development of MEDISBY’s AI rehabilitation technology through prototype production and proof-of-concept (PoC) testing.

DHP plans to support MEDISBY not only with funding but also through deep tech TIPS recommendations for R&D funding, clinical testbed hospital connections, and further strategic assistance.

Gayoung Hong, an investor at DHP, commented, “Automating repetitive physical therapy tasks with robots significantly reduces medical staff workload while enhancing treatment accessibility and quality. MEDISBY is deeply rooted in real-world medical needs and has the potential to make a global impact in digital rehabilitation.”

CEO Junyeol Lim added, “Many patients recognize the need for continuous rehabilitation, yet clinical resource constraints often limit treatment availability. We aim to eliminate these bottlenecks with robotic technology and enable clinicians to focus more on their core expertise.” He emphasized, “Ultimately, we aim to set a new global standard for personalized robotic rehabilitation through our AI-powered autonomous system.”