# Darryl Barnes

> Darryl Barnes is a physician-turned-inventor who co-founded Sonex Health, an Eagan, Minnesota medtech company building ultrasound-guided devices that move carpal tunnel and trigger finger surgery out of the operating room and into the clinic office. A former Mayo Clinic sports medicine doctor, he co-invented the UltraGuideCTR device, holds numerous medical device patents, and helped raise more than $60 million to scale the company. He has served as both CEO and chief technology officer, and was named Medical Devices CEO of the Year for the Upper Midwest in 2018.

- **Role:** Co-Founder, CEO and CTO at Sonex Health
- **Organizations:** Sonex Health, Mayo Clinic Health System, Tenex Health, Cleveland Clinic
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Residency training, Mayo Clinic, Fellowship as Clinical Mayo Scholar, Cleveland Clinic, Certificate in Executive Leadership, Cornell University, Chief Technology Officer Program (alumnus), The Wharton School
- **Known for:** Co-founder of Sonex Health (2014), Co-inventor of UltraGuideCTR, an FDA-cleared device for ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release, Awarded numerous patents for medical device technologies used nationwide

## Career timeline

- **—** — Practiced non-operative orthopedics and sports medicine at Mayo Clinic Health System, Albert Lea-Austin, Minnesota
- **—** — Served as medical director and president of the Medical Staff at Mayo Clinic Health System Albert Lea-Austin
- **—** — Served on the Medical Advisory Board and as associate medical director of education at Tenex Health; inventions licensed to Tenex Health
- **2014** — Co-founded Sonex Health with Dr. Jay Smith and Aaron Keenan, starting in Barnes's garage
- **2018** — Named Medical Devices CEO of the Year and Most Outstanding Health Tech Innovator, Upper Midwest USA, by CEO Monthly
- **2020** — Featured in Medgadget interview on the SX-One MicroKnife and UltraGuideCTR
- **2023** — Sonex Health closed a $40M Series B financing led by KCK MedTech

## Achievements

- Co-founder of Sonex Health (2014)
- Co-inventor of UltraGuideCTR, an FDA-cleared device for ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release
- Awarded numerous patents for medical device technologies used nationwide
- Medical Devices CEO of the Year 2018 - Upper Midwest USA (CEO Monthly)
- Most Outstanding Health Tech Innovator - Upper Midwest USA (CEO Monthly)
- Helped raise more than $60M in total funding, including a $40M Series B in 2023
- Inventions developed at Mayo Clinic licensed to Tenex Health

## Latest updates

- **2023-09** — Sonex Health closed a $40 million Series B financing led by KCK MedTech to expand physician and patient access to its devices.

## Links

- Website: https://sonexhealth.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/darryl-barnes-085243127
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/sonexhealth
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SonexHealthLLC/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/darryl-barnes
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-13