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Buzz at AAOS 2015 suggested that computer assisted and robotic surgical systems are gaining momentum in orthopaedics. The technology remains a polarizing topic, with a lack of clinical and economic data compiled to sway mainstream adoption by surgeons and hospitals. Still, players in the exhibit hall—Blue Belt Technologies, Exactech, Stryker and newcomer Intellijoint Surgical—at times had crowds three rows deep lining their booths to watch their technologies in action.
The internal debate for OEMs interested in entering the robotic segment remains whether to produce proprietary technology, or to partner with providers who’ve already developed such offerings. Further, the breadth of products under the robotics umbrella stretches from preoperative planning software to large, intraoperative equipment. OEMs have taken different approaches, which continued to be evidenced by the latest robotic product news at the 2015 Annual Meeting.
ConforMIS introduced the next-gen iTotal® CR (cruciate-retaining) total knee, designed to further reduce intraoperative steps during knee replacement. Upgrades to the system include improvements to customized implants and iJig patient-specific instruments.
Exactech announced the next-gen ExactechGPS® Guided Personalized Surgery for total knee arthroplasty. Updates include a navigational screen that is three times larger and reduced instruments to fit in one tray.
DePuy Synthes announced an exclusive worldwide sales agreement to market Radlink’s Galileo Positioning System™ (GPS) for use with DePuy hip replacement systems. The GPS provides surgeons real-time intraoperative imaging and navigation.
Intellijoint Surgical announced it will commence limited U.S. release of intellijoint HIP™, its miniature smart tool that supports intraoperative control of key measurements required to select and position an implant to accurately set a patient’s leg length.
Stryker Orthopaedic received regulatory clearance and commenced launch of a robotic-arm assisted total hip arthroplasty application for use with its MAKO system. The system is compatible with a surgeon’s Stryker implant of choice. Stryker, which acquired MAKO Surgical in 2013, announced that it expects regulatory clearance for its knees with the MAKO system by end of year.
Voyant Health, a Brainlab Company, received FDA clearance to market TraumaCad® Mobile, a mobile solution for preoperative orthopaedic surgical planning and digital templating for total hip replacement. The mobile version allows surgeons to access digital templating from any web browser of an iPad.
What do you think? What part will robotics play in your future?
