Medical technology company Smith+Nephew has reached an exclusive agreement with Navbit for the distribution of the latter’s disposable navigation device in Japan.

Under the deal, Smith+Nephew will exclusively supply the Navbit Sprint disposable navigation device for use in Japan.

The device is a small, disposable, compact navigation tool that can be used for either supine or lateral approaches to primary hip arthroplasty.

Navbit CEO Lynette Walter said: “Japanese surgeons are the most sophisticated in their field. They are the leaders in understanding the complexities of hip surgery in three dimensions and the impact of movements of the spine and pelvis on the outcomes of hip replacement.”

Post-operative dislocation is claimed to be the second most common reason for the revision of a total hip replacement globally.

Studies have demonstrated that navigation can reduce the risk of dislocation.

The Navbit Sprint device has an average error of 2.13° in cup inclination and 2.36° in cup anteversion.

Smith+Nephew North Asia managing director and senior vice president Shinya Dobashi said: “Smith+Nephew’s new agreement with Navbit offers Japanese surgeons an exciting technology to improve outcomes and efficiencies in the operating room.

“Only 49% of acetabular cups are accurately aligned when using manual instrumentation. Navbit Sprint offers our customers a simple and accurate solution to achieve reproducible results.” 

In September last year, Smith+Nephew announced positive data from a new randomised controlled trial that supported the use of its Regeneten bioinductive implant in rotator cuff repair.