Medical technology company Blue Belt Technologies has performed the three first US unicondylar knee replacement (UKR) surgeries using its robotic orthopedic surgical system.
The FDA-cleared NavioPFS orthopedic surgical system, which integrates CT-free navigation with intraoperative registration and planning, provides precise robotic control to surgeons via an intelligent, handheld computer-assisted bone-cutting tool.
The system also features a patented technology and a robotic handpiece, which makes less-invasive incisions and allows for precise and repeatable bone preparation during surgery on patients with medial osteoarthritis.
In addition, the system also maintains integrity and balance of the soft-tissue envelope, which is a difficult variable to properly control when using manual instrumentation, according to the company.
The UKR procedures, performed at the US-based Community Regional Medical Centre, were two left-medial and one right-medial partial knee replacement surgeries.
Community Regional Medical Centre orthopedic surgeon Dr Kevin Lester said; "The NavioPFS system worked perfectly, allowing me to plan my surgery exactly as I wished, and executing that plan precisely as intended."
The company said the NavioPFS system has a wide array of future applications in development.
Blue Belt Technologies president and CEO Eric Timko said the company looks forward to continued success as it begins its commercialisation, both in the US and European markets.
"Performing three surgeries out of the gate in the United States is a significant milestone for us and confirms that Dr Lester and Community Regional will be excellent partners for us and our technology moving forward," Timko said.
