Stryker: The big player in robot-assisted ortho surgery
[Mako robot image courtesy of Stryker]
“The lead that we have in robotics is clear, and it’s continuing, and it’s a really a global thing. We have over 28 countries now that have a Mako robot, and that growth will continue long into the future,” CEO Kevin Lobo said on Sept. 15, 2020 during a virtual healthcare conference held by Morgan Stanley.
Mako has proven to be a major growth engine for Stryker as health providers buy all of the tools and accessories around the system — enabling the world’s largest orthopedics device company to weather the COVID-19 pandemic better than its competitors.
“As the pandemic subsides and we return to a more normal environment, we expect to continue to outpace the market, driven by our Mako installations throughout the year and our strong order book heading into 2021,” investor relations VP Preston Wells said during a Jan. 27 earnings call.
Stryker’s $500 million buyout of Mobius Imaging and its Cardan Robotics subsidiary in 2019 could provide it an avenue to compete against Medtronic in the robotic spine surgery space, though Lobo has said the other option would be to come out with a more advanced option through Mako.
“We have two options for spine. One is the robotic program that was being developed by Mobius prior to the acquisition — as well as Mako. So we have work done in both areas,” Lobo said on Jan. 27.
Stryker’s top management is also optimistic about the recently acquired OrthoSensor and its Verasense intraoperative sensor tech that could further enhance the ortho giant’s Mako robots — and compete with smart knee implant tech expected out of competitor Zimmer Biomet.
