The top 5 orthopedic device industry stories of 2020

4. Smith+Nephew launches next-gen surgical robotics system

Smith+Nephew Cori robotic surgery orthopedic robotic surgery

Smith+Nephew made a faster surgical tool (center) and a console (bottom) that was the size of a large book volume when creating the company’s next-gen Cori ortho surgical robotics system. Optical cameras (top) track the procedure so that the spinning of the tool’s burr automatically turns off when its outside of the operating area — the robotic feature of the system. [Image courtesy of Smith+Nephew]

Competition continues to heat up in the robotic orthopedic surgery space, with Smith+Nephew announcing the launch of its next-gen Cori robotic knee surgy system in July. The Cori system is the latest salvo as major medical device companies seek to take on Stryker, which has long enjoyed success with its Mako robotic systems in the orthopedic surgery space.

Sara Schneider, the director of robotics program management at S+N, spoke with Medical Design & Outsourcing and used three descriptors for the Cori system: faster, smaller and more accessible.

Smith+Nephew officials are betting that there will be interest in a system that isn’t the size of a mini-fridge with an arm, that doesn’t rely on pre-operative imaging, and that includes a handheld cutting tool that can fit a particular surgeon’s techniques.

“There’s more flexibility in the approach when you have that handheld piece that’s not anchored into this mammoth piece of equipment,” Schneider said.

Since the Cori launch, S+N introduced a couple of key additions to its Real Intelligence portfolio. They included RI.INSIGHTS, designed to enable orthopedic surgeons to benchmark robotics surgical experiences with other users, and RI.KNEE and RI.HIP navigation platforms for total knee and hip arthroplasty.