DePuy's VELYS™ system receives UKCA mark

Johnson & Johnson MedTech has announced that the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solution from DePuy Synthes, the Orthopaedics Company of Johnson & Johnson, has received UKCA mark accreditation from the British Standards Institution (BSI) for use in total knee arthroplasty. 

The UKCA Mark accreditation is the latest milestone towards global expansion of the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solution, which to date has launched in seven key markets and opens the door to EMEA-wide launches over the coming months.  

With a growing and ageing patient population, demand for robotically assisted total joint replacement surgery is increasing. Across the industry, data shows up to 20% of knee replacement patients aren’t satisfied with the outcome of their surgery. Enhanced alignment and positioning observed with robotic total knee arthroplasty may help contribute to improved patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and reduced pain.

Mr Benjamin Bloch, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon with a special interest in hip and knee surgery at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, believes robotics technology will give him more confidence in the accuracy of the planning and execution of his knee replacement surgeries.

“In the past, new technology has been introduced with a peak of interest and then sometimes this falls away with time. With robotics I really do believe this excitement will be sustained in the orthopaedic community. There will be a learning curve, but this technology could potentially improve efficiencies and outcomes for patients. Better outcomes means fewer patients returning in follow-up clinics or for revision surgery, which gives you more time to treat the thousands of new patients on the waiting list.”

“For me, particularly with knee replacements, robotics provides an opportunity to get a more accurate intraoperative assessment of soft tissue balancing, and the ability to make tiny adjustments such as 1 degree of flexion on the femur or 0.5 degrees of adjustment to tibial alignment to get the knee perfectly balanced. You can plan and see it in real-time before you do your cuts which I find really quite exciting. I suspect in 15-20 years time, our idea of what a knee replacement should look like could change quite dramatically.”

The VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution is a table mounted solution, with a streamlined, efficient design that integrates into surgeons' current workflow. The system gives surgeons the control they are used to and allows them to retain their preferred technique without the increased risk of damage to the soft tissue envelope. It utilises NATURAL CONTROL Technology, a proprietary technology that maintains the saw cut plane to help execute precise, reproducible surgeon‐ controlled cuts without the need for a cutting block. 

The VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solution works exclusively with the ATTUNE Knee System, which has been shown to improve patient‐reported outcomes by working in harmony with the patient’s anatomy to deliver both stability and motion. Together, these technologies aim to define a high standard for patient performance and elevate the overall knee replacement experience. 

Hugo Breda, managing director for Johnson & Johnson MedTech UK & Ireland, said: “We have a significant opportunity in the UK to help our healthcare providers improve clinical outcomes and increase satisfaction for knee patients, especially as they tackle some of the biggest challenges they’ve ever had to face.

“Together, the ATTUNE Total Knee and the VELYS™ Robotic Assisted Solution is highly differentiated combination of robotic and digital surgery. It’s a more attractive clinical solution that any other option on the market right now and the addition of VELYS™ Robotic Assisted Solution to our VELYS™ Digital Surgery Platform is another step we’re taking to continue our global vision to be the most personalised and connected orthopaedics company.” 

Today is an important milestone in our digital surgery offering. In the coming months there will be more exciting announcements as we start to roll out the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solution.