Medtech firm announces updated surgical system among launches and investments

Medical technology company Smith & Nephew has announced product launches and investments that establish its multi-asset digital surgery and robotic ecosystem.

The next version of its handheld robotic surgical system, Navio 7.0, is currently in development and is being designed with the aim of improving the surgeon experience through a new intuitive interface, expanded surgical preferences, and streamlined workflow. It will also bring the Anthem Total Knee System for Emerging Markets onto Navio.

Navio 7.0 software has not been cleared by the FDA for distribution in the United States and is not yet commercially available, but is planned for the second half of 2019.

The company also announced its next generation surgical robotics platform is planned to be complete in late 2019, ahead of full commercial release in 2020. The platform aims to reduce the physical footprint, enabling it to be incorporated into Smith & Nephew’s sports medicine tower. This aims to be a solution for all surgical settings, including ambulatory surgery centres (ASCs). Advances in surgical workflows, data acquisition and connectivity will ensure the platform is faster again than Navio 7.0, further reducing procedure times.

Namal Nawana, chief executive officer, said: “Smith & Nephew is making a long-term commitment to bring together advanced technologies in robotics, digital surgery, and machine learning as well as augmented reality to empower surgeons and improve clinical outcomes. Over time these digital surgery and robotic assets will be deployed across all surgical specialities and healthcare settings where Smith & Nephew’s operates, starting with orthopaedic reconstruction and sports medicine.”

Smith & Nephew has agreed to purchase the Brainlab Orthopaedic Joint Reconstruction business used in over 500 accounts worldwide. It has also acquired the Brainlab associated salesforce, which will be integrated into its own robotics commercial organisation, supporting the acceleration of this business, and certain other intangible assets.

Smith & Nephew and Brainlab will also collaborate on developing additional applications, including digital surgery among others, to enhance the functionality of Smith & Nephew’s advanced automation platform and expand its clinical indications. Work will initially be focused on orthopaedic reconstruction and sports medicine, with opportunities to expand into other surgical specialities thereafter. The platform will be compatible with the Brainlab digital operating room offering, allowing the sharing of data to improve future clinical practice, and will support augmented reality as adoption advances. The company is also opening and R&D and medical education training facility for robotics in Pittsburgh, U.S.

Skip Kiil, president of Orthopaedics at Smith & Nephew, said: “The near term commercial opportunities with the innovation of our robotics platform and the integration of the Brainlab hip software are very compelling. Not to mention, the strong collaboration on design and development of next generation technology that will bring our customers more differentiated advanced surgical capabilities. We’re excited to work together with Brainlab to bring the future of the digitally integrated O.R. to life and into the hands of surgeons world-wide.”

Smith & Nephew is also opening an R&D and medical education training facility for robotics in Pittsburgh, U.S.