From milestones to next steps in development, here are nine key updates in spine and orthopedic robotics from the fourth quarter of 2022:
1. Brian Blackwood, MD, completed his 3,000th joint replacement using Stryker's Mako robotic arm.
2. Think Surgical raised $100 million from a new investor to accelerate commercialization of its surgical robots.
3. Stryker is working on more applications for its flagship surgical robot, including spine and shoulder surgery, CEO Kevin Lobo said in an Oct. 31 third-quarter earnings call.
4. Nearly one third of Zimmer Biomet's robots are going to ASCs, according to a Nov. 2 third quarter earnings call. About 30 percent of the medical device company's robotics are placed in ASCs, and half of all robotic installations are in the U.S., COO Ivan Tornos said in the call.
5. Accelus earned FDA 510(k) clearance for software that will let its Remi spine robot integrate with three 3D imaging systems.
6. Foothill Regional Medical Center in Tustin, Calif. reached its 200th case with the Mako knee robot.
7. David Eggert, MD, completed his 1,000th surgery using Stryker's Mako robot.
8. Joseph Kavolus, MD, of Lighthouse Surgical Suites in Hollis, N.H., completed the first clinical case with MicroPort Navibot's Skywalker robot.
9. Lon M. Baronne, II, MD, has reached his 600th case using Globus Medical's ExcelsiusGPS since receiving it in 2018.