Next generation robotic-assisted solution for knee replacement surgery TGA approved

MedTech News: Australian orthopaedic surgeons will be among the first in the world to access the next generation of robotics developed by DePuy Synthes, the orthopaedics company of Johnson & Johnson.

The VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution, indicated for use with the ATTUNE Knee System for total knee arthroplasty, has recently been included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).

Sue Martin, Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Medical Australia and New Zealand said “Australia joins an exclusive list of just a few countries with access to this technology to date. The introduction of the VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution is testament to Johnson & Johnson Medical Device’s ongoing commitment to create innovative technologies that help hospitals and surgeons improve patient outcomes and advance the sustainability of Australia’s healthcare system.”

An increasing number of surgical procedures utilise robotic assistance. However, the impact of robotic technology on operational efficiency, including surgical time and the technological learning curve, has been reported as a drawback.

The VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution is designed to respond to this challenge as a first-of-its-kind operating table mounted solution that adapts to the surgeon’s workflow and utilises advanced planning capabilities, proprietary technology, and a next generation design to help surgeons accurately resect bones that align and position the implant relative to the soft-tissue during total knee replacement without the need for pre-operative imaging. The efficient and compact design integrates into any operating room and does so with a much smaller footprint, at less than half the size of some other robotic-assisted solutions.

Dr Mark Clatworthy, an orthopaedic knee surgeon based in Auckland, New Zealand, who last year became the first surgeon in the world to perform surgery using this technology said “I’ve used the VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution in 60 of my ATTUNE Knee procedures and have found it to be accurate, fast and efficient.

“This next generation device enables me to evaluate the bony anatomy and soft tissue envelope of the knee to plan the optimal implant position and then use the robotic-assisted solution to deliver and execute the plan. I’ve found my knees to be well balanced at the end of the procedure and my patients are doing well post-operatively.”

The VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution is part of the broader VELYS Digital Surgery Platform of connected technologies powered by data insights and designed to elevate the orthopaedic experience for patients, surgeons, and their teams across the entire continuum of care, from pre-operative to post-operative.

Ben Travers, Vice President of DePuy Synthes in Australia explains “VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution works exclusively with the ATTUNE Knee System, which studies have shown can improve clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes, as well as contribute to a shorter length of stay in hospital. Supporting the ‘patient specific alignment’ surgical method, VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution has also been designed to assist surgeons in providing a knee alignment that is tailored to each patient’s anatomy.

“With the addition of VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution to our VELYS Digital Surgery Platform, we are continuing our vision to be the most personalised and connected orthopaedics company,” he adds.

To ensure surgeons and hospitals are supported in introducing VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution, DePuy Synthes Australia is providing a suite of training solutions to enable surgeons and their teams to test and familiarise themselves with the technology and how it operates.

“To support a next generation robotic solution, we’ve made a significant investment in next generation training to provide comprehensive, accessible, and personalised learning to the VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution,” noted Travers.

“Our high-tech mobile lab is the first of its kind in Australia. We’ll bring it to hospitals and clinical teams to facilitate hands-on learning, without the need for them to travel to undertake lab-based training,” Travers added.

The mobile lab will begin its tour, visiting hospitals throughout Australia, in September 2021.