Competition continues to heat up in the robotic surgery space, with Smith & Nephew PLC today announcing the launch of its CORI Surgical System, a handheld robotics platform for knee surgery, as well as its Real Intelligence brand of digital management products.

London-based Smith+Nephew was founded in 1856, has more than 17,5000 employees, and now operates in more than 100 countries. It focuses on orthopedics; advance wound management; sports medicine; and ear, nose, and throat treatment.

Smith+Nephew’s Cori system launch is the latest salvo as major medical device companies seek to take on Stryker, which has enjoyed success with its Mako robotic systems in the orthopedic surgery market.

CORI designed to be portable

The new CORI surgical platform is available for both Its small size and portable design make it suitable for ambulatory surgery centers and outpatient surgery, said Smith+Nephew.

CORI includes new camera technology that is more than four times faster, offers twice the cutting volume, and aims to result in faster surgical procedures in comparison with the NAVIO system, according to the company. CORI’s modular design will enable it to be scaled across the orthopedic service line, said Smith+Nephew, which plans to introduce new applications for the surgeon-controlled device.

“The CORI Surgical System is truly next-generation robotics,” stated Dr. Jimmy Chow, an orthopedic surgeon at the Orthopedic Institute of the West. “Its efficient handheld form factor is ideal for surgery centers, which is where the market is moving, and it just erases away bone with the new bone milling technique.”

“The smart, intuitive software helps place and size the implant as well as balance gaps based on patient specific anatomy and disease state,” Chow said.

Real Intelligence addresses clinical challenges

In addition to CORI, Real Intelligence is intended to address clinical challenges throughout the continuum of care, including patient engagement, pre-operative planning, digital and robotic surgery, post-operative assessment, and outcomes measurement. Each offering in the Real Intelligence digital ecosystem informs the next phase of treatment, and it will allow healthcare providers to better use outcomes data, said Smith+Nephew.

“The Real Intelligence brand is a statement of how Smith+Nephew thinks, innovates, and reimagines surgery,” said Skip Kiil, president of orthopedics at Smith+Nephew. “The introduction of the CORI Surgical System’s handheld robotics, patient-engagement tools, and outcomes measurement are the very first steps in a long-term strategy to advance orthopedics using technology.”

The CORI Surgical System has received 510K clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is available in the U.S. for both total and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

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