Mazor X robotic-assisted spinal surgical platform. (Credit: Mazor Robotics)

Medtronic has launched its Mazor X Stealth robotic-assisted spinal surgical platform in the U.S., touting its recent use in its first commercial procedures. The first uses of the system took place at Louisville, Ky.’s Norton Healthcare and Reston, Va.’s Reston Hospital Center, the Fridley, Minn.-based medtech giant said.

“The marriage of robotics and navigation represents the future of computerized planning and execution in spine surgery,” said Dr. Christopher Good of Reston Hospital Center and The Virginia Spine Institute. “Robotics and navigation have both been shown to improve accuracy and precision in spine surgery.”

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The product is the first to come out of Medtronic’s acquisition of Mazor, originally announced in September 2018 and closed in December 2018. Medtronic, the world’s largest medical device maker, has held a position in Mazor, which makes the Mazor X guidance system and the Renaissance robot-assisted spine surgery platform, since May 2016. Last September they closed the third, $40 million tranche of the investment, giving Medtronic a 10.6% stake it paid $72 million for.

The Mazor X Stealth combines Medtronic’s Stealth software with Mazor Robotic’s Mazor X robotic-assisted surgical platform. The Mazor X Stealth edition uses software to plan the surgical procedure and a robotic arm to guide implants and instruments through the procedure. It simultaneously uses real-time imaging feedback to ensure the plan is being carried out as desired.

“Computerized surgical planning, 3D assessment of spine anatomy, robotic guidance and live navigation feedback are designed to provide a higher degree of accuracy throughout the surgical procedure,” said Dr. Jeffrey Gum of Norton Leatherman Spine.

The Mazor X Stealth robotic-assisted spinal surgery system won FDA clearance in November 2018 and is now available in the U.S. Medtronic said it plans to launch the system in key regions throughout 2019.