A pioneering, fully autonomous robotic knee surgery has advanced the field of orthopaedics.
Monogram Technologies Inc., a leader in AI-powered robotics for orthopaedics, recently announced the first fully autonomous, saw-guided robotic knee replacement performed on a live patient.
The procedure took place in July at Krishna Shalby Hospital in Ahmedabad, India, marking a notable advancement in robotic-assisted surgery.
This was part of a multi-centre clinical trial assessing the Monogram TKA System, which included 102 knee replacement procedures and a follow-up at three months.
According to CEO Benjamin Sexson: ‘This milestone is a testament to our dedicated team’s hard work. The system executed the surgical plan flawlessly, assessing intraoperative laxity and implant alignment. We foresee a positive impact on orthopaedic care worldwide.’
Founder Dr Douglas Unis said: ‘Watching the ease with which the system cut and executed the procedure was incredibly fulfilling. The safety and accuracy of the system were on obvious display. It really was an amazing moment watching Dr Patil realise that robots can be more than marketing gimmicks, but tools that change how knee replacements can be done better. Based on years of evaluating technology, watching this surgery was the final validation I needed to know with certainty that we have a ground-breaking product. It was incredible that there was so little stress, given the level of autonomy and first-time use on a living person. It was flawless.’
Kamran Shamaei, CTO, said: ‘Observing the flawless execution of this surgical plan was a highlight of my career and incredibly fulfilling. Patient safety has been painstakingly considered in virtually every aspect of our system. Our goal is to develop the most efficient, accurate, and safest robot in the world. I am incredibly proud of the hard work of our team and to have had the opportunity to help build this technology.’
Shalby Limited, a leading orthopaedic hospital group, partnered in the trial.
Its founder, Dr Vikram Shah, praised the system’s advancements and expressed commitment to leading orthopaedic innovation.
‘My vision has always been to pioneer advanced technologies in the field of orthopaedic medicine. Having performed thousands of surgeries, I was deeply impressed by what the Monogram team has accomplished and by what was achieved in this surgery, and I look forward to supporting the introduction of this state-of-the-art robotic system, which reaffirms Shalby’s commitment to leading innovation and excellence in joint replacement surgeries.’
Monogram’s semi-autonomous TKA System recently received FDA 510(k) clearance in the US, marking a significant step toward broader adoption.
