Zimmer Biomet on Nov. 6 announced Surgeon-Guided Autonomy, a new technology category that outlines the company’s vision for intelligent orthopedic surgery.
The category rests on a closed-loop framework called Predict. Perform. Recover. Intelligent systems would analyze patient data and recommend surgical plans, carry out defined surgical tasks under surgeon oversight, and flag patients whose recovery is off track while feeding those insights into future plans.
To qualify, Zimmer Biomet said technology should understand surgeon intent, execute on the surgeon’s behalf, keep the surgeon in command and learn by linking what happens in surgery to how patients recover.
The company introduced the category during a sponsored symposium at the annual meeting of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. It also launched an awareness campaign, “Surgeon-Guided AutonoMe,” which aims for more autonomy for the surgeon, “not from the surgeon.”
Jonathan Vigdorchik, MD, chief science, technology and medical affairs officer at Zimmer Biomet, said the vision connects intelligence, robotics and data across the care journey “to empower surgeons, never replace them.” Dr. Vigdorchik said the company intends to lead orthopedics in that direction.
Nicolas Piuzzi, MD, of Cleveland Clinic said planning, surgery and recovery often sit in separate silos. Dr. Piuzzi said he uses many of the company’s available tools today, including ROSA Knee with OptimiZe, Persona Knee System, ZBEdge Analytics and mymobility Care Management Platform.
The company said the category is an aspirational framework, not a product, and that the intelligent surgical systems it describes are in development and not available for sale.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
