Smith+Nephew launches ‘turn-key’ robotic-assisted surgical system; designed to quickly augment the orthopaedic team’s skills set for greater accuracy (1-3 ¥) improved outcomes (4), and potentially an immediate scalable solution to NHS

Smith+Nephew (NYSE:SNN;LSE:SN), the global medical technology business, today announces the launch of CORI◊ handheld robotics, an advanced system for both total and partial knee arthroplasties.

The CORI system is a compact and fully mobile⁵ solution incorporating a 3-D intra-operative imaging system with an advanced robotic sculpting tool. The robotic system allows surgeons to measure, plan, and perform a knee surgery which is personalised to the patient’s individual anatomy in theatre.

The Smith+Nephew system is considerably more compact⁶ than alternative robotic systems*, has minimal set up time, and is so portable** it can be moved from theatre to theatre to optimise flow of patients through surgical units. 

One of the first surgeons to use the device in the UK, Mr Tim Parratt, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at East Suffolk North Essex NHS Foundation Trust says, “The CORI system is excellent to use. This technology is mobile, portable and slots seamlessly into theatre. There is minimal disruption for the theatre staff. If anything, it’s easier than getting conventional kit ready. This system also allows me to tailor the operation to the patient’s unique physiology, whereas with instruments I tended to perform the same operation every time on each patient.”

Patient Outcomes: Less pain, fewer revisions, and greater satisfaction post-surgery

Over 680,000 people are currently waiting for a hip or knee replacement⁷. Many of those have waited well over a year, living with chronic pain. More than 10 per cent of patients waiting for knee surgery in the UK say their quality of life is ‘worse than death’⁸.

The benefits of robotics-assisted surgery for patients are myriad, and include significantly improved patient reported outcome measures (PROMs)^{9,10 †‡} and shortened length of hospital stay^11‡, there is evidence of an earlier return to an active lifestyle^12‡.

Australia has been a leader in the field of robotics and navigation in orthopaedic surgery and the registry has demonstrated the benefits patients can expect such as fewer revisions¹³ and complications¹³, and a shorter length of hospital stay with the patient able to be discharged in sub-24 hours.¹⁴

“The CORI system enables every patient to have a knee replacement that is shape matched and aligned to their specific anatomy. We know that outcomes aren’t consistent in non-robotic surgeries and that one in five patients^15-20 have issues following surgery. Our technology has evolved so that we can achieve a personalised fit to each individual patient,” says Mr Simon Tarry, Managing Director, UK, Ireland & Nordics, Smith+Nephew.

Innovation at Smith+Nephew 

The CORI system is amongst the first technology to place the surgeon at the heart of the digital operating room. Surgeons can access the benefits of robotic surgery but still have full decision-making capability at each step of the operation.

This system is the first of several launches in technology and software over the next five years, demonstrating Smith+Nephew’s commitment to improve surgical experience through digital and technology innovation across the patient pathway.

To learn more about Smith+Nephew’s CORI surgical system please visit: www.robotics-surgery.com

Enquiries

Media

Jemma Driscoll  
+44 7866 012 382 
ROAD Communications 
Jemma@roadcommunications.co.uk 

*compared to Mako and ROSA®

¥compared to manual surgery techniques 
**compared to NAVIO◊ Surgical System 
† n = 28, p<0.05, (Objective International Knee Society Score) 
‡ for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty vs other techniques 
πn= 28 (n=11 robotic procedures), p<0.01 

About Smith+Nephew

Smith+Nephew is a portfolio medical technology business that exists to restore people’s bodies and their self-belief by using technology to take the limits off living. We call this purpose ‘Life Unlimited’. Our 18,000 employees  deliver this mission every day, making a difference to patients’ lives through the excellence of our product portfolio, and the invention and application of new technologies across our three global franchises of Orthopaedics, Advanced Wound Management and Sports Medicine & ENT.

Founded in Hull, UK, in 1856, we now operate in more than 100 countries, and generated annual sales of $4.6 billion in 2020. Smith+Nephew is a constituent of the FTSE100 (LSE:SN, NYSE:SNN). The terms ‘Group’ and ‘Smith+Nephew’ are used to refer to Smith & Nephew plc and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise. 

For more information about Smith+Nephew, please visit www.smith-nephew.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook. 

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