MicroPort® MedBot™ SkyWalker™ Orthopedic Surgical Robot Gets Approval in Japan

Tokyo, Japan, 08 October 2024 - On September 26, the SkyWalker™ Orthopedic Surgical Robot (SkyWalker™), developed by MicroPort® NaviBot®, an associated company of MicroPort® MedBot™, received market approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW).

The SkyWalker™ robot features platform integration, standardization, precision, and personalization, making it an ideal assistant for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures. Equipped with lightweight medical robotic arms and featuring the world’s first all-in-one osteotomy guide, it enables more efficient and precise bone cutting. This innovation not only significantly shortens the learning curve for surgeons, but also greatly improves surgical efficiency.

TKA is an effective treatment for patients with severe osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the knee. However, traditional surgical methods often rely on visual judgment, which might lead to errors in alignment and positioning during joint replacement. SkyWalker™ has demonstrated its ability to meet diverse global clinical needs through its applications, gaining significant recognition among medical professionals. Data from a clinical study on primary TKA released on 14 November 2023 indicated that SkyWalker™ performed comparably to the field’s leading robot in terms of the accuracy of lower limb alignment, operation time, estimated blood loss, and results of postoperative clinical and functional knee assessment at 6-month and 1-year follow-ups. 1

To date, SkyWalker™ has received market approval from regulatory authorities in eight countries and regions, including China, the United States, the European Union, Brazil, Australia, the United Kingdom, India, and Japan. It has been used in approximately 1,500 TKA procedures across more than 20 countries. MicroPort® MedBot™ remains committed to enhancing product competitiveness and clinical service standards through ongoing technological advancements and product optimization, providing high-quality solutions to medical institutions globally.

About MicroPort® MedBot™

Founded in 2015, MicroPort® MedBot™ (Shanghai MicroPort MedBot Group Co., Ltd.; HKEX: 02252), an associated company of MicroPort® (MicroPort Scientific Corporation; HKEX: 00853), is currently the only surgical robot company in the world with businesses covering six promising subsectors of surgical robots including endoscopy, orthopedics, vascular intervention, natural orifice surgery, percutaneous puncture and medical aesthetics. MicroPort® MedBot™ is committed to meeting the growing demand for cutting-edge robotic surgery by integrating advanced research on robotics, control algorithms, electrical engineering, image-based navigation and precision imaging. MicroPort® MedBot™ provides comprehensive intelligent surgical solutions to lead the advancement of robotic surgery and shape the era of super intelligent surgery so patients everywhere can continue living better and longer lives.

More information is available at: www.medbotsurgical.com/en

Reference:

  1. Ping HY, An HM, Cao Z, Nan SK, Li HF, Chai W. Efficacy of the newly designed “SkyWalker” robot compared to the MAKO robotic system in primary total knee arthroplasty: a one-year follow-up study. Int Orthop 2023:48(3):761-72.