Larissa, Greece, 05 September 2023 — The SkyWalker™ Orthopedic Surgical Robot (SkyWalker™), developed by MicroPort® NaviBot™（Suzhou), an associated company of MicroPort® MedBot™, successfully performed Europe’s first-ever total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at the University General Hospital of Larissa in Greece, using the Evolution® Medial-Pivot Knee System (Evolution®) developed by MicroPort® Orthopedics. A total of three TKAs were successfully performed using the SkyWalker™ robot at the hospital on the same day.
The first surgery was skillfully executed by Professor Theofilos Karachalios’s team. Prior to the surgery, a personalized implantation plan was developed for the patient based on the SkyWalker™ planning system, which facilitated the achievement of precise prosthesis positioning. Throughout the surgery, SkyWalker™ made necessary adjustments based on ligament tension. Guided by the navigation system, bone resection was efficiently performed using the robotic arm and registration techniques, followed by successful implantation of Evolution® prosthesis. The surgery was completed in 45 minutes with minimal blood loss and a low risk of complications.1 Postoperatively, the patient exhibited a significant improvement in the lower limb alignment. This successful collaboration between SkyWalker™ and Evolution® represents its first application in Europe, following previously successful cases in China and the United States.
Subsequently, Professor Theofilos Karachalios’s team successfully completed two additional TKAs using SkyWalker™ and Evolution®, with both surgeries being completed within an hour. It is noteworthy that, during one of these procedures, a brief power interruption occurred due to a thunderstorm. However, the emergency functionality of SkyWalker™ ensured stable operation and avoided the risk of the robot freezing or ceasing to function during the surgery.
MicroPort® MedBot™'s Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Liu Yu, stated: "The successful completion of three consecutive surgeries in a single day, as the first cases in Europe, firmly establishes the reliability and stability of SkyWalker™. This represents an important step for SkyWalker™ in its mission to benefit patients worldwide."
About MicroPort® SkyWalker™ and Evolution®
SkyWalker™ is capable of assisting surgeons in customizing personalized surgical plans for patients and ensuring precise execution during surgery through its intelligent system, thereby reducing the error rate associated with traditional manual procedures.2,4 It guarantees safe operation during surgery through real-time path planning and motion trajectory monitoring.2,3 It retains the surgeon’s operating habits and tactile sensation, resulting in a shorter learning curve.2,3 The procedure does not require opening the femoral medullary canal, leading to smaller incisions and minimal patient blood loss. Consequently, this reduces postoperative pain and lowers the risk of infection, facilitating faster recovery.2,3 Furthermore, the surgical plan can be adjusted based on the patient's condition and, postoperatively, a significant improvement in lower limb alignment is achieved compared to traditional surgeries.2,3
Evolution®, with its unique medial-pivot design concept, is engineered to reproduce a healthy knee’s stability and motion. The powerful combination of "SkyWalker™ + Evolution®" guarantees both precise positioning and bone resection during surgery, ensuring stability and prosthesis retention postoperatively. This kinematic-focused clinical solution aims to improve patient outcomes and overall patient satisfaction.
About MicroPort® MedBot™
Founded in Shanghai in 2015, Shanghai MicroPort MedBot (Group) Co., Ltd. (“MicroPort® MedBot™”, stock code: 02252.HK), a subsidiary of MicroPort Scientific Corporation (“MicroPort®”, stock code: 00853.HK), is currently the only surgical robot company in the world with businesses covering five promising subsectors of surgical robots, including endoscopy, orthopedics, vascular intervention, natural orifice surgery, and percutaneous puncture. At MicroPort® MedBot™, we are 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, we provide comprehensive intelligent surgical solutions to prolong and reshape the lives of patients, lead the advancement of robotic surgery, and shape the era of super intelligent surgery.
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