Stryker has received the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for its Q Guidance System with Spine Guidance 5 software featuring Copilot.
The medical technology company said that the first-to-market technology incorporates smart-powered instruments into its expanding ecosystem.
The Spine Guidance Software uses Copilot’s technology to offer various feedback modalities to assist with bone resection, pedicle preparation, and screw placement.
It aims to optimise surgeon effectiveness and improve patient outcomes.
The New York Stock Exchange-listed Stryker collaborated with over 850 orthopaedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons to develop the technology.
The medical technology company launched its Q Guidance System with Spine Guidance Software in September 2022.
Stryker instruments division president Dylan Crotty said: “This project is a prime example of our mission in action.
“We listened to our customers’ evolving needs and are engaging leading surgeons to create a product that adds confidence to their workflow.”
The software features Smart Zones for bone resection that offer auditory and sensory feedback to alert surgeons as they approach the planned boundaries of anatomical zones with the high-speed drill.
Additionally, the Copilot Smart Driver incorporates automatic depth stop technology that halts the drill when it reaches the specified depth. This enhances precision during pedicle preparation and placement of screw.
The automatic depth stop feature is proprietary technology that activates exclusively when using a Stryker implant.
Stryker spine division president Robbie Robinson said: “Spine Guidance Software with Copilot is just the beginning of our development pipeline.
“While focusing on innovation and the integration of our implants, instrumentation and enabling technologies, we strive to help surgeons perform safe and efficient procedures that enable better patient outcomes.”
Stryker is planning to start the first clinical cases using Spine Guidance Software with Copilot in September, followed by a full commercial rollout later this fall.
Earlier this month, the medical technology firm closed the acquisition of Artelon, a US-based firm engaged in developing soft tissue fixation products.
