Stanmore Knee Surgery System Cleared in U.S.

Stanmore Implants, a company specializing in patient-specific and modular orthopedic implants, has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Sculptor Robotic Guidance Arm (RGA). The device is cleared for precision implant placement in unicompartmental knee surgery, also known as partial knee resurfacing.

Partial knee resurfacing replaces just the parts of the knee that are worn out and painful rather than cutting away the entire joint. This preservation technique retains the natural ligaments around the knee, reduces surgical damage to tissue, and is less invasive compared to total knee replacement. Sculptor RGA uses a robotic guidance arm to assist the surgeon’s operation of a cutting tool, limiting the removal of bone to a pre-defined safe area using the Stannmore’s Active Constraint technology. During surgery, bone is removed corresponding to the implant shape whilst a tracking arm determines and monitors the location of the patient ensuring that the surgeon accurately prepares the bone surface to match the implant precisely.

According to Stanmore officials, this approach to the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee has been used at a number of centers in the United Kingdom since the first patient-specific personalized knee was implanted in July 2011 and builds upon the earlier clinical work undertaken using the Active Constraint technology featured in the Sculptor RGA device. The company reports that Active Constraint technology has been shown to provide better functional outcome at seven-year follow up for partial knee surgery compared to the saws and jigs currently used in most knee surgery procedures, which are prone to a much higher degree of placement error.

The Sculptor RGA will be introduced in the United States for unicompartmental knee surgery in a limited release to a select group of surgeons beginning mid year, as Stanmore continues its evidence-based approach to new product introduction. The company also is developing additional applications for Sculptor RGA with the goal of broader commercialization next year.

“Following this FDA clearance for Sculptor RGA we are excited by the opportunity to bring our personalized approach to knee surgery to patients in the United States,” said Brian Steer, executive chairman. “Robotic technology represents a major advance in orthopedics, providing accurate placement that is critical to implant longevity and reproducibility along with tangible cost benefits, making access to robotic surgery more widely available to patients. Stanmore is now looking forward to working further with surgeons to continue to develop innovative solutions for the global orthopedic market.”

Stanmore Implants is headquartered in Elstree, United Kingdom, with U.S. offices in Plymouth, Mass.