RAYNHAM, Mass. — DePuy Synthes has signed a definitive agreement to acquire selected rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize Gemtrack technology across its joint reconstruction portfolio, including shoulder, hip and knee procedures.
The company said the technology could be used in both navigation and robotic applications. Gemtrack was developed by MinMaxMedical, a Grenoble, France-based medtech and surgical innovation company.
DePuy Synthes, a global orthopaedic technologies and solutions company, said the agreement could help bring miniature radiofrequency tracker technology to joint reconstruction procedures, pending successful product development and regulatory approvals.
The company said the technology has the potential to establish a new standard for integrated image-guided and robotic-assisted joint surgery within its VELYS Enabling Tech Portfolio.
Current orthopaedic robotics and navigation systems largely rely on infrared cameras, direct line-of-sight tracking and invasive pins or bulky arrays attached to patients. DePuy Synthes said radiofrequency technology could reduce the need for infrared cameras and line-of-sight dependence, reduce reliance on invasive anchors and enable continuous, highly accurate real-time tracking.
“Stéphane Lavallée and his companies have successfully collaborated with DePuy Synthes, including for the VELYS Robotic Assisted Solution for knee arthroplasty and the VELYS Active Robotic Assistance for spine,” said Namal Nawana, Worldwide President, DePuy Synthes. “This new collaboration will be applied broadly to the VELYS ecosystem to reduce the reliance on line-of-sight dependent navigation and offering the potential for improved navigation precision.”
DePuy Synthes said additional program milestones and timing will be announced as development and regulatory pathways progress.
