Medtronic Acquires Fortimedix Surgical to Enhance Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery Portfolio
Medtronic
Medical Device Manufacturer
Mazor Robotics
Surgical Robot Developer
Source: Siyu Medtech
News on November 21, 2024: Medtronic acquires joint manufacturer Fortimedix Surgical.
This acquisition will further expand Medtronic's business scope and may leverage Fortimedix Surgical's technology to enhance the functionality of its surgical robot products.
Fortimedix Surgical has developed proprietary articulating instrument technology, which is considered to "challenge conventional methods." Based on a fully laser-cut product architecture, it can be applied to endoscopic therapeutic interventions and minimally invasive surgery, and enables early surgical intervention through endoscopy, namely endoluminal surgery.
Fortimedix Surgical utilizes multi-layer laser-cut tube nesting and welding technology, enabling products to achieve complex functions and superior performance while transforming ordinary low-cost metal tubes into flexible articulating shafts. These shafts, when assembled, consist of hundreds of moving parts, delivering complex functionality while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
This technology challenges traditional medical device manufacturing methods by eliminating conventional part machining and assembly, thereby achieving a breakthrough in cost control and setting new standards for robotic and non-robotic endoscopic therapeutic interventions as well as minimally invasive surgery.
Fortimedix Surgical's proprietary articulating instrument technology is designed for both handheld (non-robotic) and robotic applications, including multi-port and single-port soft tissue robotics, flexible robotics, and robotic endoscopic surgery.
Mazor X
In 2018, Medtronic acquired Mazor Robotics, an Israeli surgical robotics company, for $1.64 billion, thereby gaining the Mazor X surgical platform. The system has been approved in Canada, Europe, and the United States.
Mazor X Stealth Edition combines advanced software, algorithms, robotics, navigation, and surgical tools to provide orthopedic surgeons with precise surgical approach guidance. Surgeons can pre-plan and simulate surgical procedures, with only about 20% of the surgery requiring manual operation.
Stealth AutoGuide
In 2019, Medtronic's neurosurgical robotic platform, Stealth AutoGuide, received FDA approval.
The platform consists of a stealth space station image guidance system and a Midas Rex high-speed drill, while also providing real-time navigation and visual feedback for the required route.
Hugo RAS System
In 2021, Medtronic's Hugo robotic-assisted surgery platform received approval in Europe. Hugo is a soft-tissue surgical robot developed by Medtronic, featuring a modular robotic arm design that allows for easy movement throughout the hospital.
The system can identify and label key anatomical structures, providing information that users may not be able to observe directly. This intelligent recognition feature makes the surgical process more precise and controllable, reduces potential human errors, and increases the success rate of surgeries.
AiBLE™ Intelligent Innovation Ecosystem
In November 2023, at the 6th China International Import Expo, Medtronic China Orthopedics and Neurosurgery Business Group unveiled the full lineup of the AiBLE™ Digital Orthopedics/Neurosurgery Integrated Solution.
Two sets of solutions for the surgical ecosystem in specialized disease areas organically integrate Medtronic's globally leading implants, Mazor X spinal surgery robot/Stealth Autoguide neurosurgical robot, StealthStation S8 surgical navigation system, O-arm O2 intraoperative imaging system, and Midas Rex surgical power systems, achieving synergistic benefits between the devices.
In addition, besides the interconnectedness within the product ecosystem, Medtronic also places greater emphasis on the concept of a service ecosystem, providing comprehensive support to clinical doctors from the perspectives of professional education, technical support, and after-sales service, helping them master robot-assisted procedures more effectively and quickly.
At the 39th North American Spine Society (NASS) Annual Meeting, Medtronic and Siemens announced a collaboration to expand access to preoperative and postoperative imaging technologies for spinal surgeries.
The two companies will jointly sell Siemens Healthineers' Multitom Rax X-ray imaging system and integrate it into Medtronic's AiBLE spinal surgery ecosystem.
Siemens Healthineers' Multitom Rax X-ray Imaging System Integrated into Medtronic's AiBLE Spine Surgery Ecosystem
Acquisition of Medicrea
In 2020, Medtronic acquired Medicrea in the orthopedics + AI healthcare field. Medicrea's product portfolio includes Medicrea UNiD Adaptive Spine Intelligence (ASI), designed to support surgeons' workflow in preoperative planning and create personalized implant solutions for surgery.
Through the acquisition, Medtronic becomes the first company able to provide a comprehensive solution including AI-driven surgical planning, personalized spinal implants, and robot-assisted surgical delivery.
In June 2022, Medtronic announced that the LigaPASS 2.0, a ligament augmentation device used in spinal surgeries, received FDA 510(k) clearance and Breakthrough Device Designation. The LigaPASS™ 2.0 system can be paired with the UNiD™ Adaptive Spine Intelligence (ASI) platform.
UNiD™ ASI helps surgeons plan, execute, and analyze their surgeries by leveraging data science and artificial intelligence, transforming the standard of care for spinal surgeries tailored to patients. Medtronic’s R&D never stops, and this new product is also part of the AI spinal surgery robotics system.
Acquisition of Digital Surgery
Digital Surgery, a company specializing in digital surgical solutions, was acquired by Medtronic in February 2020. Its interactive surgical simulation tool, Touch Surgery, provides practical guidance for surgical procedures and medical operations, enabling physicians to quickly grasp surgical processes, assess proficiency levels, and conduct surgical simulation training.
Touch Surgery allows doctors to connect the operating room to the cloud, so that they can seamlessly record and upload surgical videos. Doctors can watch and analyze these videos anytime, anywhere via their mobile phones.
In July 2024, Medtronic announced that its Touch Surgery digital surgical system had updated its live streaming capabilities, including 14 new AI algorithms that enhance postoperative analysis functions, providing AI-based surgical insights for laparoscopic surgical robots and other robot-assisted surgeries.
Previously, during the Q2 earnings call, Medtronic CEO Geoff Martha expressed that the company is interested in acquisitions, particularly those that can support its high-growth markets and high-growth segments.
Through such a layout, Medtronic will establish a strong product line and may bring new breakthroughs in the field of minimally invasive surgery and endoscopic therapeutic interventions.
This article is reprinted, all views belong to the original author.Platform(Siyu Medtech), Medical DeviceThe Medical Business Review remains neutral on all viewpoints in the article and only shares them for communication purposes.
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