VISIE announces continuous anatomic auto tracking for robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty
VISIE Inc., previously known as Advanced Scanners, has announced the successful demonstration of Continuous Anatomic Auto Tracking (CAAT) for robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) at their headquarters in Austin, Texas.
Potential for pinless tracking
CAAT is a proprietary technology designed to provide vision capabilities to surgical robotic and navigation systems used in orthopaedic, neurological, cranial, and spinal surgeries. The system aims to continuously track the distal femur and proximal tibia during RA-TKA procedures without the need for tracking arrays or pins.
Current RA-TKA procedures require the use of tracking arrays monitored by infrared cameras to track patient anatomy. This method necessitates the placement of two tracking pins each in the femur and tibia. CAAT technology potentially eliminates this requirement, offering a less invasive approach.
Technical aspects and future developments
The CAAT system builds upon VISIE’s previous work in registering the distal femur and proximal tibia to a pre-operative CT scan in a fraction of a second. The technology aims to enable VISIE’s 3D scanners to track knee joint bones as they move in space during surgery, potentially allowing for synchronised movement of an integrated surgical robotic arm.
While CAAT has been demonstrated in bench testing, it has not yet been submitted to the FDA for evaluation. VISIE plans to shift focus towards medical device product development and proof of concept validation following upcoming demonstrations at industry conferences.
Aaron Bernstein, PhD, VISIE co-founder and CTO, commented on the potential wider applications of the technology: “It’s exciting to imagine CAAT’s utility in other orthopaedic procedures, as well as other specialties that could benefit from anatomic tracking, especially neurosurgical applications.”
VISIE Inc. will be presenting their technology at several upcoming conferences, including the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) Annual Meeting in November 2024.
- For more information, visit: VISIEVision.com
