Mazor launches another step in the robotic system produced by Spinassist, which will allow doctors to expand the use of the robot for additional procedures
Mazor Surgical Technologies Company (whose shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange) announced that it has successfully completed a series of surgeries with a robotic system that hovers over the patient.
The new development, which has been successfully tested in the Hadassah and Carmel hospitals in Israel and in another hospital in Germany, allows the surgeon to insert implants into the patient's spine precisely, under the guidance of the miniature robot made by Mazor, and without the need for an additional incision. The system is now approved for clinical use both in Israel and in Europe.
The new development is an extension of Mazor's existing system, and integrates into the miniature SpineAssist robot that Mazor previously developed, and which is used in about 15 medical centers around the world.
Until now, Mazor's system was anchored directly to the patient through two drillings in the hip pelvis. Now, with the completion of the new development, Mazor presents a solution that will completely avoid the need for drilling or cutting in the patient's body for the purpose of fixing the robotic guidance system, and the company estimates that it will be possible to substantially shorten the duration of recovery, and reduce the trauma involved in spine surgery.
Mazur estimates that the new system will be widely used in spine surgeries in which one to two vertebrae are operated on, and where, given precise instructions, it is possible to avoid cutting the patient's muscles and exposing the vertebrae.
Mazur's development meets the international surgical trend that seeks to reduce as much as possible the invasiveness and incisions in surgical operations. Today, doctors are required to make large incisions in the patient's back in any case where it is necessary to insert implants into the spine.
Mazor has previously presented a solution that reduced the surgical invasiveness, compared to what existed until now. The new development is a new evolutionary stage, which almost completely eliminates the need to make incisions in the patient's back for the purpose of inserting the implants designed to fix the vertebrae.
The SpineAssist does not replace the doctor, and does not perform any surgical operation in his place. The system is assembled above the patient's bed, and its role is to guide the doctor and help him insert the surgical instruments into the spine without damaging vital organs. After the surgeon examines the robot's recommendation and approves it, he inserts the surgical tool (drill or surgical scalpel) through the robot's arm, thus reducing the risk of damaging vital organs. Mazor Technologies usually compares the robot to a taxi driver, who brings the customer to the desired address.
The market that Mazor is targeting is considered one of the markets enjoying high growth. Each year, over half a million back surgeries are performed in the US alone, in which Mazor's robot can assist. The investment houses that cover the orthopedic sector point to the back surgery market as the market enjoying the greatest growth, which is yet to triple within eight years, to the amount of 7 billion dollars.
About Mazor Surgical Technologies
Mazor was founded in 2001 and is engaged in the development, production and marketing of innovative medical devices to support surgical procedures in the field of orthopedics and neurosurgery. The company has developed the SpineAssist miniature robotics system, which helps back surgeons significantly increase the accuracy of surgical procedures in spine surgery. Also, the company has additional developments in the field of imaging-guided surgeries, the main of which is the guidance and navigation of surgical tools with high precision and minimally invasiveness to the human body, using XNUMXD imaging and miniature robotics technologies.
Mazor recently announced the appointment of Yonatan Adrat, former CEO and president of Elsint, to the chairman of the company's board of directors. Along with him, David Schlacht, former CEO of Syneron, a Rafai equipment company that is also traded on Nasdaq, also joined Mazor's board of directors; and Gil Bianco, former CEO of Agis. The company's efforts to build a management infrastructure that will continue the construction and institutionalization of Mazor from an Israeli start-up company for the medical industry with a management base and experience from the rich and broad in the Israeli medical companies are evident.
Among Mazor's prominent shareholders are the Johnson & Johnson investment fund, and other venture capital funds such as: Alice Ventures, Shalom Fund, Dor Ventures, Proseed Fund, IHCV Fund.
For more information: Uri Domi, tel. 054-6921333
