Tri-City Adds Robotic Knee Replacement Surgeries

OCEANSIDE, CA--(Marketwire - Mar 21, 2013) - In May, Tri-City Medical Center will begin providing robotic surgeries for partial knee replacements resulting in less invasive, faster procedures with quicker recovery times for patients who suffer from debilitating arthritis pain.

The new NavioPFS™ precision orthopaedic surgical system, manufactured by Blue Belt Technologies, Inc., will be used for partial knee replacements through Tri-City's Orthopaedic & Spine Institute. The procedure places an implant on just one side of the patient's knee, rather than over the entire knee joint surface, as in a total knee replacement. Tri-City is the second U.S hospital equipped with this system.

"Orthopaedic surgeries are becoming less-invasive and more precise with a focus on joint preservation, leading to faster recovery," said Tri-City CEO Larry Anderson. "The NavioPFS addition is another key step in Tri-City Medical Center's effort to bring patients the full benefit of today's robotically integrated surgical procedures."

"I can now offer patients partial knee replacements with state-of-the-art robotic precision, and the system allows me to plan the surgery for optimum alignment and longevity," said orthopaedic surgeon Dr. James Helgager, Medical Director of Joint Replacement at Tri-City. "My younger patients can now have a partial knee replacement using the NavioPFS and return to their active lifestyles more quickly."

The NavioPFS system for unicondylar -- or partial -- knee replacements utilizes an advanced CT-free intra-operative registration, planning and navigation platform to aid the surgeon in building patient-specific surgical plans. The computer-controlled hand piece assists the surgeon in preparing the bone with reproducible accuracy. Precision Freehand Sculpting, the underlying technology behind the NavioPFS hand-held technique, represents the next evolution in orthopedic robotic-assisted devices by re-emphasizing the importance of the surgeon in computer-assisted procedures.

About Tri-City Medical Center
Tri-City Medical Center is a Gold Seal-approved, full-service, acute-care medical center with two advanced clinical institutes and physicians practicing in 60 specialties. The medical center, a leader in robotics and minimally invasive technologies, has served the community for more than a half-century. It is administered by the Tri-City Healthcare District, which includes parts or all of Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad and San Marcos. For more information about Tri-City Medical Center, please visit www.tricitymed.org. 

About Blue Belt Technologies, Inc.
Blue Belt Technologies, Inc. is developing the next generation of "smart" surgical instruments with precision robotics for use initially in orthopedic procedures and then for other surgical specialties, including neurosurgery, spinal and otolaryngology (ENT). The company's NavioPFS System incorporates patented technology to provide precise robotic control to surgeons via an intelligent, handheld, computer-assisted bone-cutting tool. The NavioPFS System provides the surgeon with a layer of safety and enhanced accuracy while performing bone-shaping tasks through minimally invasive incisions. For more, see www.bluebelttech.com.