“Robin” aims to take robotic knee surgery to a new level

The success of an operation often depends on the surgeon's experience and skill – the more complex the procedure, the more important the surgeon. If they work manually, they use mechanical devices, which is time-consuming and potentially error-prone. With “Robin,” Orthokey is opening the door to advanced computer-assisted orthopedic surgery. Robin is an intraoperative robotic system that supports the surgeon in planning and positioning orthopedic implants and performing precise bony resections. To do this, it uses the individual patient profile as well as specific kinematic and anatomical characteristics. "We position several trackers on the patient, which can be seen by a camera with an accuracy of less than 1 millimeter. This allows the surgeon to plan the right positioning of the implant for each individual patient before performing a resection," says Simone Bignozzi, Product Manager at Orthokey, explaining the principle behind “Robin.”

Dr. Domenico Alesi, orthopedic surgeon at the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli in Bologna, praises the ease of use of the system in particular: "'Robin' is intuitive and visually appealing. All the interfaces simplify complex processes for users and make their work easier." “Robin” is also based on a modular approach that takes into account different implant manufacturers and hospital concepts. Last but not least, Orthokey relies on high-quality components for its operating room solution, including KUKA’s sensitive lightweight robot LBR Med.

The engineers at Orthokey compared various robots and also considered developing their own. But then the LBR Med from KUKA came into play, which convinced them for three reasons, as Maria Pasquini, CTO of the “Robin” project at Orthokey, says: "Firstly, the robotic arm is already certified for an easy and fast integration into medical devices, which facilitated the certification of the overall system and enabled it to be ready for the market more quickly. The second factor is the seven degrees of freedom and the sensors in each joint, which can increase the robot's accuracy and dexterity in the operating room. Thirdly, the LRB Med is a mature and established solution with reliable software, so we were able to work quickly and effectively right from the start."

“Robin” is ready for the market. Certification in accordance with the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) is currently underway, after which Orthokey intends to apply for further approvals in various countries – next year, for example, with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. "To achieve this and continuously improve our system, we are working with several reference centers around the world. The feedback has been consistently positive. Users appreciate the dimensions and weight of 'Robin' as well as the simplicity of the surgical workflow," says Simone Bignozzi.

It is important to the developers that the medical robot is not seen as a competitor to the surgeon, but as an assistant in the operating room. It can be a great advantage for young surgeons in particular, as they might have a steeper learning curve than in conventional surgery. "'Robin' will not restrict work opportunities, but will increase the skills of those involved. OR staff, including surgeons, will learn how to interact seamlessly with the additional device. The surgeon will benefit from patient-centered surgery and outliers can be reduced, especially for surgeons with a low number of operations. There will be an impact on the operating room set-up, but this impact will be minimal. Better training of residents and fellows, a better understanding of knee surgery procedures, the collection of more reliable data and a promotion of the further development of surgical practice can be additional benefits of the system," emphasizes Maria Pasquini.