HonorHealth performs nation’s 1st surgery using new handheld robotic device

PHOENIX — An Arizona health system has become the first in the nation to perform joint replacement surgery using a new handheld robotics device.

HonorHealth completed the first procedure using Stryker’s Mako Robotic Power System on Jan. 13 at Phoenix’s HonorHealth Sonoran Crossing Medical Center. More than 55 surgeries have been performed with the device since then.

The Mako RPS for Total Knee is a robotically powered saw that combines robotic guidance with the feel of a traditional power tool.

The device uses patented active adjustment technology that responds to a surgeon’s hand movements, automatically guiding the saw blade to stay aligned with the surgical plan without the use of traditional cutting blocks.

The system provides surgeons with real-time data during joint replacement procedures, allowing for more precise bone preparation and implant placement tailored to individual patients, according to HonorHealth.

“This technology allows us to deliver highly personalized care with an unprecedented level of accuracy and precision,” said Dr. Doug Werner, an orthopedic surgeon at HonorHealth in a press release. “It gives us the ability to plan each procedure in meticulous detail while remaining adaptable in the operating room.”

Stryker said its new platform is designed for surgeons who want the benefits of robotic guidance but prefer the familiarity of manual instruments.

The Michigan-based company promises the new tool can shorten surgery time and anesthesia exposure. It could eliminate the need for preoperative radiation or full leg CT scans in some cases, said Gayle Cassidy, assistant vice president of HonorHealth Orthopedics.

“Bringing this handheld robotics technology to HonorHealth reflects our commitment to investing in innovations that support patient care,” Cassidy said in the release.

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