Image source: Choose Brisbane
Arthroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical technique, is used to treat over 50 million injured wrists, elbows, shoulders, spines, hips, knees and ankles around the world each year.
But Dr Chris Jeffery, CEO of Brisbane-based MedTech company Convergence Medical, says the complexity of arthroscopic procedures places a physical and mental burden on even the most skilled surgeons, which can lead to ‘iatrogenic trauma’ – unintended damage to patients caused by medical treatment.
That’s why Dr Jeffery – an ex-Army engineer, medical doctor and serial entrepreneur with a history of successful medical device developments under his belt – has turned his attention towards developing the world’s first arthroscopic surgical robot.
“Our goal is to transform arthroscopic surgery for the better,” he says. “Our world-first system, the V01 Arthroscopic Surgical Robot, implements innovative designs to improve dexterity, precision and functionality, creating a way to perform these procedures faster and with improved surgical outcomes.”
The V01 incorporates virtual reality technology to immerse surgeons directly into the joint space, improving visibility, along with three halo-mounted, high-precision robotic arms capable of performing a wide range of surgical actions.
Developed with a team of doctors and engineers, the V01 springs from Dr Jeffery’s interest in the integration between humans and robots. Initial testing shows that the robot can execute simulated activities four times quicker than manual alternatives, with a 30-times increase in precision.
“The last couple of years have been very busy for Convergence Medical,” Dr Jeffery says. “After our pre-seed investment round in December 2022, we were able to build our demonstration robot, which allowed us to display how robots can improve minimally invasive surgery.
