Pixee Medical today announced the first U.S. procedure using its FDA-approved Knee NexSight system for total knee arthroplasty. Dr. Safa Kassab performed the procedure earlier this month at Trinity Health Oakland Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan. The Besançon, France-based company said in a news release that it marks a “major milestone in outpatient orthopedic surgery.”
Pixee Medical says its system separates itself from traditional robotic systems by offering implant-agnostic capabilities. This eliminates the need for costly infrastructure and extra personnel, the company said. It designed it with insights from U.S. surgeons, building it upon proven technology with more than 10,000 successful cases worldwide.
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Pixee Medical unveiled the technology at AAOS in March.
The augmented reality system integrates into existing workflows and requires no pre-op scans while achieving implant positioning with robotic-like precision. Knee NexSight features a wearable headset with AR guidance while eliminating physical disposables to minimize environmental impact. Pixee says its technology is ideal for use in ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs).
“It gives the precision I need, without disrupting how I already work,” said Kassab. “It is as accurate as any robotic system, but far more intuitive and efficient and fits the pace and practical realities of outpatient surgery.”
In addition to the precision and control for surgeons, the system benefits patients, the company says. They receive a less invasive procedure that eliminates the need for percutaneous pins or intramedullary rod use.
After completing the first U.S. procedure, Pixee now plans to expand the system’s use throughout U.S. ASCs.
“This isn’t just an upgrade, it’s a rethink,” said Sébastien Henry, founder and CEO of Pixee Medical. “Knee NexSight is designed to meet the demands of the U.S. market: high-volume, cost pressures, and surgical autonomy. AR navigation lets us bring advanced guidance to more surgeons, in more settings, without the compromises of older technology. By enabling more personalized and precise implant placement, unique to a patient’s anatomy, Kneeᐩ NexSight helps to optimize patient outcomes.”