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Mike Evers, Senior Market Analyst at ORTHOWORLD, expects enabling technology sales to increase by 7.5% and grow past $1.4 billion in 2024. By 2027, he forecasts sales to surpass $1.7 billion. Evers believes that the industry will continue to focus on the development of enabling technology throughout next year, with an emphasis placed on increasing optionality to drive adoption.
“The prevailing placement strategy for orthopedic robots is the razor/razor blade model,” he said. “The largest companies forego upfront system payments for implant volume commitments.”
However, Evers noted that companies like THINK Surgical, eCential and Orthokey believe closed systems prevent broad market adoption of robotics. They want to reshape the industry with implant-agnostic robots that are used in joint replacement and spine procedures. “If more of the market adopts open-system robots, as well as navigation systems, enabling technologies might reach mainstream utilization sooner than later,” he said.
That movement appears to be gaining some momentum. In June, Zimmer Biomet entered into a limited distribution agreement to integrate its technology into a customized TMINI robotic solution from THINK Surgical. In September, THINK Surgical announced that its TMINI Miniature Robotic System had received FDA 510(k) clearance for use with Zimmer Biomet’s Persona Personalized Knee System.
THINK Surgical has also entered into agreements with Maxx Orthopedics, Signature Orthopaedics, b-ONE Ortho Corporation, Medacta and LINK Forge to add their implants to its proprietary database of implant modules for use with the TMINI System.
Interest in streamlined navigation systems is also increasing. “I believe the core innovation in enabling tech lies on the software side, particularly in surgical planning and navigation,” Evers said. “Ultimately, that’s where we’re likely to see the most progress with platforms that drive further adoption.”
Companies like Enovis, Augmedics and OnPoint Surgical have introduced easy-to-use, cost-effective navigation systems that utilize AR, Evers noted. He added that these systems will likely play the primary role in driving market adoption of enabling technology.
Medtronic, spine’s largest player with global sales of $2.2 billion in the segment, has around 10,000 capital installations worldwide. The company is touting the expanded capabilities of its AiBLE digital ecosystem, which combines several technologies to improve the predictability of spine surgery.
“Converging these elements marks a significant shift in how surgeons interact with us,” said Skip Kiil, President of Cranial and Spinal Technologies at Medtronic. “We can provide support throughout the entire surgical journey — preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively.”
Josh Johnson, Vice President and General Manager of Core Spine at Stryker, believes spine surgery’s next frontier lies in using enabling technologies that enhance surgical procedures. “By leveraging insights from enabling technologies, we drive closer alignment in treatment approaches, fostering greater continuity between procedures and positions within the broader patient care framework,” he said.
