In 2013, Stryker acquired Mako Surgical and has since maintained a leading position in the robotics field. In 2019, Zimmer Biomet’s Rosa knee system received 510(k) clearance, entering the market. J&J took longer to enter the market, with its Velys product first receiving FDA clearance in 2021. Recently, the company has expanded the system’s scope of use.
Strong Growth in the UKA Market
The new FDA clearance covers the application of Velys in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). J&J stated that this surgery can support bone preservation and shorten recovery time, but due to challenges such as smaller incisions and lower visibility, the procedure has not been fully utilized.
In a J&J press release, orthopedic surgeon John Redmond stated, “Achieving precise alignment and optimal implant positioning is crucial for long-term success, and the ability to achieve this in a reproducible manner remains an unmet need in the UKA field.” Redmond noted that Velys “will enable more personalized surgeries and help achieve reproducible results” with higher precision and accuracy.
Surgeons added that ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are settings where Velys can play a role.
While other robots are already available for partial knee surgeries, J&J believes its device design may be better suited for ASCs. J&J CEO Joaquin Duato discussed the comparison between Velys and other robots like Stryker’s Mako at the 40th Annual Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference in May.
“We’ve heard from orthopedic surgeons that Velys is more compact and takes up less space than competitor robots,” Duato said. “Therefore, especially in crowded operating rooms and even in the context of ASCs, having a smaller footprint like Velys is an advantage. We have the opportunity to regain market share and grow our knee platform.”
J&J has not yet disclosed commercialization details for Velys in the new indication. The company believes the “strong performance in the hip and knee areas” was a driving factor for the 4.3% year-over-year growth in its orthopedics division in the first quarter of this year.
Related Chinese Manufacturers
In recent years, various Chinese companies have been developing knee replacement systems, with several products approved by the NMPA:
- Hangzhou Jianjia Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
- Hangzhou Scalpels Robot Co., Ltd.
- Suzhou MicroPort Navigation Technology Co., Ltd.
- Beijing Natong Medical Robot Technology Co., Ltd.
- Dabo Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
- Beijing Natong Medical Robot Technology Co., Ltd.
- Kuangrui Intelligent Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
- Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments Co., Ltd.
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