THINK Surgical, United Orthopedic Corporation Partner to Provide Better Fit in TKA

THINK Surgical Inc. (THINK), an advanced robotic technology company and marketer of the first active robotic surgical system for orthopedic surgery, and United Orthopedic Corporation (UNITED), an international designer, manufacturer, and distributor of orthopedic implants and instruments, are partnering to enable enhanced precision and provide a better fit in total knee replacements. 
 
The collaboration will focus on harnessing the advantages of each company’s current technology: THINK’s Active Robotic System and UNITED’s U2TM Knee System. Joint marketing will incorporate each system into a packaged offering for orthopedic surgeons and allow these combined technologies to be delivered on a global scale.
 
“We are excited about what this collaboration and complete package offering will bring to orthopedic markets worldwide. By combining THINK’s Active Robotic System and UNITED’s U2TM Knee System, we believe we will be able to offer unparalleled precision and have the potential to minimize opportunities for error, all while helping to ensure procedures are executed as close to their design as possible,” said Jason Lin, chairman and CEO of United Orthopedic Corporation. “By working together, in time we may be able to offer a solution that reduces healthcare costs and improves outcomes for total knee replacement patients.”
 
THINK’s Active Robotic System combines two exclusive innovations to produce a revolutionary piece of technology. The system consists of a 3D pre-surgical planning workstation and the Active Robot, a computer assisted tool. These technologies provide an option for total joint replacement surgery that ensures surgical plans can be carried out precisely as defined. The system’s use in total knee arthroplasty is the subject of a TKA IDE study, which has completed patient enrollment with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance anticipated in 2019. Outside of the United States, the Active Robotic System core technology has been used in thousands of total hip and knee replacements worldwide.
 
As part of the collaboration, UNITED will serve as THINK’s exclusive distributor in Taiwan and designate Taiwan as a center of excellence for their combined platforms. In addition to offering a total “one-stop” solution to precision total joint arthroplasty for surgeons, the companies plan to explore cooperative development of implants specifically designed for active robotic surgeries in order to provide an improved alternative to currently available total joint replacement procedures.
 
“Combined with UNITED’s quarter-century reputation as a reliable manufacturer in the medical device space, we believe that THINK’s expertise in robotic technologies will allow us to potentially offer surgeons a more precise experience in total joint replacement surgery,” said John Hahn, THINK Surgical’s CEO and president.
 
The U2TM Knee System has been commercially available in the United States since 2006, and has been implanted in more than 140,000 surgical cases in 39 countries. The U2TM Knee System provides surgeons with a simple surgical procedure and reduces the number of trays required from six to one and a half.
 
THINK Surgical Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets the first active robotic surgical system for orthopedic surgery and maintains an open implant policy, allowing surgeons maximum choice for their patients. 
 
United Orthopedic Corporation offers clinically proven solutions used in primary and revision total hip/knee replacement, in addition to oncology applications. The company has implemented and maintains Quality Management Systems compliant with ISO 13485, FDA and CE requirements.