Surgify Marks First Use of its Bone Cutting Technology

Surgify has debuted its new bone-cutting technology in the operating room.

The Finnish firm’s surgical innovation, performed at Helsinki University Hospital, enables physicians to cut bones faster and safer. “The two surgical patients recovered well from their surgeries and returned home quickly. Neither faced soft tissue damage during the operation,” said Professor Mika Niemelä, head of HUS Neurosurgery.
 
Surgify’s technology cuts bone while preventing injuries to soft tissues such as meninges, muscles, blood vessels, nerve pathways, or central nervous system structures. Depending on the type of surgery, the risk of soft tissue damage can be up to 30 percent. With Surgify’s technology, such injuries can possibly be avoided entirely. Severe soft tissue damage can, at worst, result in permanent injury or patient death.
 
“Surgify’s device appears to push the soft tissue out of the way. This is a major advantage, as a typical surgical drill that spins tens of thousands of times in a minute can be very dangerous if it touches soft tissue,” added Niemelä.
 
Clinical procedures with Surgify’s new technology will continue at HUS.
 
Surgify executives said the company’s technology can potentially save hospitals up to 3 million euros annually, thanks to the prevention of complications and a reduced need for continued care. When soft tissue is not damaged, the patient needs less treatment, recovers faster, and postoperative complications are less likely.
 
Soft tissue damage is particularly common in the elderly, as the tissue in older patients is naturally more fragile. Globally, such complications cost nearly 4 billion euros, and will likely grow as the population ages.
 
New technological devices are making a breakthrough in medical care. Robots are now used to operate some parts of the surgery. Surgify’s technology is perfectly suitable for both traditional handheld surgeries as well as surgical robotics.
 
“We see our solution as part of a bigger change that is happening in surgery, and that enables wider use of automation in many types of procedures. We envision enabling surgeons to perform their surgical skills beyond the limitations of current surgical instrumentation, allowing best-in-class surgical procedures for every patient and cost-efficient innovation for the health system,” Surgify CEO Visa Sippola said.
 
Surgify is targeting the international market with its product. Its internationalization strategy is sharpened by Board Chair Lex R. Giltaij, M.D., MBA. He has been serving for more than 30 years in senior executive positions creating and building international businesses for many orthopedic and spinal companies, amongst them Stryker, St. Francis Medical Technology (now Medtronic), and Pioneer Surgical (now RTI Surgical).
 
“We’re starting in the Nordic countries and will soon take our groundbreaking technology to the international markets in the EU and U.S.A. We are also looking forward to continuing our effective collaboration work with HUS,” Giltaij said.