Development of a data-driven, patient-specific surgical workflow for more targeted treatment of localised knee osteoarthritis

The objective of this industrial research project is to develop a patient-specific workflow for more targeted treatment of osteochondral defects in the knee joint using robot-assisted navigation. The surgical workflow would interface with S&N's commercial orthopaedic robot “NAVIO” providing new opportunities for earlier & more precise intervention. This innovation is supported by the development of a Virtual Reality 3D Headset, Cloud communication & a patient rehabilitation app, which are collectively designed to assist with the refinement of surgical planning, execution, & data management. The project allows S&N to be more competitive in the global robotic orthopaedic surgical market valued at £182m in 2016 & predicted to reach £1bn by 2020. It addresses the shifting demographics of younger, more active patients with localized knee OA who require tissue-sparing knee surgery to retain joint architecture & preserve function. The project is aligned with the competition brief aimed at developing patient-specific therapies in healthcare by combining clinical knowledge with advances in diagnostic techniques, data aggregation, & analysis. The project requires a multi-disciplinary team in orthopaedics, software engineering, 3D printing, & robotics, which will be achieved through partnership between a global medical device company (S&N), 2 SME’s, (DCSL & Euriscus) & an academic group (Imperial College). The consortium is requesting £699.7k to fund a 3yr study to gain new skills for the purpose of commercial development, which could lead to the development of new products, & NHS services.