Imperial spin-out Acrobot acquired for computerised surgery system

Imperial College London spin-out Acrobot, a medical devices company specialising in computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery, has been acquired by Stanmore Implants Worldwide.

Stanmore said the acquisition will strengthen its position in the field of orthopaedic implants, as Acrobot’s systems for computer-assisted 3D planning, navigation and robotics allow for improved reproducibility and precision in orthopaedic surgery.

No financial details were disclosed.

Brian Steer, Executive Chairman of Stanmore said, “Accurate placement of orthopaedic implants has been shown to be of critical importance to the longevity of the implant and thus avoiding early revision. Robotics and navigation, widely used in other surgical specialities, is one of the fastest growing sectors in orthopaedics.”

The aim of Acrobot’s technologies is to provide speed, accuracy and reproducibility, enhancing clinical outcomes. A scan is taken of the patient’s joint and a 3D model of the patient’s anatomy is produced. Acrobot’s Planner software then offers 3D surgical planning and visualisation, while its Navigator application tracks conventional surgical instruments relative to the patient, to achieve high surgical accuracy. 

The company is also progressing the development of Sculptor, a hands-on robotic system, which uses “active constraint” technology to prevent a surgeon accidentally moving outside a specified area.

Acrobot was spun-out in 1999, by founders including Brian Davies, Professor of Medical Robotics in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College and Justin Cobb, Professor of Orthopaedics at Imperial College and a practising surgeon at Charing Cross Hospital, London.