[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] Cellumed announced on the 30th that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Connective to advance patient-specific instrument (PSI) total joint replacement surgery and surgical robot technology.
Connective is a surgical robot specialist company based on artificial intelligence (AI) and big data. Founded in 2021 by Professor Noh Doohyun of the Department of Orthopedics at Seoul National University Hospital, it has received government support and attracted investments from Kakao Ventures and Schmidt. According to Kakao Ventures, Connective is evaluated to have the capability to lead the digital transformation of orthopedic care through the combination of medical AI and robotic surgery.
Until last year, Connective published 13 papers related to AI-based surgical robot technology and filed 8 technology patents. This year, it is developing a prototype to demonstrate the feasibility of the next-generation knee surgery robot system in collaboration with Professor Bang Youngbong of the Convergence Medicine Department at Seoul National University Hospital.
Through this MOU, the two companies agreed to mutually cooperate on ▲ a 3D preoperative planning system for joint replacement surgery based on AI and big data ▲ an integrated postoperative rehabilitation guidance solution ▲ joint research and development of joint replacement surgical robots.
Since 2020, Cellumed has successfully completed clinical research using patient-specific artificial knee joint total replacement surgery (PSI) in collaboration with major university hospitals such as Seoul National University Hospital, Severance Hospital, and Jeju National University Hospital, and completed the filing and registration of four related technology patents in 2022.
PSI reconstructs the patient’s computed tomography (CT) images in three dimensions and performs biomechanical analysis. Based on the analysis, it is a surgical technique that minimizes bone resection, surgery time, and error range, enabling optimal implant insertion. Preoperative planning based on clinical knowledge is especially important.
Cellumed plans to enhance anatomical musculoskeletal shape optimization and patient-specific preoperative planning through PSI-related technology and actively support Connective’s surgical robot software and hardware research and development.
A Cellumed official said, “With global aging and the increasing incidence of osteoarthritis, the number of patients requiring joint replacement surgery is rising. In particular, there is a growing demand for minimally invasive and patient-specific robotic surgery.”
He added, “We will actively cooperate to develop the best AI-based software and medical robot technology with global competitiveness.”
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