Stryker aims to transform hip, knee replacements through tech

Stryker, the Michigan-based medical technology provider, plans to introduce more medical technology solutions and digital related products, including robotic-arm assisted and 3D printing technologies, to improve treatment in the areas of orthopedics, medical and surgical, neurotechnology and spine in China, during its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, said a senior executive.

With its application of Mako SmartRobotics systems continuing to grow in both China and globally, John Collings, Stryker's president for the Asia-Pacific, said the information gained from the use of such technology, allows surgeons to know more about their patient prior to the surgery, and cut less during the procedure which has significantly improved the accuracy during the orthopedic surgery, transforming the way physicians perform hip and knee replacements.

Specifically, this system allows a surgeon to see a patient's individual anatomy prior to surgery, and create a personalized plan based on that patient's unique and individual anatomy and condition.

"We will continue to encourage the use of Mako in China and train local surgeons to use the equipment as soon as possible so that more patients may benefit with better outcomes," he said.

Stryker currently offers a variety of training and medical educational support programs to their physicians to help advance their product and procedural knowledge and skills. Supported by its training facilities, they have been able to provide surgeons in the region with training conducted in Mandarin, and simulated operations using the Mako Robotic-arm assisted surgery.

Collings said that in addition to the introduction of cutting-edge products, innovation also includes improving patient outcome and access to medicines and therapies, in tandem with the health needs of Chinese people at the core of the Healthy China 2030 initiative.

The New York Stock Exchange-listed company acquired the Israel-based Mako Surgical Corp in 2013. The acquisition combines Stryker's implants enabled by Mako's proprietary robotic-arm assisted technology. The current Mako system offers total hip, partial knee and total knee arthroplasty applications. To-date, there have been over 500,000 procedures globally, and over 1,000 Mako systems placed across 31 countries.

Apart from participating in the fourth China International Import Expo held in Shanghai in November, Collings said that Stryker will continue to build its infrastructure to reinforce its innovation strength and raise the production efficiency in its manufacturing sites in China, as the as the nation has already become one of its strategic markets in the world.

Eager to seize more market share, the company introduces over 40 new products every year made in China to the Chinese market. Supported by 43,000 employees globally, Stryker to date runs a number of manufacturing and office sites in China, and their footprint extends over five major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Suzhou and Changzhou. Stryker invested $984 million globally in research and development last year.

In addition to smart devices, implant technologies and other medtech solutions, Collings said that the specialized application of additive manufacturing, also known as 3D-printing is spawning a multi-billion-yuan business segment in the medical and healthcare industry, making customized, even personalized, health and wellness solutions possible in China.

Global companies continue to see business opportunities in China not only in areas such as fast growth in domestic consumption, but also in new areas such as the country's leading-edge adoption of new digital technologies, said Sun Fuquan, vice-president of the Beijing-based Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development.