A robot that helps with hip replacement operations is to be evaluated
in a large clinical trial in the US. Integrated Surgical Systems of Sacramento,
California, hopes to show that its Robodoc system – first demonstrated a
year ago in operations on 10 patients (Technology, 28 November 1992) – can
drill bone cavities for hip-joint replacements more precisely than surgeons
using conventional tools.
The two-year trial, authorised by the US Food and Drug Administration,
involves 300 patients in five hospitals. Half the patients will be treated
by Robodoc while the other half will have conventional hip surgery. ISS
will have to show that hip replacements fit better and are more durable
in patients treated with Robodoc.
