NAVIO Robotic System

What is the NAVIO Surgical System?

NAVIO is an advanced intraoperative navigation and robotic-assisted support platform that dynamically maps the patient’s anatomy in real time and controls bone resections with sub-millimeter precision. Its defining clinical advantage is that it functions as an image-free technology, requiring no pre-operative Computed Tomography (CT) scans.

Clinical Efficacy: What Does NAVIO Do?

The primary objective of the NAVIO system is to optimize the positioning and alignment of total or unicompartmental knee implants relative to the patient’s native joint kinematics.

• Minimizes Geometric Margin of Error: The system detects angular deviations of less than 1 degree and spatial variances under a millimeter—subtle misalignments undetectable by the human eye.
• Restoration of Natural Joint Kinematics: By focusing extensively on soft-tissue ligamentous tension alongside osseous anatomy, it achieves superior gap balancing, resulting in a joint that feels more natural to the patient post-operatively.
• Eliminates Ionizing Radiation Risk: Because the planning software does not rely on a pre-operative CT scan, the patient is spared from any additional medical radiation exposure.

Step-by-Step Clinical Workflow: How is NAVIO Utilized?

The entire NAVIO workflow is executed intraoperatively directly at the operating table, utilizing dynamic, live anatomical data:

Phase 1: Intraoperative Digital Mapping

The system captures the patient’s unique joint geometry after the initial surgical exposure.

• Sensor Fixation: The surgeon attaches optical tracking arrays (sensory markers) directly to the patient’s femur and tibia.
• Surface Registration: Utilizing a specialized electronic pointer probe, the surgeon sweeps across the articular cartilage and bone surfaces. The NAVIO software capturing these points instantaneously reconstructs a patient-specific, 3-dimensional virtual model of the knee joint on the display monitor.

Phase 2: Dynamic Soft-Tissue Gap Balancing

• Kinematic Evaluation: The surgeon manipulates the knee through a full range of motion (extension to flexion).
• Tension Calculations: The NAVIO software measures the exact tension and laxity within the collateral ligaments. It then automatically calculates and simulates the precise angle and position at which the implant components should be placed to ensure perfectly balanced flexion and extension gaps.

Phase 3: Handheld Robotic Resection (Intelligent Burring)

Once the computer-assisted plan is finalized, the surgeon initiates bone preparation using NAVIO’s specialized handheld robotic instrument.

• Controlled Resection: As the surgeon sculpts and resections the bone using the high-speed burr, the tool remains operational exclusively within the mathematically pre-planned safety boundaries.
• Automated Tissue Protection: If the surgeon’s hand inadvertently deviates toward a restricted zone (such as healthy bone stock or critical collateral ligaments), the cutting burr automatically retracts or instantly drops its rotational velocity to zero. This fail-safe mechanism meticulously preserves adjacent neurovascular and healthy soft-tissue structures.

Primary Distinction from the MAKO System

While the MAKO platform operates on a “plan pre-operatively, execute intraoperatively” model (relying heavily on a pre-acquired pre-operative CT scan), the NAVIO system operates on an “intraoperative scan and execute” model utilizing live, real-time kinematic mapping.

Furthermore, NAVIO features a more compact, handheld architecture. Rather than introducing an entirely autonomous robotic arm to execute the cuts, it acts as a digital “seatbelt” and advanced “navigation computer,” working seamlessly in tandem with the surgeon’s manual dexterity.