THINK Surgical and Waldemar Link Partner to Further Expand the Use of Mini-Robotic Surgery Technology

February 12th, 2024 - THINK Surgical, a company known for its innovative orthopedic surgical robotics, announced that they will be signing a new collaboration agreement with Waldemar Link GmbH & Co. KG (LINK), a German medical device company. This collaboration will further advance the use of micro-robots in orthopedic surgery.

Through this collaboration, THINK Surgical will add LINK's LinkSymphoKnee system, a knee replacement prosthesis, to its own ID-HUB™ database, a database designed to store implant modules that can be used with THINK Surgical's TMINI™ miniature Robotic System. This initiative will provide surgeons using the TMINI Robotic System with more options, enabling them to achieve more personalized and precise surgical outcomes.

The TMINI system is a device that includes a wireless robotic handle to help surgeons perform total knee replacement surgery. The system first received 510(k) clearance in April 2023 from the FDA. Now, by adding the LinkSymphoKnee system to THINK Surgical's ID HUB database, customers using the LINK implant will have the opportunity to utilize robotic-assisted total knee replacement technology in the U.S. THINK Surgical has already begun development of the implant module, and plans to seek FDA clearance in the coming months to utilize the TMINI System with the LinkSymphoKnee System.

Stuart Simpson, President and CEO of THINK Surgical, says they are very excited about their new partnership with LINK. He believes that the partnership will provide more treatment options for customers and patients in the U.S. Peter Willenborg, CEO of LINK, also welcomed the partnership, which he believes will further enhance patient care.

TMINI System

The TMINI System is a CT-based device for 3D surgical planning that automatically compensates for the surgeon's hand movements to precisely position the bone pin. The surgeon can then attach a cutting guide to the bone pin to perform a precise bone resection. The TMINI System is easy to use and can replace many of the instruments currently used in knee replacement surgery.

THINK Surgical designed the TMINI robotic handpiece in collaboration with Sagentia Innovation, a research and development consultancy based in Cambridge, UK. The combined technical expertise of the two companies has enabled the innovative design of the TMINI robotic handpiece, which surgeons and staff can easily integrate into their operating room workflow.

The centerpiece of the TMINI system is a wireless robotic handpiece that helps surgeons perform total knee replacement surgery. This handle operates according to a CT-based 3D surgical plan that automatically compensates for the surgeon's hand movements to position the bone pin along a precisely defined plane. The surgeon can then attach a cutting guide to the bone pin to perform a precise bone resection.

An important feature of the TMINI system is its ease of use. It can replace many of the instruments currently used in knee replacement surgery, making the procedure easier and faster. In addition, the TMINI System supports an open implant platform that is compatible with a wide range of implants, providing surgeons with more options.

The TMINI system was designed and developed by THINK Surgical in collaboration with Sagentia Innovation, a Cambridge, UK-based research and development consultancy. The combined technical expertise of the two companies enabled the innovative design of the TMINI robotic handpiece, which surgeons and staff can easily integrate into their operating room workflow.

Overall, the TMINI Orthopedic Mini-Robotic System is an advanced surgical aid that contributes to improved patient outcomes by increasing the precision and efficiency of surgical procedures.

Waldemar Link GmbH & Co. KG

Waldemar Link GmbH & Co. KG is a Hamburg, Germany-based medical device company founded in 1948 by Dr. Waldemar Link to specialize in the field of orthopedics and arthropathy. The company offers orthopedic surgical instruments, as well as a variety of artificial joints and related products, including artificial hip joints, artificial knee joints, and artificial shoulder joints.

THINK Surgical, Inc.

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Fremont, California, THINK Surgical is a company that develops, manufactures, and markets robots for knee replacement surgery. The company is committed to the future of orthopedic surgery and to improving patient care through the development of cutting-edge precision technology.