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The wireless world continues to evolve with high-speed 5G networks and WiFi upgrades fueling the future of connectivity. Although healthcare’s adoption of remote technologies is sometimes as laggy as dial-up internet, sports medicine surgeons can now perform arthroscopic procedures free of the constraints of corded instruments.
In September, Laith M. Jazrawi, M.D., performed the first surgery in the U.S. involving Lazurite’s ArthroFree System, a wireless arthroscopic camera that received FDA market clearance earlier this year. During the repair of a displaced meniscal fragment in the knee, Dr. Jazrawi and the surgical team didn’t need to work around wires or worry about the patient contracting an infection from contaminated cords. It was a groundbreaking experience.
Dr. Jazrawi, Chief of Sports Medicine at NYU Grossman Medicine, recently discussed the potential of the wireless arthroscope and shared his enthusiasm for orthobiologics, which may enable personalized joint repair.
Why did you agree to use the new arthroscope?
Dr. Jazrawi: I’m a leader in the sports medicine field, an academician and a researcher. I wasn’t involved in the design of the device, but agreed to test it out and provide my honest feedback.
The company’s representatives listened to my opinions, designed a new prototype and had it back in my hands within weeks. It was a fun and exciting process. That’s the beauty of working with a small, nimble manufacturer.
Why is the wireless aspect of the technology an important development?
Dr. Jazrawi: Knee arthroscopy is a dynamic procedure, during which surgeons adjust the patient’s leg and maneuver in and around the joint. An arthroscope’s video power cords and fiber-optic light cables can limit their movements.
Wireless technology enhances surgical ergonomics by giving surgeons the flexibility to move and target areas of the joint without altering their arm and shoulder placement. Surgeons have become accustomed to changing their techniques to maneuver around cords, but wireless tech allows for full, unrestricted access to the joint.
It was truly liberating to perform surgery without cords getting in the way. The case provided a glimpse of wireless arthroscopy’s future potential.
What did you like about the wireless arthroscope, and what improvements do you think still need to be made?
Dr. Jazrawi: The company addressed several design hurdles to make it ready for use in surgery. Arthroscopes require a strong light source and a high-intensity camera to provide clear views of joint spaces. The step toward wireless arthroscopy demanded the development of a long-lasting rechargeable battery that is strong enough to power the device for the duration of surgery.
Wireless camera technology isn’t new, but it needed to be enhanced to eliminate delays in transmitting video images from the arthroscope to the monitor. Lag-free video is essential during arthroscopic surgery — surgeons need to see the precise locations of their instruments in real-time.
Arthroscope technology has improved over the years, allowing surgeons to view detailed images of joint anatomy on ultra-high-definition monitors. The wireless scope provides high-definition images, not the ultra-high-definition images with which surgeons are used to operating. Improving the scope’s image quality is the next step in its evolution.
The development of a battery-powered arthroscopic shaver is also needed to complete the transition to wireless arthroscopy and provide surgeons with full freedom of movement.
How will wireless instruments transform the sports medicine field?
Dr. Jazrawi: I believe the technology will help push more arthroscopic surgeries to office-based procedure rooms, an area in which orthopedics lags behind other specialties. The wireless arthroscope is simple to set up and use, and reduces the risk of infection, making office-based surgery a more viable option. Office-based surgery is cost-effective and boosts patient satisfaction. It’s one aspect of sports medicine that will continue to evolve.
What excites you about the future of joint care?
Dr. Jazrawi: Can surgeons perform surgery that is even more minimally invasive? Can they avoid performing surgery by using biologics to replicate tissue growth and harness the body’s natural power to heal? These questions continue to drive research and innovation.
There isn’t yet direct science behind the emerging technologies of orthobiologics. Still, the field has the potential to improve sports medicine once correct dosing and exact concentrations are determined for individual patients.
Sports medicine physicians could also use genetic testing to determine why some patients heal faster than others and identify individuals who are at increased risk of suffering musculoskeletal injuries or disorders. Genetic testing may allow physicians to give personalized treatments to individual patients, much like what is already done in cancer care.
Does genetic testing have the potential to prevent complications of arthroscopic joint repair?
Dr. Jazrawi: It does. Instead of using intraoperative parameters that are known to cause higher failure rates — such as poor tunnel placement during ACL repairs — surgeons could identify patients who have a genetic component that leads to poor outcomes.
Patients could undergo genetic testing as part of their pre-operative work-up. Large databases of surgical results could then be used to identify the most suitable surgical technique for individual patients based on their genetic characteristics.
Regenerative medicine is an exciting field. We’re on the cusp of a new approach to sports medicine that involves fewer surgeries and a more personalized approach to healing. That’s the next big thing in orthopedic care.
The wireless world continues to evolve with high-speed 5G networks and WiFi upgrades fueling the future of connectivity. Although healthcare’s adoption of remote technologies is sometimes as laggy as dial-up internet, sports medicine surgeons can now perform arthroscopic procedures free of the constraints of corded instruments.
In September,...
The wireless world continues to evolve with high-speed 5G networks and WiFi upgrades fueling the future of connectivity. Although healthcare’s adoption of remote technologies is sometimes as laggy as dial-up internet, sports medicine surgeons can now perform arthroscopic procedures free of the constraints of corded instruments.
In September, Laith M. Jazrawi, M.D., performed the first surgery in the U.S. involving Lazurite’s ArthroFree System, a wireless arthroscopic camera that received FDA market clearance earlier this year. During the repair of a displaced meniscal fragment in the knee, Dr. Jazrawi and the surgical team didn’t need to work around wires or worry about the patient contracting an infection from contaminated cords. It was a groundbreaking experience.
Dr. Jazrawi, Chief of Sports Medicine at NYU Grossman Medicine, recently discussed the potential of the wireless arthroscope and shared his enthusiasm for orthobiologics, which may enable personalized joint repair.
Why did you agree to use the new arthroscope?
Dr. Jazrawi: I’m a leader in the sports medicine field, an academician and a researcher. I wasn’t involved in the design of the device, but agreed to test it out and provide my honest feedback.
The company’s representatives listened to my opinions, designed a new prototype and had it back in my hands within weeks. It was a fun and exciting process. That’s the beauty of working with a small, nimble manufacturer.
Why is the wireless aspect of the technology an important development?
Dr. Jazrawi: Knee arthroscopy is a dynamic procedure, during which surgeons adjust the patient’s leg and maneuver in and around the joint. An arthroscope’s video power cords and fiber-optic light cables can limit their movements.
Wireless technology enhances surgical ergonomics by giving surgeons the flexibility to move and target areas of the joint without altering their arm and shoulder placement. Surgeons have become accustomed to changing their techniques to maneuver around cords, but wireless tech allows for full, unrestricted access to the joint.
It was truly liberating to perform surgery without cords getting in the way. The case provided a glimpse of wireless arthroscopy’s future potential.
What did you like about the wireless arthroscope, and what improvements do you think still need to be made?
Dr. Jazrawi: The company addressed several design hurdles to make it ready for use in surgery. Arthroscopes require a strong light source and a high-intensity camera to provide clear views of joint spaces. The step toward wireless arthroscopy demanded the development of a long-lasting rechargeable battery that is strong enough to power the device for the duration of surgery.
Wireless camera technology isn’t new, but it needed to be enhanced to eliminate delays in transmitting video images from the arthroscope to the monitor. Lag-free video is essential during arthroscopic surgery — surgeons need to see the precise locations of their instruments in real-time.
Arthroscope technology has improved over the years, allowing surgeons to view detailed images of joint anatomy on ultra-high-definition monitors. The wireless scope provides high-definition images, not the ultra-high-definition images with which surgeons are used to operating. Improving the scope’s image quality is the next step in its evolution.
The development of a battery-powered arthroscopic shaver is also needed to complete the transition to wireless arthroscopy and provide surgeons with full freedom of movement.
How will wireless instruments transform the sports medicine field?
Dr. Jazrawi: I believe the technology will help push more arthroscopic surgeries to office-based procedure rooms, an area in which orthopedics lags behind other specialties. The wireless arthroscope is simple to set up and use, and reduces the risk of infection, making office-based surgery a more viable option. Office-based surgery is cost-effective and boosts patient satisfaction. It’s one aspect of sports medicine that will continue to evolve.
What excites you about the future of joint care?
Dr. Jazrawi: Can surgeons perform surgery that is even more minimally invasive? Can they avoid performing surgery by using biologics to replicate tissue growth and harness the body’s natural power to heal? These questions continue to drive research and innovation.
There isn’t yet direct science behind the emerging technologies of orthobiologics. Still, the field has the potential to improve sports medicine once correct dosing and exact concentrations are determined for individual patients.
Sports medicine physicians could also use genetic testing to determine why some patients heal faster than others and identify individuals who are at increased risk of suffering musculoskeletal injuries or disorders. Genetic testing may allow physicians to give personalized treatments to individual patients, much like what is already done in cancer care.
Does genetic testing have the potential to prevent complications of arthroscopic joint repair?
Dr. Jazrawi: It does. Instead of using intraoperative parameters that are known to cause higher failure rates — such as poor tunnel placement during ACL repairs — surgeons could identify patients who have a genetic component that leads to poor outcomes.
Patients could undergo genetic testing as part of their pre-operative work-up. Large databases of surgical results could then be used to identify the most suitable surgical technique for individual patients based on their genetic characteristics.
Regenerative medicine is an exciting field. We’re on the cusp of a new approach to sports medicine that involves fewer surgeries and a more personalized approach to healing. That’s the next big thing in orthopedic care.
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Dan Cook is a senior editor with more than 18 years of experience in medical publishing and an extensive background in covering orthopedics and outpatient surgery. He joined ORTHOWORLD to develop content focused on important industry trends, top thought leaders and innovative technologies.
