Hackensack University Medical Center is First in the Nation to Acquire the TSolution One® Active Robot by THINK Surgical for Total Knee Replacement Procedures

Hackensack University Medical Center, a national leader in orthopedic care and robotic surgery, is the first facility in the United States to acquire and offer patients undergoing total knee replacement the TSolution One® Total Knee Application for use in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).  The system, which is manufactured by Fremont, California-based THINK Surgical, Inc., features a fully active robot for orthopedic surgery.

“We are very excited to be the first hospital  in the U.S. to purchase this innovative technology which uses a fully active robot to treat end-stage knee arthritis,” said Michael A. Kelly, M.D. chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center. “Our orthopedic team is committed to utilizing innovative and cutting-edge technologies to advance orthopedic care, furthering our mission to provide high-quality, patient-centered care.”

The TSolution One® Surgical System combines two exclusive innovations to advance total joint replacement surgery. The system consists of TPLAN®, a 3D pre-surgical planning workstation and TCAT®, a computer assisted tool. The pre-surgical planning allows the surgeon to design and prepare, in a virtual environment, the patient's unique joint replacement plan using a choice of implant options. Total joint replacement surgery involves removing the diseased knee joint and replacing it with a joint implant. During the joint replacement surgery, the surgeon implements the patient's pre-planned procedure using the active robot, which prepares the joint according to the surgeon's plan for precise placement of implants.

"One of the advantages of the TSolution One System® is the open implant library offered by this active robot system, which provides an optimal personalized surgical plan for each patient with precise bone-cutting technology," said Mark D. Sparta, FACHE, president and chief hospital executive, Hackensack University Medical Center and executive vice president of Population Health, Hackensack Meridian Health. “The addition of this fully active robot enhances Hackensack University Medical Center’s robust surgical robotics program and demonstrates our commitment to providing our patients the best care with the most advanced technology available.”

“THINK Surgical is committed to improving the lives of patients suffering from severe osteoarthritis whom require total joint replacement and to furthering the advancement of orthopedic surgery through the development of leading-edge, precision technology,” said John Hahn, CEO and president of THINK Surgical, Inc.  "We are proud to partner with Hackensack University Medical Center and offer patients the TSolution One Surgical System, which is truly transforming orthopedic surgery.”

On October 9, 2019, THINK Surgical announced it received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the TSolution One® Total Knee Application for use in Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) in the United States. Five surgeons, including Yair David Kissin, M.D. at Hackensack University Medical Center, participated in the investigational clinical trial, which confirmed the safety and efficacy of the TSolution One® Total Knee Application compared to traditional knee replacement using manual surgical instrumentation.

“We are honored to be the first in the nation to offer this state-of-the-art technology to our patients suffering from degenerative knee diseases such as osteoarthritis, one of the most common forms of arthritis and disability,” said Yair David Kissin, M.D., vice chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center. “Our orthopedics team continues to raise the bar, advancing orthopedic surgery to further improve patient outcomes.”

The other sites included in the national clinical trial were in Cleveland, OH; Houston, TX; Durham, NC; and New York, NY.  Study enrollment was completed in December 2018 and included 115 patients.  TSolution One was previously awarded CE Marking and has been actively marketed in Asia Pacific and European markets. More than 550 TKA procedures have been successfully completed worldwide with the TSolution One® Total Knee Application to date.

The Center for Joint Replacement at Hackensack University Medical Center is the only joint replacement program in Bergen County, New Jersey and one of only four in the state to receive Advanced Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement Certification from the Joint Commission. This recognition is awarded to hospitals that have developed consistent communication and collaboration among all healthcare providers involved in the care of the patient — from the pre-surgical orthopedic consultation through the procedure, recovery and follow-up care. Hackensack University Medical Center is also a top performer in the country for achieving a high volume of surgeries efficiently and with a low rate of postoperative infection — an indicator of quality care. U.S. News & World Report has ranked the orthopedic program among the top 50 in the nation for outstanding quality of care.