Dr. Deidre Blake, Medical Director and Ortohpedic Surgeon at Cayuga Medical Center, and Dr. Martin Stallone, Cayuga Medical Center and Cayuga Health System CEO, at a press conference at the Ithaca hospital Monday afternoon (Peter Blanchard/Cortland Voice)
ITHACA, N.Y. — Cayuga Medical Center has unveiled the addition of robotics-assisted surgical technology to its patient offerings.
The NAVIO Surgical System, developed by U.K-based medical technology company Smith & Nephew, uses a surgeon-controlled, robotics-assisted hand piece and eliminates the need for a pre-operative CT scan for knee and joint replacements.
"This was an initiative that really came from our physician community," Cayuga Medical Center CEO Dr. Martin Stallone said. The hospital invested about $500,000 in the technology, he said.
Dr. Deidre Blake, Medical Director and Ortohpedic Surgeon at Cayuga Medical Center, said her patients had expressed interest in robotics technology.
"My experience with the NAVIO Surgical System has been phenomenal," Dr. Blake said. "It allows me more freedom as a surgeon, unlike other robotic options, because it is imageless."
The technology is available for partial and total knee replacements. Monday's event included a virtual reality demonstration in which participants could try out the technology for themselves.
"The robot really helps you determine where exactly you're going to place the implants," Dr. Blake said. "We feel the most accurate placement is the best for the patients' longevity."
Dr. Blake will be hosting a patient seminar at 6 p.m., Monday, March 18, at the Port Watson Conference Center, 131 Port Watson St., Cortland. A buffet style dinner will be served to those who register. Click here to register.
