Kiwi company showcases revolutionary surgical drill bit

Kiwi company showcases revolutionary surgical drill bit to US surgeons

Innovative firm aims to take a chunk of US$550 million world market

Auckland/New Zealand: A New Zealand-developed surgical drill bit that simplifies trauma surgery, lowers costs and improves outcomes for patients will be demonstrated to more than 30,000 delegates at the largest orthopaedic convention in the world, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in Las Vegas, Nevada from March 25-28.

Albany-based Surgionix is leading a quiet revolution with its SlickTM Universal Drill Bit which the company hopes will take a sizeable chunk of the US$550 million world market for surgical drill bits.

The SlickTM Universal Drill Bit assists orthopaedic surgeons to prepare bone for the insertion of screws and plates safely, accurately and easily without the need for a depth gauge. Orthopaedic surgeons say that one of their biggest frustrations when fixing bone fractures is having to use a depth gauge because it can so easily go wrong. Depth gauges are century-old technology.

Currently, surgeons have to drill into the bone, and then remove the drill to insert a depth gauge. The SlickTM Universal Drill Bit, however,includes a retractable wire and clip that extends near the tip of the drill bit, acting like the hook of a depth gauge. This allows the surgeon to take accurate measurements from the drill bit itself.

Surgionix founder Dr Pranesh Kumar is a North-Shore based orthopaedic specialist who says his inventions come from actively engaging with patients who have challenging problems.

“I work with our team of R&D engineers at Surgionix to develop innovative solutions that are practical and cost-effective. The Slick drill-bit is one example. We have been able to incorporate a depth gauge wire-hook into a drill bit and thereby reduce waste and costs in the operating theatre.”

He adds that the rapid advances in technology and manufacturing have encouraged surgeons to question the frustrations, error rates and time wastage associated with the use of ‘old’ surgical depth gauge technology. The advent of 3D printing, rapid prototyping, new materials and advanced manufacturing techniques has allowed innovative surgeon-designers to challenge this problem-area.

The SlickTM Universal Drill Bit works with the trauma sets and power drills available in the hospital operating room. This system is both FDA and CE approved.

Surgionix has offices located in Boston MA – USA, Cheshire - England as well as its Albany, North Shore facility.

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