Orthopedics

BioWales in London 2025 showcased the efforts healthtech innovators are making to meet investors on their own turf, illustrating changing attitudes and evolving needs.

J&J's EMEA head of digital solutions, Julia Fishman, talks about the major hurdles in scaling digital innovation, tips for clinical adoption and what’s up next on J&J’s innovation road map. Robot-assisted surgery pioneer Ivo Broeders gives his perspective on the difficulties in clinical adoption.

The KINCISE 2 Surgical Automated System aims to “reduce the physical burden on surgeons compared to manual impaction in primary and revision hip and revision knee replacement procedures,” said J&J MedTech.

Surgify Medical’s selective drill tip, Surgify Halo, is “an obvious choice for surgeons,” said Boris Hofmann, head of ZEISS Ventures and lead investor in the company’s series A funding round.

German Bionic’s new exoskeleton Exia helps healthcare practitioners, nurses, and other caregivers to lift and move patients by supporting muscle movement and reducing the risk of injury.

Global investment in consumer healthtech increased by 9% year-over-year in 2024, totaling $4.5bn, with significant interest in mental health solutions, according to Galen Growth. While the first quarter of 2025 saw raised confidence and investments, the Trump administration’s new tariffs and sweeping changes to healthcare have introduced new uncertainties.

A patient, Dena Lawler, is suing Boston Scientific and the US FDA over alleged harm from a spinal stimulator device. Lawler claims inadequate regulatory review allowed dangerous modifications to the device, which then caused her pain and other health issues. She is calling for reconsideration of the device approvals.

At AAOS, orthopedics players showcased their latest robotic-assisted platforms, power tools, 3D printed technologies and software offerings. This article brings you highlights from interviews Medtech Insight conducted on site with representatives from J&J, Stryker, Materialise and Canary Medical.

Enovis has named veteran medtech leader Damien McDonald as its new CEO effective 12 May as the orthopedic company reaffirms first-quarter 2025 revenue guidance of between $555m and $563m. Medtech Insight spoke with Tim Czartoski, Enovis’ president of US surgical and global product and enabling technologies, about the firm’s growth strategy and innovation plans.

Beyond the US market, Monogram is actively pursuing regulatory approvals abroad, with India as a key target. The company has partnered with Shalby Hospitals, one of India’s largest orthopedic hospital networks, to conduct clinical trials and accelerate regulatory clearance in the region.

Exer Labs Inc.’s website marketed its AI-based Exer Scan app to “screen and treat Parkinson’s, TB, Cerebral Palsy and more.” But those claims went well beyond what was allowed under the product’s 510(k) clearance, US regulators say.

Barcelona-based accelerator S2 Xpeed is driving the rapid growth of medtech and hardware start-ups in Europe. Operating under a "sweat equity" model, the program helps early-stage companies move from prototype to manufacturing readiness in exchange for equity. This month, the accelerator will add a fourth cohort of 10 more start-ups, five of which are in the medtech space.

Zydus Lifesciences plans to expand global markets for patented products of French orthopedic tech company Amplitude Surgicals which it is acquiring from PE firm PAI Partners and others. Could the European business also serve as a buffer to upheaval in the US amid talks of tariffs?

The US FDA has announced seven device safety actions in recent days. The most serious, which relates to a manufacturing defect in Boston Scientific’s Accolade pacemaker, has been linked to 832 injuries and two deaths.

During CES 2025, Medtech Insight accompanied Deloitte analysts Neal Batra and Andrew Davis to identify the biggest trends in digital health and solutions poised to transform the future of health care. Key trends included empowering consumers with actionable health data, the rising investment in specialized areas such as women’s health, and more companies pursuing regulatory clearance for health products.

In this second roundup of innovative technologies seen or demoed at CES 2025, Medtech Insight tunes into heartbeat-listening earbuds, vision aids for people with macular degeneration, UTI-detecting toilets, non-invasive injection devices, hot flash-cooling wristband, mobility-aiding smart shoes, and robotic aids for cerebral palsy.

Jerome Trividic, CEO of Swiss company Spineart, believes that by solving pain points felt by orthopedic surgeons performing spinal procedures, it can improve patient outcomes. He thinks the firm’s innovative approach, which focuses on partnership deals as well as developing its own products, will give it a competitive edge in the spinal surgery market.

The US FDA has issued its first communication as part of a new pilot program the agency initiated to increase transparency in recalls of high-risk medical devices. The early alerts are meant to minimize the time between the FDA finding out about a potential issue and informing stakeholders.

After raising $68m series B funding in September, Neo Medical's announced on 2 December that its entire product portfolio has secured EU MDR approval. Co-CEO and founder Vincent Lefauconnier explained the rationale to Medtech Insight.

This week, the US device center announced a pilot program to speed communications about high-risk recalls; Cardinal paid $3.9B for Advanced Diabetes Supply Group and GIA Alliance; a companion diagnostic for Merck lung cancer drug Tepmetko got FDA clearance; and more.