Vuzix Corporation (NASDAQ:VUZI), a leading supplier of smart glasses and augmented reality (AR) technology, announced that use of its smart glasses within the operating room, as well as for other healthcare use cases, continues to expand as its partner firms such as Pixee Medical and Rods&Cones increase their rollout of Vuzix-powered solutions.
The Rochester, New York-based said that Pixee Medical revealed that its Knee+ AR computer-assisted orthopedic solution will be commercially launched in the US, providing a perfect fit for Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs). Launched in Europe and Australia in early 2021, Pixee's solution will be formally launched in the US at the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting on March 22-26 in Chicago, where the company will meet with surgeons and finalize the organization of its distribution channel.
In addition, Pixee Medical added that it will soon be adding new features to its Knee+ platform, with soft tissue balancing, kinematic alignment, and data connectivity. It will also be expanding its portfolio with a mixed reality product for total shoulder arthroplasty and with an easy-to-use cup orientation and leg length controlling AR tool for total hip arthroplasty. Knee+ is also now compatible with surgical hoods.
Meanwhile, Rods&Cones has been a growing consumer of Vuzix M400 smart glasses, which let staff in the operating room or ICU, including surgeons, instrumentalist nurses, and other healthcare professionals, provide 4K broadcast-quality imagery to others while interacting with patients and staff from a safe distance.
Rods&Cones is active in over 600 hospitals in 30 countries. It expects 2022 to be the year when medical providers tweak their models to “prioritize remote technology.”
The company recently announced that its remote access service is compatible with the Pixee Knee+ augmented reality solution for total knee arthroplasty. The compatibility of the two solutions is expected to allow surgeons to use augmented reality during total knee arthroplasty surgeries, while also connecting remotely with other medical experts around the world.
"Firms like Pixee Medical and Rods&Cones are innovators within the healthcare sector and their solutions are facilitating communications and learning, reducing costs, and improving outcomes in operating rooms around the world with the help of Vuzix smart glasses," Vuzix founder and CEO Paul Travers said in a statement.
Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com
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