The orthopaedics unit of Johnson & Johnson Medical Australia, DePuy Synthes, has teamed up with the Johnson & Johnson Institute to launch a first-of-its-kind mobile training lab.
The company said the VELYSTM Digital Surgery Mobile Lab will provide on-site access to next-generation hands-on training, virtual reality-based operating environments, and real-time collaboration with the global surgical community.
The lab is designed to equip Australian orthopaedic surgeons to be proficient with the VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution, the company’s latest innovation in knee replacement surgery.
Recent research conducted in the UK revealed that access to training is more important than ever with the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on more than just operative and clinical experiences in hospital settings.
The company said this heightens the need for surgical training that moves away from more traditional education models and supports a more flexible and accessible learning environment. Patients, in turn, can be confident that surgeons have had access to next-generation training to hone their skills despite the pressures of a COVID environment.
According to Ben Travers, the vice president of DePuy Synthes Australia, “An increasing number of surgical procedures utilise robotic assistance. It is critical to address the learning curve when adopting next-generation med tech to utilise it effectively and take advantage of its efficiencies. That’s why we’re making significant investments in next-generation training to provide comprehensive and personalised learning for the VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution.”
DePuy Synthes said the mobile training lab is part of a suite of training solutions it and the Johnson & Johnson Institute are providing that will blend traditional training programs with new technologies, including a semi-trailer mounted mobile lab with a self-contained meeting, training, and lab space, virtual reality operating environments, surgical models for an enhanced surgical training experience and a dedicated and personalised online learning platform.
“We’re making next-generation training easily available at a surgeon's place of work with our ground-breaking mobile training lab and suite of solutions,” added Travers.
The VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution is the next-generation in robotic-assisted surgery for knee replacement. It incorporates a first-of-its-kind operating table-mounted solution that adapts to the surgeon’s workflow and utilises advanced planning capabilities to help surgeons accurately resect bones that align and position the implant relative to the soft-tissue during total knee replacement without the need for pre-operative imaging. The compact design integrates into any operating room and does so with a smaller footprint, at less than half the size of some other robotic-assisted solutions.
The mobile lab will begin its tour around Australia later this month.