ZBEdge: Integrated Robotics With Digital Health Technologies

Warsaw, Indiana-based Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc has introduced ZBEdge Connected Intelligence Suite, a product that encompasses both currently available and upcoming digital and robotic technologies. According to the Zimmer Biomet news release, “ZBEdge technologies are purposefully engineered to deliver transformative data-powered clinical insights, shared seamlessly across the patient journey, to improve patient outcomes. Current ZBEdge technologies include:

• The ROSA Robotics Platform designed to support surgeons by delivering data-driven assistance, enhanced accuracy and clinical insights throughout the episode of care
• Anatomical visualization and guidance solutions such as Signature ONE Surgical Planning, the Zimmer Biomet iAssist Knee Alignment System, and Optical Navigation tools, designed to deliver crucial patient insights
• Remote care and patient engagement management systems like mymobility with Apple Watch
• Data services and analytics including the OrthoIntel Orthopedic Intelligence Platformand the Omni Surgical Suite integrated operating room”

OTW asked COO Ivan Tornos about the impetus for ZBEdge and he explained, “At Zimmer Biomet, we started our digital and technology transformation ahead of the pack knowing that in order to truly differentiate ourselves within the industry, our innovation couldn’t be limited to metal and plastics but really needed to be integrated throughout all of our technologies.”

“We also saw that technology was becoming a key part of every aspect of our lives, so it was essential for technology to be integrated into the delivery of orthopedic care. In a nutshell, ZBEdge is a purpose-built suite of our currently available and forthcoming digital and robotic technologies which seamlessly share procedural and patient data from every stage of the surgical journey, and then translate that data into actionable clinical insights to inform care decisions.”

The ZBEdge Connected Intelligence Suite utilizes data from Zimmer Biomet devices, robotics and digital technologies and then aggregates, analyzes and translates it into actionable clinical insights via the OrthoIntel Orthopedic Intelligence Platform.

And how, OTW asked, exactly does ZBEdge “connects the dots?” Tornos replied that ZBEdge essentially, “allows data to be fed from one component to the next to form a data-sharing ecosystem that brings together insights throughout the entire episode of care to provide actionable data to surgeons. Each component of ZBEdge is specifically designed to capture and share key pieces of data to form a comprehensive view of the surgical journey.”

“For example, before surgery a surgeon could enroll a patient on the mymobility remote care management platform. That patient would then have access to the mymobility app on their iPhone and Apple Watch for video telemedicine visits, information on how to prepare for surgery, and could also see their step count and gait quality. During the surgery, our ROSA robotics platform would capture key anatomical and procedural data to help surgeons personalize the procedure, while enhancing accuracy and precision.”

“Then, after surgery, the mymobility app would allow virtual follow up visits, and continue to capture and report mobility metrics to the surgeon and care team so they can monitor patient recovery and adjust the care regimen as needed. Following the procedure, pre- and post-operative data from mymobility and the intraoperative data from ROSA would then be aggregated, analyzed, and translated into actionable clinical insights by our OrthoIntel Orthopedic Intelligence Platform.”