Lazurite, UH Ventures Partner for Wireless Surgical Camera

Lazurite Holdings and University Hospitals (UH) Ventures, both in Cleveland Ohio, have pulled together to undertake a formative human factors study on Lazurite’s ArthroFree wireless light and surgical camera system. UH Ventures is the innovation and commercialization sector of University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland.

This formative human factor study, part of a broader multisite study, is, according to the company, “to demonstrate the performance of a device within an environment that simulates its real environment of use and by people who are the potential users.”

Laser focused on streamlining the OR, Lazurite’s ArthroFree will render knee and other orthopedic surgeries substantially easier as the patented technology eliminates the need for large machinery and excessive wires.

The modular ArthroFree system, designed to be fully drop-in compatible with existing OR technology, is expected to be the world’s first FDA-approved fully wireless, minimally invasive camera system for the OR. according to the company, it should result in OR efficiency gains, cost savings, improved safety, and reduced sterilization requirements through eliminating cords and cables, and significant reduction of the risk of OR burns and fires with its proprietary low-heat, high-power light engine technology.

“We are excited to have UH Ventures and UH’s orthopedic surgeons and surgical staff working with us on this capstone study,” said Lazurite CEO and founder Eugene Malinskiy. “UH Ventures has built a strong reputation for its support of innovation, both from within UH and with outside organizations.

“We are delighted to work with Lazurite on their formative human factors study,” said Kipum Lee, Managing Director of Innovation & Product Strategy, UH Ventures. “The ArthroFree system has all the marks of a breakthrough technology, so it represents a great opportunity for our surgeons and surgical teams to not only use it in this pre-approval period but to study it in an-depth manner. This type of immersive observation and data gathering is one of the key engagement services we provide through our UH Ventures platform. And the fact that Lazurite is a Cleveland-based company makes this collaboration all the more exciting.”

“We were–are–looking for a few major orthopedic centers around the country to conduct human factors studies on our ArthroFree wireless surgical camera system as part of a multisite study,” said Eugene Malinskiy to OTW. “In addition to supporting our regulatory submissions, these studies will provide an opportunity for leading surgeons and their teams to use the device in a more-extended, hands-on manner within an environment that simulates the real environment of use.”

“The Department of Orthopedics at University Hospitals is consistently recognized as one of the nation’s finest orthopedics programs, and they have been investing heavily in sports medicine in particular—which is one of the niches we are targeting. Since we are based in Cleveland and familiar with University Hospitals and UH Ventures, UH was one of the first places we contacted, and they were one of the first to respond—and the first we finalized an agreement with.”

Commenting on the role of each partner, Malinskiy told OTW, “This type of immersive observation and data gathering is one of the key engagement services UH provides through the UH Ventures platform. They have a lot of experience in doing the kind of study we are looking for. So, as to delineated roles, they will be recruiting research participants, assisting with conduct of the study, and co-writing the findings with us. We anticipate learning an awful lot, both through the human factors study directly and also beyond the study.”

“One year from now, we hope to be well along with our market launch of ArthroFree. And we hope this study will have provided the basis for a broader, longer-term collaboration between Lazurite and University Hospitals.”