News

Stryker, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies, has announced the successful completion of the initial shoulder arthroplasty surgeries using Blueprint® Mixed Reality (MR) Guidance. The procedures were conducted by Dr. Joaquin Sanchez-Sotelo, MD, PhD, a Consultant and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and Dr. George Athwal at St. Joseph’s Health Care in London, Canada.

“Mixed reality technology offers important benefits to patients,” said Dr. Sanchez-Sotelo, one of the Blueprint design surgeons. “This technology allows the surgeon to plan and execute the surgery based on precise images of the patient’s shoulder, thereby minimizing the risk of improper placement of the implant. This is individualized care tailored to each patient’s anatomy.”

Developed by a team of renowned surgeons, the Blueprint MR Guidance System integrates Stryker’s advanced software with the Microsoft HoloLens™ 2* headset. This system enables surgeons to monitor the position and orientation of surgical instruments within the physical environment. Through Blueprint MR Guidance, surgeons can be ‘guided’ by 3D images and guidance widgets, displayed on the patient and in the surgeon’s line of sight without disrupting the normal workflow. The MR Guidance system received FDA clearance in January 2023.

“The addition of Mixed Reality Guidance to our Blueprint platform has the potential to benefit the entire shoulder arthroplasty market – surgeons and patients alike,” said Tim Lanier, president of Stryker’s Trauma & Extremities division. “Now that Mixed Reality Guidance has officially entered the operating room, our surgeons will have access to the most innovative technology available, enabling more precise surgical results and allowing for improved results for patients.”

Previously known as Blueprint Mixed Reality OR Visualization, the earlier version of Stryker’s Blueprint Mixed Reality has been utilized by over 50 surgeons and employed in more than 3,500 shoulder replacement procedures globally. For further information about Blueprint and Mixed Reality, you can visit shoulderblueprint.com.

Stryker envisions the completion of the first case employing the Blueprint® Mixed Reality (MR) Guidance System in Europe in February, representing a noteworthy milestone in the advancement of global surgical technology.


© Stryker Corporation