The FDA cleared Velys for the clinical application of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). This builds upon the Velys platform used in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), which the FDA cleared in January 2021.

DePuy Synthes designed its UKA application for both medial and lateral procedures. It enables surgeons to guide precise implant placement without a CT scan. The application has compatibility with the Sigma HP unicondylar knee system with the new, reusable Intuition instruments.

UKA — or partial knee replacement — helps preserve bones and shorten recovery periods. However, according to DePuy Synthes, its underutilization comes as a result of complexities like smaller incisions and a lack of visibility. Robotic platforms like Velys can help to overcome those challenges with intraoperative insights, accurate implant alignment and positioning and more reproducible and consistent outcomes.