Synaptive Medical Unveils Next Generation of Surgical Robotics with Groundbreaking Optics Platform

October 9, 2017

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Synaptive Medical Inc., a medical device and technology company, today released Modus V™. This second-generation, high-powered digital microscope with a surgical robotic arm is derived from Canadarm technology used on the International Space Station. Designed with feedback from Synaptive’s clinical partners, Modus V is the new cornerstone of its integrated BrightMatter™ platform.

Modus V sets the new standard for robot-assisted neurosurgery with the most powerful optics available on the market that give unprecedented views of patient anatomy and may allow surgeons to perform less invasive procedures with more precision. For patients, less invasive procedures may lead to faster recovery times, reduced complications and, in some cases, may render an inoperable diagnosis operable.

For surgeons, Modus V’s advanced instrument tracking with auto-focus, combined with a highly flexible arm, also allows for increased surgical efficiency through hands-free control, better ergonomics during procedures and greater versatility in the operating room. These innovations feed developments in precision medicine by creating more opportunity to capture, analyze and draw trends from patient data and build better decision-making tools for physicians, researchers and hospital administrators.

“This product release marks a major milestone in our evolution as a company,” says Peter Wehrly, Synaptive’s CEO. “Modus V is an integral part of our overall BrightMatter surgical solution. Conceptualized for the digital era as a fully integrated set of devices, our solution collects and delivers data—be it imaging, tractography or other patient information—when and where it’s most needed to drive surgical decision making. It’s part of our ongoing commitment to give surgeons the most advanced tools with which to treat their patients.”

Modus V is part of the BrightMatter product suite, which transforms surgical planning, patient data collection and intraoperative vision from disjointed analog methods to a fully integrated platform with navigation, robotic automation, digital microscopy and data analytics.

As the successor to BrightMatter Drive, Synaptive’s first generation robotic digital microscope, Modus V’s improved design was created to meet the complex needs of cutting-edge surgery, including:

  • The most powerful optics platform on the market fully integrated with the robotic arm, providing superior visualization of anatomy and allowing for better decision making when it matters most
  • Enhanced hands-free tracking of surgical instruments with auto-focus and programmable motions gives surgeons more control without disrupting workflow
  • Increased arm flexibility covers a larger volume of space, permitting more versatile positioning around the patient and ergonomic alignments of optics for the surgeon
  • Smaller unit footprint allows for greater maneuverability in the OR and enables faster deployment

“Collaboration is hardwired into Synaptive’s culture. Modus V’s improvements are grounded in the collaboration and extensive feedback from neurosurgeons in our customer community on both Modus V prototypes and BrightMatter Drive,” says Cameron Piron, Synaptive’s president and chief strategy officer. “We’re grateful for their support, and look forward to deeper commentary from the surgical community as Modus V enters the market.”

About Synaptive Medical | Synaptive Medical Inc., a Toronto-based medical device and technology company, collaborates with leading clinicians and healthcare systems to revolutionize products and services that cross traditional barriers to enable continuous improvement in care delivery in and beyond the operating room. Synaptive’s integrated BrightMatter™ solutions—including surgical planning, navigation and visualization, and an informatics platform—are designed to give clinicians the right information they need to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients.

Contacts

Synaptive Medical
Elizabeth Monier-Williams, 647-299-6429
Director, Marketing Communications
elizabeth.monierwilliams@synaptivemedical.com

OMNIlife science™, Inc. Surpasses 17,000 Procedures Milestone for OMNIBotics® Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Replacements

RAYNHAM, Mass.Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — OMNIlife science, Inc. (“OMNI™”), an established medical technology company targeting the $15 billion global hip and knee replacement device market, announced today that surgeons have completed more than 17,000 total knee replacements worldwide using the OMNIBotics robotic-assisted total knee replacement technology platform. The OMNIBotics system enables optimized implant placement using robotics driven by OMNI’s proprietary ART™ software. Surgeons can efficiently plan a procedure that is specific to each patient using a patented intra-operative 3-D modeling technique that eliminates the need for preoperative CT scans or x-rays. This results in a more precise alignment of the knee implant that many surgeons believe can lead to more rapid recovery and a more natural feeling knee replacement.

In addition to the clinical benefits, the OMNIBotics system provides proven savings per episode of care through a reduced learning curve for the surgeon and O.R. staff as well as a fast case-to-case turnaround and a compact physical footprint which improves efficiency. There is no capital investment cost for the hospital and no annual maintenance or software upgrade fees. This makes the OMNIBotics system a more cost-effective way for healthcare providers to offer robotic-assisted total knee replacement surgery to their patients.

“As one of the first surgeons to adopt OMNIBotics and having performed more than 1500 procedures, this significant milestone validates my experience with the technology,” said Ronald LaButti, DO, FAOAO, orthopedic surgeon with Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Surgical Hospital in Tulsa, OK. “I am committed to providing orthopedic care that is second to none and find that the precision of the OMNIBotics patient-specific procedure enables my patients to recover more quickly and results in excellent clinical outcomes as well as very satisfied patients.”

Market research estimates that in the next 5 years, more than 20% of total knee replacement procedures will be performed using robotic-assistance. OMNI has anticipated this demand and is focused on designing breakthrough complementary technologies like their recently FDA cleared Active Spacer which, for the first time, provides the surgeon with a quantitative tool to actively manage the tension on ligaments and pressures in the knee joint itself  with dynamic real-time feedback.

“OMNI has been at the forefront of robotic-assisted total knee replacement technology since the initial introduction of our first robotic total knee systems in 2010 and passing this 17,000 robotic- assisted TKA procedure milestone shows that we are still going strong,” stated Carl Knobloch, OMNI’s Vice President of Marketing.  “We continue to see increased interest in our latest OMNIBotics technology from surgeons, patients and hospitals.  With the pending addition to the OMNIBotics platform of our recently FDA cleared Active Spacer robotic soft tissue balancing technology, we expect the rate of adoption and case volumes to increase significantly in the coming year.

ABOUT OMNI

OMNI is a privately held company with a proprietary robotic platform, OMNIBotics®, which allows surgeons to conduct patient-specific total knee surgery designed to enhance patient satisfaction and reduce hospital costs. In addition, OMNI designs, engineers, manufactures and distributes a wide range of proprietary hip and knee implants and is focused on providing cutting edge technologies to transform outcomes in joint replacement surgery and enhance a surgeon’s ability to help patients live active and pain-free lives. For more information about OMNI, please visit www.omnils.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this press release concerning the future business, operations and prospects of OMNIlife science, Inc., including its plans specific to OMNIBotics systems, as well as statements using the terms “plans,” “believes” or similar expressions are “forward-looking” statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon management’s current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties. Information contained in these forward-looking statements is inherently uncertain, and actual performance and results may differ materially due to many important factors. Such factors include, among others, changes in competitive conditions and pricing in OMNI’s markets, decrease in the demand for OMNI’s products, delays in OMNI’s product research and development cycles, decreases in the use of OMNI’s principal product lines or in procedure volume, unanticipated issues in complying with domestic or foreign regulatory requirements related to OMNI’s current products or securing regulatory clearance or approvals for new products or upgrades or changes to OMNI’s current products, the impact of the United States healthcare reform legislation on hospital spending and reimbursement, any unanticipated impact arising out of the securities class action or any other litigation, inquiry, or investigation brought against OMNI, increases in costs of OMNI’s sales force and distributors, and unanticipated intellectual property expenditures required to develop, market, and defend OMNI’s products. OMNI cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievement. OMNI undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

CONTACT
Cindy Holloway, Director of Marketing Communications Phone: (508) 824-2444 
cholloway@omnils.com

SOURCE OMNIlife science, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.omnils.com

Spine Surgeon in Thailand Successfully Completes First International Mazor Robotics PROlat™ Case

ORLANDO, Fla. – September 18, 2017 – Mazor Robotics, a pioneer and leader in the field of surgical guidance systems, announced that the first international PROlat case was performed by Assoc. Prof. Wicharn Yingsakmongkol, MD in Bangkok, Thailand. PROlat is a single-position solution for placing pedicle screws and other spinal hardware in the lateral decubitus position with the Renaissance® Guidance System.

“Lateral approaches have been gaining acceptance in Asia, as we have an aging population that benefits highly from minimally invasive procedures,” said Prof. Yingsakmongkol.  “I perform a high volume of lateral procedures each year, so the PROlat application was something that made a lot of sense to me as a way to enjoy the benefits of the Renaissance technology while the patient remains in a single lateral position.  We were able to save 30-40 minutes by not flipping the patient, which is less time for the patient to be under anesthesia, and less cost for the hospital.”

Mazor also recently fulfilled orders for the PROlat application in Spain and Australia and continues to see a lot of interest for this procedural solution in the international markets.

 

About Mazor

Mazor Robotics (TASE: MZOR; NASDAQGM: MZOR) believes in healing through innovation by developing and introducing revolutionary robotic technologies and products aimed at redefining the gold standard of quality care. Mazor Robotics Guidance Systems enable surgeons to conduct spine and brain procedures in an accurate and secure manner. For more information, please visit MazorRobotics.com.

Mazor Robotics Announces CE Mark Approval for the Mazor X Surgical Assurance Platform

September 20, 2017

CAESAREA, Israel–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mazor Robotics Ltd. (TASE: MZOR; NASDAQGM: MZOR), a pioneer and a leader in the field of surgical robotic systems, announced today CE Mark approval for its Mazor X Surgical Assurance Platform. The CE Mark allows Mazor and its commercial partner, Medtronic, to market the Mazor X in the European Union, as well as other countries that recognize the CE Mark.

“Receipt of the CE Mark is an important step in our plan to expand the patient, surgeon and hospital benefits of the Mazor X Surgical Assurance Platform to the European market,” said Ori Hadomi, Mazor’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our commercial partner for the Mazor X, Medtronic, will be responsible for marketing and selling the system in Europe and we look forward to working with them to ensure a successful launch.”

The Mazor X will be displayed in Medtronic’s booth (F10) at EUROSPINE, which is being held from October 11-13, 2017 in Dublin, Ireland.

About Mazor

Mazor Robotics (TASE: MZOR; NASDAQGM: MZOR) believes in healing through innovation by developing and introducing revolutionary robotic technologies and products aimed at redefining the gold standard of quality care. Mazor Robotics Guidance Systems enable surgeons to conduct spine and brain procedures in an accurate and secure manner. For more information, please visit www.MazorRobotics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other securities laws. Any statements in this release about future expectations, plans or prospects for the Company, including without limitation, statements regarding the benefits of CE Mark approval, statements regarding the marketing and selling of the system in Europe, and other statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “will” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions based on Mazor’s current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause Mazor’s actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Those factors include, but are not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, competitive products, product demand and market acceptance risks, reliance on key strategic alliances, fluctuations in operating results, and other factors indicated in Mazor’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Mazor’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on May 1, 2017 and in subsequent filings with the SEC. For more details, refer to Mazor’s SEC filings. Mazor undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or to changes in our expectations, except as may be required by law.

Contacts

EVC Group
Investors
Michael Polyviou, 212-850-6020
mpolyviou@evcgroup.com
or
Doug Sherk, 646-445-4800
dsherk@evcgroup.com

TransEnterix, Inc. Reports Progress on Senhance FDA Submission

September 18, 2017

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TransEnterix, Inc. (NYSE American: TRXC), a medical device company that is pioneering the use of robotics to improve minimally invasive surgery, today announced the Company has filed its response to the Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) Additional Information (“AI”) request related to the Company’s Senhance Surgical Robotic System 510(k) submission.

“We are very pleased to have submitted our AI response ahead of schedule, demonstrating our team’s effectiveness and our ongoing collaboration with the FDA,” said Todd M. Pope, President and Chief Executive Officer of TransEnterix. “The submission of our response is a key step towards achieving 510(k) clearance for the Senhance, which we continue to expect in 2017.”

About TransEnterix

TransEnterix is a medical device company that is pioneering the use of robotics to improve minimally invasive surgery by addressing the clinical and economic challenges associated with current laparoscopic and robotic options. The Company is focused on the commercialization of the Senhance™ Surgical Robotic System, a multi-port robotic system that brings the advantages of robotic surgery to patients while enabling surgeons with innovative technology such as haptic feedback and eye sensing camera control. The Company also developed the SurgiBot™ System, a single-port, robotically enhanced laparoscopic surgical platform. The Senhance Surgical Robotic System has been granted a CE Mark but is not currently available for sale in the United States. For more information, visit the TransEnterix website at www.transenterix.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements relating to our second quarter 2017 results, the Senhance™ Surgical Robotic System and our current regulatory and commercialization plans for this product. These statements and other statements regarding our future plans and goals constitute “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict, are beyond our control and which may cause results to differ materially from expectations, including, whether the Senhance 510(k) will achieve clearance in 2017, if at all. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties associated with TransEnterix’s business, please review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, which was filed on March 6, 2017, and our other filings we make with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements, which are based on our expectations as of the date of this press release and speak only as of the origination date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts

For TransEnterix, Inc.
Investor Contact:
Mark Klausner, +1-443-213-0501
invest@transenterix.com
or
Media Contact:
(For EU) Conrad Harrington, +44 (0)20 3178 8914
or
(For US) Hannah Dunning, +1-415-618-8750
TransEnterix-SVC@sardverb.com

HSS’ USE OF ROBOTICS IN SURGERY

Elizabeth Hofheinz, M.P.H., M.Ed. / 9-18-2017

Todd Albert, M.D. is surgeon-in-chief and medical director and Korein-Wilson Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York. Dr. Albert, president-elect of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), knows that as a surgeon, it’s good to control what you can control. One way of doing this that incorporates the value of listening to patients is by using a technology they are asking for—robotics.

“A full 1% of all joint replacements in the entire country are performed at HSS,” says Dr. Albert to OTW. “People seek out what is new and if we can give them that in a safe manner, then we are being responsive to our patients. In addition, we have a responsibility to orthopedic surgeons to define what is best. And while I am not saying robotics are necessarily the best option, we have an obligation to invest in them given their proven track record in some procedures.”

“HSS invests in robotics research because our surgeons—who drive innovation—are interested in it and want to take the lead in stellar patient care. Many total joint surgeons do not use robotics, however, if the data show improved results then they will end up adopting robotics.”

At present, HSS has three Stryker Mako machines, which are primarily being utilized in knee and hip surgery. One lucky HSS physician who pioneered the use of these sophisticated machines is Andrew Pearle, M.D. He told OTW, “We do approximately 500 partial knee replacements a year, 85% of which are done using a robot; we perform over 100 total knee surgeries a year using a robot. In all, we do more robotic cases worldwide of any facility.”

 

READ THE REST HERE

OMNIlife science™, Inc. Receives 510(k) Clearance from FDA for Revolutionary Robotic Tissue Balancing Device

AYNHAM, Mass.Sept. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — OMNIlife science, Inc. (“OMNI™”), a privately-held, established  medical technology company targeting the $15 billion global hip and knee replacement device market, announced today that the FDA has issued 510(k) clearance for its proprietary robotic tissue balancing device which is used with OMNI’s market-leading OMNIBotics® robotic-assisted total knee replacement technology platform.

This new technology, in clinical use since March in Australia, provides the surgeon with a quantitative tool to actively manage the soft tissue envelope with dynamic real-time feedback. When combined with the accuracy of alignment and bone cuts provided by the OMNIBotics system, the result is a completely customized procedure from both a skeletal perspective as well as a soft tissue perspective.

“Our proprietary Active Spacer technology represents a unique and significant step in the development of our OMNIBotics robotic platform. We have been convinced that a perfect knee alignment is not enough to enable good outcomes for our surgeons and their patients,” said Guy Mayer, Executive Chairman of OMNI’s Board of Directors. “We believe that our surgeons can now perform the perfect total knee replacement with our innovative robotic soft tissue balancing technology coupled with the optimum knee alignment provided by our OMNIBotics technology.”

The OMNIBotics system enables optimized knee implant placement using robotics driven by OMNI’s proprietary ART™ software. With more than 16,000 OMNIBotics procedures performed to date worldwide, it eliminates the need for preoperative CT scans or x-rays. Intraoperative adjustments are easily made, and the precise alignment of the implant may lead to a more rapid recovery and a more natural feeling total knee replacement.1,2

“This is a major milestone for both OMNI and for the orthopedic market,” stated Christian Joly, Vice President of Robotics at OMNI. “We are now the only company in the world to provide a robotic technology to quantitatively drive the total knee replacement surgical procedure with both alignment and ligament balancing.”

1Koenig JA, Suero EM, Plaskos C: Surgical Accuracy and Efficiency of Computer-Navigated TKA with a Robotic Cutting Guide – Report on First 100 Cases. J Bone Joint Surg Br 2012 vol 94-B no. SUPP XLIV 103.
2Revenga C, et al, Computer-Assisted Navigation Versus Conventional Total Knee Arthroplasty In A Spanish Multicenter Study. 16th EFORT Congress. London. 2014.

ABOUT OMNI

OMNI is a privately held company with a proprietary robotic platform, OMNIBotics®, which allows surgeons to conduct patient-specific total knee surgery designed to enhance patient satisfaction and reduce hospital costs. In addition, OMNI designs, engineers, manufactures and distributes a wide range of proprietary hip and knee implants and is focused on providing cutting edge technologies to transform outcomes in joint replacement surgery and enhance a surgeon’s ability to help patients live active and pain-free lives. For more information about OMNI, please visit www.omnils.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this press release concerning the future business, operations and prospects of OMNIlife science, Inc., including its plans specific to OMNIBotics systems, as well as statements using the terms “plans,” “believes” or similar expressions are “forward-looking” statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon management’s current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties. Information contained in these forward-looking statements is inherently uncertain, and actual performance and results may differ materially due to many important factors. Such factors include, among others, changes in competitive conditions and pricing in OMNI’s markets, decrease in the demand for OMNI’s products, delays in OMNI’s product research and development cycles, decreases in the use of OMNI’s principal product lines or in procedure volume, unanticipated issues in complying with domestic or foreign regulatory requirements related to OMNI’s current products or securing regulatory clearance or approvals for new products or upgrades or changes to OMNI’s current products, the impact of the United States healthcare reform legislation on hospital spending and reimbursement, any unanticipated impact arising out of the securities class action or any other litigation, inquiry, or investigation brought against OMNI, increases in costs of OMNI’s sales force and distributors, and unanticipated intellectual property expenditures required to develop, market, and defend OMNI’s products. OMNI cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievement. OMNI undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

CONTACT

Cindy Holloway, Director of Marketing Communications
Phone: (508) 824-2444
cholloway@omnils.com

SOURCE OMNIlife science, Inc.

Mazor Robotics to Present at the Wells Fargo Healthcare Conference

September 05, 2017

CAESAREA, Israel–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mazor Robotics Ltd. (TASE:MZOR)(NASDAQGM:MZOR), a pioneer and a leader in the field of surgical guidance systems announced today that Sharon Levita, Chief Financial Officer & Vice President, Business Operations, is scheduled to present an overview of the Company, via a fireside chat discussion, at the Wells Fargo Healthcare Conference on Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 1:05pm ET at The Westin Boston Waterfront hotel in Boston, MA.

A live webcast and subsequent archived replay of the Company’s presentation may be accessed via the investor relations section of the Company’s website.

About Mazor

Mazor Robotics (TASE:MZOR)(NASDAQGM:MZOR) believes in healing through innovation by developing and introducing revolutionary technologies and products aimed at redefining the gold standard of quality care. Mazor Robotics Guidance System enables surgeons to conduct spine and brain procedures in an accurate and secure manner. For more information, please visit www.MazorRobotics.com.

Contacts

EVC Group
Michael Polyviou, 212-850-6020
mpolyviou@evcgroup.com
or
Doug Sherk, 415-652-9100
Investors
dsherk@evcgroup.com

Mazor Robotics and Medtronic Enter Next Phase of Strategic Partnership; Medtronic to Make a $40 million Third Tranche Investment in Mazor

CAESAREA, Israel–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Mazor Robotics Ltd. (MZOR), a pioneer and a leader in the field of surgical guidance systems, today announced that it has entered the next phase of its strategic partnership with Medtronic earlier than planned and their existing agreements have been amended accordingly. The agreements provide for the conversion of the commercial relationship between the parties, with Medtronic assuming exclusive worldwide distribution of the Mazor X system, and Medtronic making a $40 million third tranche investment in Mazor. These developments are a result of the early achievement of certain sales and marketing milestones by both companies, as well as higher than expected global market acceptance and demand for the Mazor X system. Medtronic and Mazor originally entered into a strategic agreement in May 2016.

Key Highlights Include:

  • Medtronic assumes exclusive global spine market commercial responsibility for the Mazor X Surgical Assurance Platform and its accessories.
  • The implementation of annual minimums for purchase of Mazor X systems by Medtronic with a cumulative potential of hundreds of Mazor X systems over a four and a half-year period.
  • Approximately 30 members of the current Mazor sales organization are expected to join Medtronic to assure continuation of the current momentum.
  • Co-development of future products for the spine market that combine Mazor Robotics’ core expertise in surgical planning and precision-guided surgical systems with Medtronic’s navigation capabilities and implant systems. The first results of this combined and synergistic effort are expected to be demonstrated this fall.
  • Mazor will continue to provide service to the global installed base of the Mazor X.
  • A shared economic incentive to continue developing products and services that maintain innovation leadership and utilization of Mazor Robotics clinical solutions.
  • Medtronic will invest $40 million in Mazor Robotics’ American Depository Shares (ADS) at a price of $38.46 per ADS, which represents the weighted average of the closing price of Mazor’s ADS on Nasdaq over the past 20 trading days. This third tranche of investment in Mazor by Medtronic will bring Medtronic’s total investment in Mazor to $72 million, representing approximately 11.9% of the outstanding shares post investment and 10.6% of the fully diluted shares outstanding post investment. Mazor will also issue to Medtronic warrants to purchase an additional 1.21 million Mazor ADSs at an exercise price of $44.23 per ADS. The exercise price represents a 15% premium over the per share price for the $40 million equity investment. Medtronic has the right to exercise the warrants immediately in whole or in part, for cash, and they expire after 18 months. Assuming the full exercise of the warrants, Medtronic’s investment in Mazor will reach $125 million and its ownership could increase to 4.2 million ADSs, or 14.2%, based on the current number of ADSs outstanding on a fully diluted basis. Closing of the $40 million equity investment is expected to take place on or around September 12, 2017.

“Medtronic is our valued strategic partner and together we have achieved the desired outcome for Phase I well ahead of our original plan,” commented Ori Hadomi, Chief Executive Officer. “I believe that the move to this next phase reinforces our significant leadership position in the growing market for surgical guidance systems for spine procedures. Our strategic partnership will allow hospitals in new markets around the world to have access to the Mazor X and gain the clinical benefits that this technology offers.

“The strategic partnership between Mazor and Medtronic has already resulted in 59 Mazor X system orders since the October 2016 launch and reflects an accelerated sales cycle due to customers’ eagerness to adopt our solutions for the spine market,” added Mr. Hadomi. “Now, as commercial responsibility for the Mazor X in the spine market shifts to Medtronic, the annual minimums for sale of Mazor X systems agreed to by the two companies are expected to drive substantial improvement in Mazor’s financial results during the next several years. Together we will be able to further advance our robust jointly-developed product pipeline for the spine market, to make a difference for patients while Mazor also pursues new opportunities to apply our innovative technologies to other medical needs.”

“Moving to the next phase of our strategic partnership demonstrates our shared passion for transforming how spine surgery is done,” said Doug King, senior vice president & president of the Medtronic Spine division, which is part of Medtronic’s Restorative Therapies Group. “Mazor Robotics’ technology and Medtronic’s navigation capabilities and implant systems provide spine surgeons with complete procedural solutions that advance the standard of care and will help surgeons maximize predictability and efficiency.”

Mazor will continue to manufacture and recognize revenues for Mazor X system sales, disposable kits and service fees all of which will be sold at contractual pricing agreed with Medtronic. The contracted pricing is at a lower rate than Mazor realized through its direct sales channel. In addition, Mazor will be entitled to certain synergy fees associated with the use of Medtronic implants in Mazor Robotics’ installed base. Moving from direct sales to a strategic distribution model is expected to immediately reduce Mazor’s annual operating expenses by approximately $13 million. Trailing 12-month operating expenses for Mazor totaled $52.7 million.

The proceeds from the investment will further strengthen Mazor’s balance sheet and provide the resources to continue to collaborate with Medtronic to develop innovative solutions for the spine market, as well as develop innovative solutions for other potential markets.

Mazor will continue to independently develop and market globally the Renaissance Surgical Guidance System, which was first launched in 2011. Efforts for Renaissance will be focused on certain market segments for which the Renaissance provides significant customer added value.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

The Company will host a conference call to discuss today’s announcement at 8:30 AM EDT (3:30 PM IDT). Investors within the United States interested in participating are invited to call 1-800-289-0498. Participants in Israel can use the toll-free dial-in number 1-80-925-8350. All other international participants can use the dial-in number 1-719-325-4818. For all callers, refer to Conference ID 1217133.

A replay of the event will be available for two weeks following the conclusion of the call. To access the replay, callers in the United States can call 1-866-375-1919 and reference the Replay Access Code: 1217133. All international callers can dial 1-719-457-0820, using the same Replay Access Code. To access the webcast, please visit www.mazorrobotics.com and select ‘Investor Relations.’

About Mazor

Mazor Robotics believes in healing through innovation by developing and introducing revolutionary technologies and products aimed at redefining the gold standard of quality care. Mazor Robotics Guidance System enables surgeons to conduct spine and brain procedures in an accurate and secure manner. For more information, please visit www.MazorRobotics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other securities laws. Any statements in this release about future expectations, plans or prospects for the Company, including without limitation, statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “will” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions based on Mazor’s current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause Mazor’s actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. For example, Mazor is using forward-looking statements in this press release when it discusses the outcome of the Phase II agreements with Medtronic, when it states that the results of combined development efforts are expected to be launched this fall, when it states that sales minimums are expected to drive substantial improvement in Mazor’s financial results during the next several years, when it discusses that the strategic partnership will allow hospitals in new markets around the world to have access to the Mazor X and gain the clinical benefits that this technology offers, when benefits spine surgeons will get from the combination of Mazor’s technology and Medtronic’s navigation capabilities and implant systems are discussed, when it discusses advancing its robust, jointly-developed product pipeline for the spine market while pursuing exclusive efforts to apply its innovation to other medical needs, when it discusses that moving from direct sales to a strategic distribution model is expected to immediately reduce its annual operating expenses, when it discusses continuing to independently develop and market globally the Renaissance Surgical Guidance System and where it will focus its efforts with regard to this system, and when it discusses the timing of the closing of the Medtronic purchase of ADSs and the potential exercise of warrants as well as the use of proceeds from the sale of such securities. Those factors include, but are not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, competitive products, product demand and market acceptance risks, reliance on key strategic alliances, fluctuations in operating results, and other factors indicated in Mazor’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Mazor’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on May 1, 2017 and in subsequent filings with the SEC. For more details, refer to Mazor’s SEC filings. Mazor undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or to changes in our expectations, except as may be required by law.

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View source version on businesswire.comhttp://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170829006252/en/

EVC Group
Michael Polyviou, 212-850-6020
mpolyviou@evcgroup.com
or
Doug Sherk, 646-445-4800
dsherk@evcgroup.com

Source: Mazor Robotics Ltd.

BMC becomes first in state to add robotic spine surgery

August 22, 2017 – JIM MCCONVILLE, Staff Writer, (Journal Photo by Ron Agnir)

MARTINSBURG — WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center added its first robot-neurosurgeon to its medical staff on Monday.

On Monday, BMC became the first medical center in West Virginia and the tri-state region to add the Mazor X, a robotic surgical platform, which will be used by its new Medicine Brain and Spine Center.

BMC is the first medical center in West Virginia and within a 60-mile radius from the center to employ the surgical robot technology.

Delivered to BMC on Aug. 17, the Mazor robot performed its first patient surgery Monday afternoon.

“As spinal surgery has evolved, more focus has been placed on minimizing trauma to the body during surgery and expediting a return to function through the use of minimally invasive techniques,” said Dr. John Caruso, neurosurgeon and medical director of WVU Medicine Brain and Spine at Berkeley Medical Center.

Using the the Mazor robot software, doctors can plan a spine operation procedure. During the actual surgical procedure, doctors use the precision mechanics and surgical arm to guide surgical tools and implants at the right trajectory and position, based on that surgical plan.

For patients, minimally invasive surgical procedure means less pain, less blood loss, a smaller surgical cut, a shorter hospital stay, and a shorter recovery period compared to conventional spine surgery.

 

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