AAOS Recap: Robotics, Orthobiologics and M&A Activity Gain Attention

March 22, 2025 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), Digital Surgery, Enabling Technologies, Innovation, Medical Devices, Medical Technology, Orthopedics, Robotics

We met with industry and surgeons at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Meeting and heard an overall sense of optimism about market growth and new technology. During our time in San Diego, several topics and trends rose to the top of conversations: enabling technology, orthobiologics and M&A activity. We are recapping highlights of those discussions here.

So much activity happens at AAOS. Our team covered more than 20 product announcements leading up to and during AAOS. Many of them are from small orthopedic companies, and are worth a read. Over the next month, we’ll also bring you surgeon and executive insights learned at the conference.

Enabling Technology Takes Center Stage as Companies Expand in the Market

VISIE, a 3D spatial computing platform that allows for continuous anatomic auto tracking for robotic surgery without pins, arrays or manually registering anatomy, won the top prize during AAOS’s OrthoPitch, a live event patterned after Shark Tank. VISIE demonstrates the possibilities for next-generation robotics, and its win signals the importance of enabling technology in the future of orthopedics.

“When we think about registration, we might think about 40, 100 or 350 points in a manual registration with any system on the market,” said Doug Fairbanks, President and CEO of VISIE, during the live pitch event. “At the same time, VISIE will take 376,000 points in a fraction of a second.”

Robotics continues to disrupt the competitive dynamics in joint replacement and spine by providing implant pull-through for companies with systems. Expectedly, Stryker, Zimmer Biomet, Johnson & Johnson MedTech and Smith+Nephew all touted their robotic systems and expanding applications at AAOS.

There was also a significant presence and update from other robotic companies. Globus Medical featured the ExcelsiusFlex robotic and navigation platform for knee replacement. Both an imageless and CT-based registration system that allows for multiple surgical approaches, ExcelsiusFlex is Globus’ foray into joint replacement. THINK Surgical noted its growing number of collaborations with implant partners, and Orthokey highlighted its newly CE Marked ROBIN.

by Carolyn LaWell | ORTHOWORLD

Image Credit: Carolyn LaWell / ORTHOWORLD

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About Peter Coffaro 251 Articles

Strategic, growth-oriented executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in the medical device industry, specializing in orthopedics. Recognized as a top medical sales influencer, I bring a proven track record in sales leadership, business development, and organizational growth. My expertise spans digital health innovations, including wearables, robotic-assisted surgery, and virtual reality. I am the founder of OrthoFeed, an award-winning platform focused on digital orthopedic technologies, and a three-time Johnson & Johnson Hall of Fame award recipient. I hold a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from Northern Illinois University.