CLEVELAND– Medical device and technology company Lazurite Holdings LLC (formerly Indago) today announced that it has contracted with University Hospitals (UH) Ventures – the innovation and commercialization arm of University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland – to conduct a formative human factors study on its ArthroFree™ wireless surgical camera as part of a broader multisite study. Human factors, or usability studies, are intended 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.
The ArthroFree system is expected to be the world’s first FDA-approved fully wireless, minimally invasive camera system for the operating room (OR). It is expected to deliver 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. And the modular ArthroFree system is designed to be fully drop-in compatible with current operating room technology. The coming market launch, following anticipated receipt of FDA market clearance in 2022, will initially focus on orthopedic applications, particularly in sports medicine.
“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.
“And of course, the Department of Orthopedics at University Hospitals is consistently recognized as one of the nation’s finest orthopedics programs. UH is investing heavily in its highly respected sports medicine program. They are entering their eighth season as the official health care partner of the Cleveland Browns and also serve in the same role for the Cleveland Monsters and the Cleveland Ballet. In addition, their $236 million expansion project at the Ahuja Medical Center campus on Cleveland’s East Side includes a new family sports medicine complex that will treat an estimated 1,350 athletes in its first year.
“We hope this study will be the beginning of a broader, longer-term collaboration between Lazurite and University Hospitals. The connection with UH will certainly benefit us when we launch ArthroFree into the market. I believe the partnership will further advance University Hospitals’ reputation as an innovative leader in advancing new medical technology.”
“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.”
“Our surgeons and surgical teams are excited to work hands-on with the ArthroFree system as part of this study,” said James Voos, M.D., Chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery at UH Cleveland Medical Center, and the head surgeon on the project. “This aligns with our focus on continuing to advance our orthopedic clinical, educational and research objectives.”
Dr. Voos has overall responsibility for the planning, growth and operational management of the department’s clinical activities, plus oversight of resident teaching programs and research. He also oversees the continued development and expansion of sports medicine across the UH system.
