The Operating Theatre journal April 2021

First Total Shoulder
Arthroplasty Using the Smart
Space Cubit Intraoperative
Guidance System
LimaCorporate achieves an important
landmark in the development of its digital
platform designed to assist surgeons in
delivering improved outcomes with an
accessible and sustainable economic model,
following the milestone-based acquisition
of TechMah Medical LLC. TechMah Medical
LLC was founded by Dr. Mohamed Mahfouz,
Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the
University of Tennessee, in 2014.
On March 25, 2021 Shelden Martin, MD
performed the first successful total shoulder
arthroplasty in Scottsdale, AZ using the
Smart SPACE 3D Virtual Planner and the
Shoulder Cubit Guidance digital platform.
Upon completion of the procedure Dr. Martin
stated that, “I am very pleased that our first
shoulder arthroplasty utilizing Smart SPACE
Cubit Guidance went extremely well. I was
impressed with the seamless and efficient
integration of the instrumentation into my
normal procedural workflow, resulting in
minimal deviations from normal technique
and no additional procedural time. Most
importantly, the final component positioning
precisely matched our patient-specific preoperative
surgical plan. I am very excited
about the future promise of this unique
technology.”
Smart SPACE is LimaCorporate’s digital
platform and features novel technology
and a rich pipeline of landscape-changing
applications. Smart SPACE is a new
environment designed to further enable the
surgeon and enhance the predictability of
surgical outcomes providing peace-of-mind
to the physician. In particular, the Shoulder
Cubit Guidance is designed to deliver accurate
anatomy and instrument tracking without the
challenges and disruptions of optical surgical
navigation. The Shoulder Cubit Guidance is the
perfect complement to the Smart SPACE 3D
Virtual Planner, which is powered by advanced
AI algorithms developed by TechMah Medical,
LLC. The Smart SPACE 3D Virtual Planner and
Shoulder Cubit Guidance are innovative and
fundamental cornerstones of the Smart SPACE
ecosystem.
This pioneering digital platform is intended
to allow surgeons to develop a complete preoperative
plan, through the Smart SPACE 3D
Virtual Planner and execute the plan precisely
using a combination of patient customized 3D
Positioners and the Cubit Guidance System with
its proprietary sensor technology. Surgeons
will receive real time feedback regarding
instrument and implant positioning, all while
maintaining their desired OR and patient
set up. The Smart SPACE Shoulder system is
currently in Controlled Release within the
United States and Europe and is scheduled for
full commercial release in Q4 2021.
Luigi Ferrari, LimaCorporate CEO, stated: “The
successful completion of the first Shoulder
Cubit guided surgery is a significant milestone
in Digital Transformation at LimaCorporate
and signals the completion of the first phase of
the Smart SPACE roadmap. I’m excited about
the positive impact that this groundbreaking
technology will have in the daily lives of our
surgeons and their patients.”
For additional information on the Company,
please visit www.limacorporate.com
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals consultant elected
as President of prestigious national society
A consultant haematologist who has been at
the forefront of advancing treatment and care
for patients needing bone marrow or stem cell
transplantations has taken up the role of the
President of the British Society of Blood and
Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.
Professor John Snowden, who is based at
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals’ specialist
haematology unit and is Director of the
Bone Marrow Transplantation Programme in
Sheffield, was elected into the prestigious
national leadership role by members of the
professional society.
The role, which he will hold until December
2022, will see him use his significant
experience and expertise to improve outcomes
for patients undergoing bone marrow or stem
cell transplantations.
Bone marrow or stem cell transplantations
are intensive treatments which involve
replacing damaged blood cells with healthy
cells that are taken from the patient’s own
blood or from a donor’s blood. These are then
transplanted into the body following a course
of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The
treatments are often lifesaving for people with
blood-related conditions such as lymphoma or
leukaemia.
Professor Snowden, who was also appointed as
the Secretary of the European Society for Blood
and Marrow Transplantation last year, has
played a pivotal role in helping to develop new
treatments, services and national standards
for patients undergoing bone marrow or stem
cell transplantations, acting as Clinical Lead
for various NICE Guidelines and Chair of the
NHS England Clinical Reference Group from
Bone Marrow Transplantation between 2016
and 2020. Most recently he has been actively
involved in helping to develop critical Covid-19
guidance for patients who have received a
bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
He was also a co-investigator for the landmark
‘MIST’ trial, which was the first to show
that autologous stem cell transplantation,
a complex procedure used to treat blood
cancers for many years, could reverse multiple
sclerosis in patients with the relapsing
remitting form of the disease. Sheffield was
the sole UK site involved in the international
trial.
Internationally he has also advocated high
quality patient care through his long association
with the European Group for Blood and
Marrow Transplantation and JACIE – The Joint
Accreditation Committee of the International
Society for Cellular Therapy and the European
Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation,
who accredit and assess haematopoietic stem
cell transplantation facilities.
He is the author of over 250 specialist
publications and book chapters on bone
marrow transplantation, haematologyoncology
and autoimmunity, and has been at
the helm of many clinical trials, grant awards,
educational meetings, teaching, supervision,
examination, journal editorship and scientific
peer review. He has been awarded honorary
professorships from The University of Sheffield
and University College London.
Professor John Snowden, consultant
haematologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust and Director of the
Bone Marrow Transplantation Programme in
Sheffield, said: “I am delighted and honoured
to be elected into this prestigious role,
which in tandem with my role as Secretary
of the European Group for Blood and Marrow
Transplantation will enable me to act as an
ambassador for patients receiving bone marrow
or stem cell transplants at the highest national
level. I look forward to using the experience I
have gained in Sheffield as part of a leading
centre for the diagnosis and treatment of
blood cancers and a regional specialist centre
for stem cell transplants to innovate and
exchange ideas and best scientific practice to
the benefit of both patients and the Society at
this pivotal time.”
Sustainability in Surgery: Disposable vs Reusable
This webinar hosted by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, will look
at the use of disposable vs. reusable materials within surgery and provide
information on how to make important future changes in clinical practice.
Hear from our Sustainable Surgery
fellow, Miss Chantelle Rizan, RCS
council member and Vice-chair of
the RCS sustainability in surgery
committee, Ms Victoria Pegna, and
Consultant in ENT Surgery, Professor
Mahmood Bhutta.
• 28 April 6pm, register here:
http://bit.ly/OTJSUS421
24 THE OPERATING THEATRE JOURNAL www.otjonline.com