Dr. Edward Haupt of Mayo Florida in Jacksonville performed the first surgery. Haupt served on the GPS Ankle’s design team as well.
The FDA cleared the Exactech technology about a year ago.
“I am proud to be the first in the world to use GPS Ankle. This important new product is a tremendous accomplishment for our surgeon design team, Exactech and Blue Ortho,” said Haupt. “It improves the accuracy to execute on a surgical plan, and it’s exciting that it’s now available for ankle replacement surgery because navigation allows a surgery that is already technically challenging to be more reproducible, helping both surgeons and patients.”
GPS Ankle connects the preoperative plan with real-time, intraoperative instrument guidance. It confirms that resections meet the surgical plan as well.
Developed by Exactech subsidiary Blue Ortho, the system uses proprietary active tracker technology and a compact touchscreen tablet in the sterile field. This provides surgeons with dynamic, intraoperative feedback throughout their cases. The system also has compatibility with Exactech’s flagship Vantage total ankle system. It represents part of the company’s Active Intelligence dynamic ecosystem of smart, enabling technologies.
“The launch of GPS Ankle highlights our ongoing commitment to providing innovative, industry-leading smart solutions for surgeons and their patients,” said Exactech President and CEO Darin Johnson. “GPS Ankle and our full suite of Active Intelligence technologies reinforce our drive to provide transformative smart solutions to help surgeons perform complex procedures.”
