Florida-based Mazor Robotics (NSDQ:MZOR) this week reported new study results for its Renaissance robot-assisted surgical system, touting greater than 99% accuracy in placing pedicle screws in adolescent patients with scoliosis.

Encompassing surgery in 223 patients at 5 centers, the robot placed a total of 3,270 screws to help correct idiopathic scoliosis. When accounting for screws placed by hand (either because the robot couldn’t reach, the software failed to register the vertebra or a surgeon simply decided to skip the screw) the surgical robot still executed with 92.2% accuracy.

The system helped guide surgeons in placing the screws while using less fluoroscopy and taking about 4.5 minutes (plus or minus 1.5 minutes) per screw, suggesting a potential for the robot to help reduce radiation exposure and shorten surgical times.

"Anatomic constraints in [adolescent idiopathic scoliosis] frequently confound placement of pedicle screws, especially when instrumenting the most deformed regions of a curved spine," lead investigator Dr. Dennis Devito said in prepared remarks. "The accuracy of screw placement and reduced exposure to radiation per case results in safer operations for both the patient and surgical staff."

The company presented the results this week at the 21st International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques meeting in Valencia, Spain.