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Smart Medical Devices (SMD)
SMARTdrill 6.0
smartmeddevices.com
888-73-SMART
Price: $74,500 for entire system, which includes 2 batteries, battery
charger, 2 chucks, computer tablet and proprietary software.
FYI: It was only a matter of time before surgical drills could leverage
digital connectivity in the interest of more efficient and accurate per-
formance. SMARTdrill 6.0 is a prime example of what's likely to
eventually become the norm for extremity surgery — data-informed
drilling. The idea is to take the guesswork out of drilling bone, select-
ing and inserting screws, and selecting implant hardware by meas-
uring depth, torque and energy; that information is collected by a
sensor on the drill and transmitted via Bluetooth to a tablet the sur-
geon can view in real time. The company says SMARTdrill removes
the need for conventional depth gauges and X-rays. Surgeons can
see if the autoclavable drill is dull or clogged, and are better able to
stop drilling precisely when they're about to damage soft tissue.
