About
Stryker Mako SmartRobotics is a next-generation robotic surgical system purpose-built to elevate surgeon control, confidence, and precision across orthopedic joint replacement and spine procedures. At its core, SmartRobotics integrates 3D CT-based preoperative planning with AccuStop™ haptic technology — a system that physically constrains the robotic arm within surgeon-defined boundaries, helping prevent unintended bone cuts or soft tissue damage during surgery. The Mako platform supports four major procedure types: Total Knee replacement, Total Hip replacement, Partial Knee replacement, and Spine surgery. For each procedure, surgeons create a patient-specific plan using CT scan data, enabling detailed 3D visualization of anatomy, simulation of implant positioning, and anticipation of potential complications such as hip impingement from pelvic tilt changes. Intraoperatively, surgeons retain full control while the system provides real-time haptic feedback, soft tissue laxity assessment, and dynamic joint balancing tools to refine implant placement before final cuts are made. Clinical studies have demonstrated that Mako-assisted procedures achieve more pristine bone resections, reduced soft tissue damage, and greater bone preservation compared to manual cutting block techniques. Mako is designed for high-volume orthopedic surgeons, hospital systems, and ambulatory surgery centers seeking to standardize surgical quality, reduce revision rates, and expand their robotic surgery capabilities. As a scalable multi-procedure platform, Mako continues to grow across specialties — making it a long-term investment in surgical excellence and patient care outcomes.
Key Features
- AccuStop™ Haptic Technology: Physically constrains the robotic arm within pre-planned surgical boundaries, helping prevent unintended resection of bone or damage to surrounding soft tissue.
- 3D CT-Based Preoperative Planning: Uses patient-specific CT scan data to generate detailed 3D surgical plans, allowing surgeons to visualize anatomy and simulate optimal implant placement before the procedure.
- Multi-Procedure Platform: Supports Total Knee, Total Hip, Partial Knee, and Spine procedures within a single integrated robotic system, maximizing versatility across surgical specialties.
- Intraoperative Soft Tissue Assessment: Enables real-time evaluation of soft tissue laxities and dynamic joint balancing intraoperatively, allowing surgeons to refine implant positioning before making final cuts.
- Spine Level Indication & Haptic Guidance: Provides visual vertebral level identification and haptic-guided trajectory alignment to support accurate and confident execution of spine procedures.
Use Cases
- Orthopedic surgeons performing high-volume total knee replacement who need reproducible, accurate component positioning to improve functional outcomes and reduce revision risk.
- Total hip replacement cases requiring patient-specific preoperative planning to optimize cup placement, account for pelvic tilt, and minimize impingement risk.
- Partial knee replacement procedures where preserving the healthy joint compartment and achieving dynamic soft tissue balance is essential to natural knee kinematics.
- Spine surgery teams requiring haptic-guided trajectory alignment and visual vertebral level confirmation to improve the accuracy and safety of pedicle screw placement.
- Hospital systems and ambulatory surgery centers seeking to standardize surgical quality across joint replacement specialties and attract high-volume orthopedic surgeons.
Pros
- Clinically Validated Precision: Multiple clinical studies demonstrate more accurate component placement, more pristine bone resections, less soft tissue damage, and greater bone preservation compared to manual techniques.
- Patient-Specific Surgical Planning: 3D CT-based planning tailors every procedure to the individual patient's unique anatomy, improving implant fit and reducing complication risk.
- Scalable Multi-Specialty Platform: A single Mako system covers knee, hip, and spine procedures, enabling facilities to expand their robotic surgery program without investing in multiple platforms.
- Surgeon Remains in Control: Haptic boundaries and real-time feedback augment the surgeon's capabilities rather than replacing them, supporting confident decision-making throughout the procedure.
Cons
- High Capital Investment: As a premium robotic surgical system, Mako requires significant upfront acquisition and maintenance costs that may be challenging for smaller hospitals or ASCs.
- Mandatory Preoperative CT Scan: Patient-specific planning requires a CT scan prior to surgery, adding cost, scheduling complexity, and radiation exposure to the preoperative workflow.
- Surgeon Training and Ramp-Up Period: Surgeons must complete dedicated training and gain case experience before achieving full proficiency with the system, which can temporarily affect throughput.
Frequently Asked Questions
What surgical procedures does the Stryker Mako system support?
Mako SmartRobotics currently supports four procedure types: Total Knee replacement, Total Hip replacement, Partial Knee replacement, and Spine surgery — all within a single integrated robotic platform.
How does AccuStop™ haptic technology work?
AccuStop™ creates virtual haptic boundaries around the pre-planned surgical zone. When the robotic arm approaches these boundaries, it provides resistance feedback to the surgeon, physically preventing the arm from cutting beyond the intended area.
Does Mako replace the surgeon during the procedure?
No. Mako is surgeon-controlled at all times. The robotic arm moves under the surgeon's direct guidance; AccuStop™ haptic boundaries and real-time feedback assist the surgeon in staying within the planned resection zone without removing their decision-making authority.
Is a CT scan required before every Mako procedure?
Yes. A preoperative CT scan is necessary to build the 3D patient-specific surgical plan that defines implant positioning targets and haptic boundaries used during the operation.
What clinical outcomes have been demonstrated with Mako-assisted surgery?
Clinical studies have shown that Mako-assisted procedures achieve more accurate implant placement to preoperative plan, more pristine bone resections, reduced soft tissue damage, greater bone preservation compared to manual cutting blocks, and the potential for improved functional patient outcomes.
