DePuy Synthes Companies and Radlink have formed an exclusive global sales agreement to provide Radlink’s real-time image guidance system for use with DePuy Synthes’ hip replacement systems. The announcement was made at the 81st annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), held March 24–28 in Las Vegas.

The agreement provides DePuy Synthes Companies with exclusive rights to market Radlink’s Galileo Positioning System (GPS) with Surgeon’s Checklist. Designed to help surgeons address the challenges associated with hip replacement—such as component positioning, sizing, leg length and offset restoration—the software provides real-time intra-operative imaging that processes and displays within 4 seconds. According to the companies’ announcement, the product could help reduce time, labor, and costs associated with traditional digital imaging.

The announcement comes less than a year after DePuy Synthes Companies signed an agreement with Blue Belt Technologies, a deal which enabled the first clinical use of Blue Belt’s Navio system with DePuy Synthes Companies’ Sigma High Performance (HP) partial unicondylar knee. The Navio navigation software uses a hand-held robotic-assisted bone shaping tool that improves implant placement accuracy without the use of computed tomography (CT).

“The GPS and Navio technologies are significant innovations that will help physicians deliver care as effectively and efficiently as possible,” said Max Reinhardt, franchise unit leader, DePuy Synthes Companies. “We have chosen what we believe are among the best technologies in the marketplace that, when complemented by DePuy Synthes Companies’ products, will provide a total solution and therefore maximize patient care.”