Hyundai Heavy develops robot for joint surgery

Hyundai Heavy Industries and local venture firms have succeeded in localizing high-tech robotic equipment for artificial joint operations, the company said Monday.

The country’s top builder developed bodies and controllers for the “Robodoc” in a joint project promoted by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy in July 2009.

Made by local robotics venture Curexo Inc., the Robodoc is the only robotic system cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for orthopedic surgery. 

“This achievement provided us with an opportunity to build up various base technologies for high value-added medical robots,” said Lee Chung-dong, chief operating officer of the research and development division.

“We’ll strive to lead the market by expanding the scope of research into spine, brain and other areas.”

Hyundai plans to make main frames of the artificial surgeon on a mass scale in the first half at the earliest, and integrate controllers into the production line in 2013.

It targets a 60 percent stake in the global market for artificial joint surgical robots in 2015 by accumulating 200 billion won ($178.6 million) in sales.

The global medical robotics market is projected to grow by 20 percent each year to 12 trillion won in 2014, according to research firm Frost & Sulivan.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)