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Advita (formerly Exactech)

GPS Shoulder navigation system for shoulder arthroplasty, bringing computer-assisted precision to orthopedic surgery.

Role
Product Development Engineer
Type
Medical Device
Industry
Orthopedic Surgery

Project Overview

GPS Shoulder is an FDA-cleared intraoperative navigation system for total shoulder arthroplasty. The system provides surgeons with real-time positional data during shoulder replacement procedures, improving accuracy in component placement.

I developed prototypes and refined the navigation system through iterative testing with surgeon feedback, translating surgical workflow requirements into engineering specifications validated through bench testing and cadaver studies.

Technical Contributions

  • Prototyping & Testing: Built and validated functional prototypes through benchtop testing and cadaver studies
  • Clinical Collaboration: Observed shoulder surgeries to inform design decisions for ergonomics and tracker placement
  • CAD & Tolerance Analysis: Precision 3D modeling with sub-millimeter tolerances for surgical accuracy
  • Technical Documentation: Design specifications and validation protocols for FDA clearance
  • Clinical Research: Co-authored peer-reviewed research on navigation accuracy and clinical outcomes

Publications

Co-authored peer-reviewed research in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery:

  • Youderian AR, et al. (including Davis NZ). "Two-year clinical outcomes and complication rates in anatomic and reverse shoulder arthroplasty implanted with Exactech GPS intraoperative navigation." J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2023. PubMed
  • Larose G, et al. (including Davis NZ). "High intraoperative accuracy and low complication rate of computer-assisted navigation of the glenoid in total shoulder arthroplasty." J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2023. PubMed