Corin Group (Corin), an international orthopedic instruments and implant company based in the UK, has unveiled its visionary and updated CorinConnect™ software platform, an integrated system that provides actionable insights from their interconnected suite of orthopedic technologies.
The key to the CorinConnect platform is an embedded intelligence which integrates insights gained throughout the joint replacement experience from preoperative patient assessment and surgical planning, through the operative execution, and finally overall patient outcomes. This data is collected into a centralized registry, where providers can access it and tease out novel insights regarding “inputs” which translate into patient “outputs.”
What goes in, must come out.
The CorinConnect platform consists of a patient profiling component (CorinRPM™), a preoperating planning element (OPSInsight™), a vision intraoperative delivery component (OMNI vision), a postoperative analysis system (OPSReView™) and an actional insight element (CorinRegistry™).
But, wait, there is still more. CorinConnect ALSO integrates with the recently acquired OMNIBotics® robotic-assisted knee replacement system that allows for imageless total knee replacement surgery. This system compliments Corin’s Optimized Positioning System (OPS™) technology for total hip reconstruction, as both deliver dynamic assessment of patient kinematics and precision implant planning and placement.
In this special two-part feature, OTW takes a look at the evolution of the CorinConnect platform and, in Part 2, OTW peers into the crystal ball to see what the future holds for intelligent, highly interconnected, data centric systems like CorinConnect.
(L to R): Jim Pierrepont, Andrew Shimmin, M.B.B.S., F.A.Orth.A., and Elani Hamman
To find out more about this platform, OTW interviewed members of the Corin team including Chief Innovation Officer Jim Pierrepont, Global Marketing Communications Manager Dan Cipolletti, and Software Manager Elani Hamman. OTW also spoke with hip and knee surgeon Andrew Shimmin, M.B.B.S., F.A.Orth.A., from Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Shimmin has been a key contributor in the technology development and has been involved in the first cases and applications of these programs.
The CorinConnect Vision
Pierrepont, a biomedical engineer, began his career in orthopedics at Stryker Orthopaedics as an Australian territory manager, focusing on navigation systems. In 2010, he left Stryker and, with a couple colleagues, began working on new technologies for hip and knee replacements. Pierrepont explained, “When we left, we had that focus on technology as I think a lot of companies have done.” This small team went on to create a new company, Optimized Orthopedics, which developed a new method to analyze hip biomechanics, leading to the creation of the Optimized Positioning System (OPS™).
Dr. Shimmin acted as a link between Corin and Optimized Ortho. Dr. Shimmin had been working with Corin developing implants and was also part of the Optimized Ortho team.
In 2014, Corin acquired Optimized Ortho and the OPS technology for hip reconstruction, which complemented Corin’s current offering of clinically proven hip implants. This is when Pierrepont first met Corin’s Chief Executive Officer Stefano Alfonsi. They began to look into complementary technologies around remote patient management and the potential to connect the information gained.
Pierrepont said, “It became pretty evident at that point that all these different technologies were clearly generating significant insights independently. But more importantly the power of that information if it’s all brought together was amplified 10-fold.”
The CorinConnect concept evolved from a meeting the initial team had in Sydney, Australia. The team met on Sydney harbor, a strange setting since there was not yet an office to go to. Realizing the advancements of their digital technologies needed a centralized ecosystem by which to connect, the concept of CorinConnect was born. The team began to work towards a connected system, pulling resources from every department.
Remembering all the work and effort, Pierrepont recalls that “the key people throughout have been clearly our software team, our software lead, our R&D lead, our marketing, our regulatory as well. It’s been a huge regulatory effort.”
Pierrepont continued, “Initially it was somewhat Australian focused because that’s where the OPS technology was from. Since the acquisition of US-based OMNI, and their robotic-assisted knee technology, OMNIBotics… they’ve brought a significant amount of technology enhancements as well, so then the team has really evolved into a true global company.”
