<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1000083763474443&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">

SmartTRAK Life Sciences News and Analysis Blog

Elise Wolf

Elise Wolf has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Bioengineering from Northwestern University and the University of Pittsburgh. After graduation, Elise designed biologically-inspired autonomous robots for the Department of Defense at K2T, a spin-off of Carnegie Mellon University. She also has 15+ years of experience in the medical device industry in product development, marketing and business development in emerging medical device technologies and orthopedics prior to joining BioMedGPS. Elise has worked for BioMedGPS since 2010 as an Analyst covering Orthopedics and is currently the General Manager of SmartTRAK’s Computer-Assisted Surgery business.

Recent Posts

1 min read

Moving the Ball Forward: Q121 CAS Spine Market Recap

By Elise Wolf on 8/2/21 10:24 AM

SmartTRAK reports that strong sales of spine robotic and enabling technology in Q121 continue to move the ball forward in the adoption curve. Companies are noting an inflection point on the pathway of these technologies becoming mainstream with centers buying multiple robots, and community and university hospitals adopting them.

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q121 CAS Spine Market Recap* are:

Continue Reading
2 min read

Are Robotics Reaching a Tipping Point? - Q121 CAS Ortho Market Recap

By Elise Wolf on 7/23/21 9:30 AM

Despite an ongoing slowdown in elective procedures due to COVID, enabling technology continued to experience strong demand in orthopedics in Q121. Since the vast majority of patients who put off elective procedures due to the pandemic are expected to come back into the funnel, SmartTRAK anticipates that robotic and other technologies will continue to gain traction well into next year and beyond.

Continue Reading
2 min read

A Game-Changing Year for Robotics: Q420/FY20 CAS Ortho Recap

By Elise Wolf on 4/15/21 9:30 AM

Despite market challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was a game-changing year for enabling technology for orthopedic surgery with robotics hitting an inflection point in acceptance, with record placements in Q420, and enabling technology across the entire continuum of care making significant inroads.

In Q420, MAKO* robot demand drove much of the 12.3% growth in Stryker’s* US Ortho Other segment. In 2020, MAKO’s installed base grew by 33%, and in Q420 hit a milestone of > 100 system installations at major teaching institutions, ASCs and in competitive accounts in the quarter. In fact, according to the Company, MAKO is now available in ~50% of fellowship programs at teaching institutions in US, as well as some in Europe, which will help the transition to standard of care. Stryker noted that new market entrants (Zimmer Biomet’s* ROSA*Smith & Nephew’s* CORI* and DePuy Synthes’* VELYS*) have not slowed MAKO momentum.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q420/FY20 CAS Ortho Market Recap* are:

Continue Reading
2 min read

Four Trends to Watch in 2021: Enabling Technology in Orthopedics and Spine

By Elise Wolf on 4/12/21 9:31 AM

COVID-19 threw a curveball to spine and orthopedic implant companies in 2020 with the downturn in elective procedures, but one area that continued to make inroads was enabling technologies. Given increasing advances and expanding adoption of these technologies, even during uncertain times, SmartTRAK highlights some significant trends to watch in 2021, including:

1. Flexible Business Models
Companies with robots (Stryker*, MAKO*, Zimmer Biomet*, ROSA*, Smith & Nephew*, NAVIO*/CORI*, Medtronic*, Mazor X*, Globus*, Excelsius GPS) continued to grow at above-market growth in 2020. Record-breaking robotic and navigation system placements in Q3 and Q420 bode well for ...

Download the complete "Four Trends to Watch in 2021" Article

Continue Reading
2 min read

A Post-Pandemic Recovery? Q420/FY20 CAS Spine Market Recap

By Elise Wolf on 4/8/21 9:30 AM

A post-pandemic recovery appears to be on the horizon in the CAS Spine space.

Continue Reading
9 min read

What's New in Spine and Orthopedic Computer-Assisted Surgery (CAS)

By Elise Wolf on 11/24/20 8:00 AM

SmartTRAK highlights what’s new in the Spine and Orthopedic Computer-Assisted Surgery (CAS) markets. Our daily updates cover the latest news and up-to-date intel on competitors, revenues, products, patents, trends and research in CAS. Companies covered include Exactech, DePuy Synthes, THINK Surgical, Subtle Medical, CurvSmith & Nephew, Surgalign, Medtronic and others.

The following is a sampling of market updates covering recently published studies, articles and clinical trials in orthopedic regenerative medicine that were curated, reviewed and posted in real time by Elise Wolf, SmartTRAK’s General Manager, Computer-Assisted Surgery.

Continue Reading
1 min read

Orthopedic Robotics in Strong Demand Despite COVID: Q220 CAS Ortho Recap

By Elise Wolf on 10/14/20 11:02 AM

Q220 brought unexpected strong demand for orthopedic robotics, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Q220 brought in unexpected strong demand for orthopedic robotics. Companies rose to the challenge through flexible business models to accommodate limitations in short-term hospital financial constraints through increased financing and implant volume commitments. The unexpected strength in robotics revenues also demonstrated a rebound in elective (total joint) procedures that is expected to normalize in early 2021.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q220 CAS Ortho Market Recap* are:

Continue Reading
1 min read

Robotic Spine Cases Down But Interest Remains Strong: Q220 CAS Spine Recap

By Elise Wolf on 10/9/20 9:30 AM

Despite a downturn in the CAS spine market and a decrease in the proportion of robotic spine cases in Q220, interest in spine robotics and other enabling technologies remains strong.

Although robotic system placements and procedures declined in Q220, companies remain optimistic with strong surgeon interest in spine robotics and a long runway ahead given the early stage of adoption and under penetration of the market. Additionally, product enhancements, new applications and the development of surgical platforms that span multiple enabling technologies (robotics, AI, surgical planning, patient-specific implants, etc.) are expected to drive growth in the CAS spine space going forward.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q220 CAS Spine Market Recap* are:

Continue Reading
4 min read

Enhatch Surgical Intelligence: Bridging Gaps in Computer-Assisted Surgery

By Elise Wolf on 8/24/20 4:12 PM

Founded in 2012, Enhatch is a privately held venture-backed medical technology company that uses artificial intelligence (AI)-based software solutions to fill in the gaps medical device manufacturers face in enhancing implant design, developing patient-specific instrumentation and integrating communication among enabling technologies. The Company also incorporates machine learning to simplify clinical and logistic workflows for hospitals based on individual patient data through the entire surgical continuum of care.

Topics: Orthopedics
Continue Reading
6 min read

Double Whammy Impacts Strong Start: Q120 Computer Assisted Surgery Spine Mkt

By Elise Wolf on 7/22/20 9:31 AM

Strong start in Q120 was negatively impacted by the double whammy of postponed elective procedures and lag in capital equipment purchases as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While adoption of robotics and other enabling technologies was gaining significant momentum quarter over quarter through year-end 2019, delays in elective spine surgery due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in declines in capital equipment sales and fewer computer-assisted spine surgeries in Q120. However, these declines are expected to be temporary and improve as surgeries rebound through the end of the year and into 2021.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q120 CAS Spine Market Recap* are:

Topics: Orthopedics
Continue Reading
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Follow Us on Social Media

Recent Articles