Medtech SA

Medtech SA, now known as Zimmer Biomet Robotics, was a French company specializing in the design and development of robotic assistance for surgical procedures. It was founded in Montpellier, France, in 2002 by Bertin Nahum. The company's establishment followed Nahum's victory in a national innovative start-up contest held by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

Bertin Nahum, a French-Beninese entrepreneur, holds an Engineering Degree from the National Institute of Applied Sciences in Lyon, France, and a Master of Science in Robotics from Coventry University in the UK. His career began with a decade of management roles at various surgical robotics firms, including Computer Motion Inc., Integrated Surgical System Inc., and IMMI SA, where he gained extensive experience in cardiac surgery, orthopedics, and neurosurgery applications. This background, combined with collaborations with surgeons, fueled his dedication to creating technology to improve surgical interventions.

The company's first product was BRIGIT™, a robot designed to assist in minimally invasive knee surgery. In a significant milestone in 2006, the entire patent portfolio for BRIGIT™ was acquired by Zimmer Inc., a global leader in orthopedics. Medtech SA reinvested the proceeds into developing its next-generation robotic assistant, ROSA™. The ROSA™ platform became the company's flagship product, designed as a surgical assistant for minimally invasive procedures. The technology functions like a 'GPS' for surgeons, enabling precise positioning and handling of instruments based on preoperative data. The platform evolved to include ROSA™ Brain for neurosurgery and ROSA™ Spine for spinal procedures. These systems assist in treating various conditions, including epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and hydrocephalus. The company's business model focused on the design, development, and marketing of these innovative surgical assistance robots to hospitals and surgical centers worldwide.

Medtech SA achieved several key milestones, including a successful initial public offering (IPO) on the Euronext Paris exchange in November 2013. The ROSA™ Spine device received its CE Mark in Europe in 2014 and FDA clearance in the United States in 2016. The company's growth and technological achievements culminated in its acquisition by Zimmer Biomet in 2016 for approximately $132 million. Following the acquisition, Nahum was appointed to lead Zimmer Biomet's robotics development activities, and the Montpellier headquarters was designated as a center of excellence for robotics research. Before its acquisition, Medtech's ROSA robots were in use at hospitals across Europe, North America, and Asia.

Keywords: surgical robotics, medical devices, neurosurgery robot, spine surgery robot, minimally invasive surgery, Bertin Nahum, ROSA robot, Zimmer Biomet Robotics, orthopedic surgery, medical technology, BRIGIT robot, robotic-assisted surgery, surgical navigation, medtech, Montpellier, surgical innovation, healthcare technology, robotic surgery platform, cranial procedures, spinal procedures