The Wireless Arthroscopic Era Begins: Arthroscopy’s Evolution from the Incandescent Era to the Fiber-Optic Era to the Wireless Era

Abstract

Arthroscopic surgery was invented in 1912, when Dr. Severin Nordentoft used a cystoscope powered by an incandescence light to visualize a knee joint. This form of visualization initiated the paradigm shift from open surgery to minimally invasive surgery. The next major paradigm shift occurred in the mid-1970s with the connection of the arthroscopic camera via a fiber-optic cable, powered by a Xenon or LED light, to a display monitor. This system has helped propel the arthroscopic market to an expected US $16.3 BN by 2027. While there have been numerous incremental advances in arthroscopic camera technology over the last half-century the current arthroscopic camera systems remains largely the same. They remain tethered to the tower by a power cable and, most importantly, a light cable that generates significant heat. ArthroFreeTM, a wireless arthroscopic surgical camera powered by a high-efficiency, low-heat light source, is expected to initiate the next paradigm shift in arthroscopy. The expected benefits of a wireless camera system include ease of use, improved OR efficiency, reduction in costs, and better patient outcomes.