What if knee replacement surgery could be tailored as precisely as a fingerprint, designed specifically for your body, your movement, and your life? At Hurley Medical Center, that future isn’t years away; it’s happening right now. With the introduction of cutting-edge robotic technology, patients facing knee replacement surgery can feel more confident than ever that their care is personalized, precise, and built for better outcomes.
At the heart of this innovation is the TMINI® system, a surgeon-controlled robotic technology that is transforming the way total knee replacements are performed. Unlike what some might imagine, this isn’t a robot performing surgery on its own. Instead, it’s a powerful tool that enhances the surgeon’s expertise, bringing together advanced planning and real-time precision in the operating room.
Every knee replacement at Hurley starts with a personalized plan. Before surgery, doctors use advanced imaging to get a clear picture of the patient’s knee and map out the procedure step by step. This helps ensure the surgery is designed specifically for each individual.
During the procedure, the surgeon uses a handheld, wireless robotic tool to guide the process. The technology provides real-time feedback to help place the implant accurately, while the surgeon remains in full control at all times.
Hurley orthopedic surgeon Dr. Paul Telehowski explains, “TMINI has added the next step in advancement for knee reconstruction. It allows for detailed imaging and planning based on CT scans, giving us greater customization for each patient. This helps achieve a more accurate, best-fit knee replacement. As a result, patients may experience a quicker recovery and a more natural-feeling knee. This is now accomplished with handheld robotic technology that works with powerful software in the operating room, creating a more streamlined process compared to earlier robotic systems.”
Dr. Paul Telehowski
MD-Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
TMINI has added the next step in advancement for knee reconstruction. This helps achieve a more accurate, best-fit knee replacement. As a result, patients may experience a quicker recovery and a more natural-feeling knee.
That accuracy matters. Proper placement of the implant can make a significant difference in how the knee feels and functions after surgery, impacting comfort, stability, and long-term results. The system also gives surgeons more flexibility. With access to a wide range of implant options, they can select what works best for each patient’s body, needs, and lifestyle, helping people return to movement more comfortably.
For many patients, deciding to undergo joint replacement surgery can feel like a big step. Catherine Metz, service line administrator of Hurley’s Center for Joint Replacement, recognizes those concerns. “The bone cuts the surgeon makes, because they are guided by the robot, are incredibly precise, less than a millimeter, which leads to better implant alignment, stability, and longevity. Unlike other joint replacement robots, TMINI is not tied to one implant brand, allowing our surgeons to choose what’s best for each patient. The TMINI robot is state-of-the-art. Its miniature, handheld design eliminates the need for large robotic arms, improving operating room efficiency without limiting precision. It offers exceptional accuracy while still allowing the surgeon to make adjustments as needed.”
Robotic-assisted technology like TMINI® isn’t about replacing the human touch; it’s about supporting it. By combining careful planning, surgeon expertise, and advanced precision tools, Hurley Medical Center is helping patients feel more confident as they move toward recovery and improved mobility.
As healthcare continues to evolve, Hurley remains focused on what matters most: helping patients move more comfortably, feel better, and return to the everyday moments they enjoy. To learn more about this groundbreaking procedure or to schedule a consultation, call Hurley’s Center for Joint Replacement at (810) 262-6339.
Have you viewed pictures from the Hubble Telescope, like the Tapestry of Blazing Starbirth or the Ring Nebula, that light up the darkness with bursts of magnificent color? Have you pondered the quantity of stars—too numerous to count? Have you paused to wonder what it’s all for? What are we to learn or understand from it? Is there purpose in it all? Is there something, or someone, out there?
