Blue Belt Technologies Announces the Formation of World Renowned Orthopedic Scientific Advisory Board

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, May 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Belt Technologies, Inc., developing the next generation of "smart" surgical instruments providing precise robotic control for use in orthopedic procedures, announced today the formation of the company's Scientific Advisory Board, comprised of world leaders in orthopedics, computer assisted surgery, and other specialties important to the company's development pipeline.

Blue Belt Technologies' board is co-chaired by Jess H. Lonner, M.D. and Andrew D. Pearle, M.D. Dr. Lonner is Attending Orthopedic Surgeon at the Rothman Institute and Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University, based in Philadelphia, PA.  Dr. Lonner has authored nearly 200 peer reviewed scientific publications and chapters, and he has published several prominent textbooks on knee replacement surgery.  Dr. Pearle is an Orthopedic Surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, NY.  He is a team physician for the New York Mets and currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Techniques in Knee Surgery.  He has authored over 100 scientific papers.

"Blue Belt has assembled an outstanding group of scientific advisors who have a long track record of innovation.  I am honored to be a part of this visionary group.  Combining the NavioPFS™ technology with this dynamic Blue Belt team is exciting, and I am confident that we can create products that fundamentally impact and improve the care of our patients," said Dr. Andrew Pearle on the assemblage of the Blue Belt Technologies Scientific Advisor Board.

The board's esteemed members also include:

Professor Johan Bellemans, M.D., Ph.D. – a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Catholic University Leuven, Belgium, and Chairman of the Orthopaedic Department at the Catholic University Hospitals Leuven and Pellenberg, Belgium.

Professor David Murray, M.D. – a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Oxford, and a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford.  Dr. Murray is specifically working with Blue Belt Technologies to continue developing applications for the hip utilizing NavioPFS.

S. David Stulberg, M.D. – is the Director and Founder of the Joint Reconstruction and Implantation Service at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and Rush North Shore Medical Center.

Dr. Jess Lonner added, "Blue Belt Technologies is poised to further advance the field of robotically assisted orthopaedic surgery.  We have a uniquely qualified Scientific Advisory Board with surgeon members that offer a breadth of valuable surgical experience and a proven history of commitment to implant development and smart tool innovation.  I am so pleased to be working alongside Blue Belt Technologies and my esteemed colleagues to help develop the NavioPFS system."

The strong advisory board built by Blue Belt Technologies will help guide development and commercialization of the NavioPFS orthopedic surgical system with an initial indication of Unicondylar Knee Replacement.  They will additionally provide key clinical insight and support for future product development efforts.

Blue Belt Technologies, Inc.

Blue Belt Technologies, Inc. is developing the next generation of "smart" surgical instruments for use initially in orthopedic procedures and then for other surgical specialties including neurosurgery, spinal and otolaryngology ("ENT"). The company's NavioPFS System incorporates patented technology to provide precise robotic control to surgeons via an intelligent, handheld, computer assisted bone cutting tool. The NavioPFS System provides the surgeon with a layer of safety and enhanced accuracy while performing bone shaping tasks through minimally invasive incisions.