Novanta MAG 2025-2026 - Flipbook - Page 30
Innovation and progress never stops. IT’S INMOTION
PRECISION
IN MOTION
The technology
behind safer surgery
How Cyber Surgery and Novanta Joined Forces
to Deliver a New Standard in Robotic Navigation
In operating rooms around the world, spinal
surgery remains one of the most complex and
delicate procedures. Each millimeter matters. For
patients, that precision can mean faster recovery
and fewer complications. For surgeons, it can
translate to con昀椀dence, ef昀椀ciency, and safer
outcomes. It was this challenge that inspired Cyber
Surgery, a Spanish medical robotics company,
to design ALAYA – a compact, next-generation
robotic assistant for spinal procedures.
From the start, the vision was bold: a system that
could deliver sub-millimetric accuracy without
the clutter of bulky cameras, long setup times, or
steep learning curves. To achieve this ambition,
Cyber Surgery turned to Novanta Robotics
& Automation, a leader in precision motion
technologies, to help bring ALAYA to life.
THE CHALLENGE
Designing ALAYA meant pushing the limits of what
surgical navigation systems could be. Traditional
solutions relied heavily on external cameras and
calibration-intensive work昀氀ows, creating barriers
to adoption and slowing down surgical teams.
CYBER SURGERY NEEDED SOMETHING
DIFFERENT – A PLATFORM THAT WAS:
Compact and unobtrusive, 昀椀tting naturally
into constrained surgical spaces.
Accurate to the sub-millimeter, ensuring
the safest possible implant placement.
Reliable and repeatable, able to
withstand the demands of clinical use.
Easy to adopt, with minimal training
and setup required.
As Andres Amarillo, CTO of Cyber Surgery,
explains: “ALAYA had to be as light and small as
possible, with the highest degree of accuracy.
That led us to design an electromechanical system
dense with sensors and complex electronics.”
The challenge was clear: combine precision with
simplicity, without compromise.
THE SOLUTION
The answer came through close collaboration with
Novanta. At the heart of ALAYA sits Novanta’s
ChipEncoder, a high accuracy, non-contact digital
encoder that provides real-time feedback in a
footprint small enough to integrate directly into
the system’s architecture.
The encoder’s reliability and built-in interpolation
ensure smooth, accurate motion control – a
critical capability when navigating spinal
anatomy. More than a component, it became the
enabling technology that allowed Cyber Surgery
to meet its ambitious goals.
Equally important was the partnership itself.
Novanta engineers worked alongside Cyber
Surgery’s team, guiding mechanical, software,
and robotics integration. By introducing
advanced technologies and offering practical
mentorship, Novanta helped Cyber Surgery
re昀椀ne ALAYA’s design, overcome component
challenges, and fast-track the system toward
clinical readiness. It was a collaborative effort
that blended innovation with execution.
