At Florida’s premier orthopedic hub, surgeons are using the CORI Robotic-Assisted Surgical System to customize knee replacements.

As Dr. Andrew Noble pulls up a video, his voice rises with enthusiasm. “Take a look at this!” It shows one of his patients, a middle-aged man, walking down a medical office hallway with the leg of his pants pulled up to expose an incision in his knee. He is smiling broadly, one foot in front of the other, slowly but confidently. Just days out of knee-replacement surgery, his patient is miraculously walking with a functional knee for the first time in years. Noble exclaims, “I mean, this is incredible!” For Noble, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who is fellowship trained in total joint replacement, such outcomes aren’t outliers anymore—they’re becoming the norm, thanks to Jupiter Medical Center’s adoption of the CORI Surgical System.

JMC emerged as a regional leader in orthopedic innovation when it recently became one of the first hospitals in Florida to deploy the Smith+Nephew CORI Surgical System—a handheld robotic tool transforming partial and total knee replacements. Unlike traditional methods, CORI combines real-time 3D modeling, artificial intelligence (AI), and a handheld burr (a small rotary tool bit) that adjusts 300 times per second to match a patient’s unique anatomy. The result: sub-millimeter accuracy, zero radiation exposure, and recovery measured in days rather than weeks.

Traditional partial and total knee replacements relied on a blend of surgical skill and improvisation. Surgeons made initial bone cuts using manual jigs, then adjusted component positioning mid-procedure based on visual and tactile feedback. Noble explains that surgeons would start with standard templates, but ligament tensions and bone quality could force last minute changes during surgery.

Inside a CORI Procedure

The CORI system begins with a mapping system that helps doctors plan the work in advance of the surgery. Miniature optical arrays attached to the femur and tibia create a live 3D model of the knee, updated 300 times per second. This GPS for bones tracks subtle shifts during surgery, ensuring accuracy throughout the procedure.

Next comes AI-powered visualization. Drawing from the 3D models, plus a database of thousands of MRI scans, CORI simulates ligament tensions and implant positions before the first cut. Surgeons like Noble can digitally test different implant sizes and placements, ensuring optimal balance. “We’re personalizing the plan based upon the 3D image” before any cut is made, Noble explains.

At the heart of the system is a smart burr that’s about 5 millimeters in diameter. The router-like tool automatically retracts at preset boundaries, protecting soft tissues while milling bone to within half of a millimeter. “Once the planned amount of bone is removed, the burr retracts instantly,” Noble says. A study by the University College of London in 2023 comparing robotic systems highlighted CORI’s advantages: its imageless mapping, intraoperative adaptability, and agile accuracy.

Holistic Healing Protocols

Noble emphasizes that CORI is just one piece of Jupiter’s orthopedic revolution, which now includes three orthopedic robots. The hospital pairs robotics with a comprehensive approach to patient care. This includes non-opioid pain protocols—with local anesthesia injections providing 72-hour numbness, reducing reliance on potentially addictive medications.

Prehab— preoperative rehabilitation to strengthen muscles pre-surgery to accelerate recovery —is another key component. “The time that’s put in before can affect how much time you have to put in afterwards,” Noble notes. Prehab combined with the precision of CORI has enabled one-night or same-day discharge after surgery.

“It’s not just the robot,” Noble insists. “It’s combining precision technology with multimodal care—that’s why we’re seeing consistently transformative results.” This holistic approach extends to the entire patient journey. A digital tensioner works in unison with CORI, recording ligament tension and helping surgeons decide optimal implant placement. “We’re pre-planning how to put in replacement parts before the surgery,” Noble explains. “Previously, you’d have to start the surgery, look at the knee, and make cuts on ends of bone. You’d size and design replacement parts in the moment. You didn’t have the power and ability to pre-plan and have a more precise outcome.”

JMC is already the only Florida hospital holding five elite orthopedic accreditations, and the CORI system cements its role as a destination for 21st-century surgical care—where cutting-edge tools and compassionate expertise converge. The hospital’s commitment to innovation and focus on patient-centered care is clear.

Noble has experienced a paradigm shift in orthopedic surgery over nearly two decades of surgeries, and he’s eager for patients to benefit from these advancements. “These outcomes aren’t accidental,” Noble concludes. “They’re the product of perfecting every ingredient—the technique, the preparation, the technology. It all comes together to make the experience better for the patient.”