Smith Nephew (LSE:SN.), the FTSE 100 medical technology group, has launched the FLOW FLEXTEND COBLATION Wand, a new radiofrequency resection device built specifically for complex hip procedures.
The wand extends the company's existing FLOW~IQ technology, adding an adjustable-angle tip designed to improve surgical access and tissue targeting in hard-to-reach hip, knee and shoulder anatomy.
Smith Nephew said existing wand options, largely knee instruments lengthened for hip use, fall short of surgeons' needs, prompting the design of a device built from the ground up for hip anatomy.
The wand incorporates FLOW~IQ technology, which the company says has been clinically and commercially validated since 2016 and automatically balances saline outflow with COBLATION energy to deliver either precision or speed depending on clinical need.
An adjustable-angle tip and a "set and forget" locking mechanism allow surgeons to fix a desired angle without further adjustment during a procedure.
Early feedback has come from surgeons who trialled the device. Dr Joshua Harris of Houston Methodist said the articulation gives the wand "a significant advantage, and a lot more versatility in the central compartment" than other instruments he has used.
The product builds on three decades of development behind Smith Nephew's COBLATION technology, which the company says has demonstrated improved patient outcomes compared with mechanical debridement in prior clinical studies.
News Intelligence what this means for the company
Smith Nephew has launched the FLOW FLEXTEND COBLATION Wand, a hip-specific surgical instrument with an adjustable-angle tip designed to improve access and resection efficiency in complex hip procedures. The device extends the company's FLOW~IQ technology, which has been clinically validated since 2016, and addresses a gap the company identified: existing wand options are largely knee instruments adapted for hip use rather than purpose-built for hip anatomy. Early surgeon feedback is positive, but the announcement contains no commercial guidance, market sizing, or revenue expectations.
This is a product-line extension within Smith Nephew's established orthopedic surgical portfolio, not a new market entry or transformative technology. The launch demonstrates continued innovation in a core franchise, but without revenue or adoption targets, its financial materiality remains unclear against the company's broader business.
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