Imagine taking your first steps just 30 minutes after a hip or knee replacement, climbing stairs within the hour, and heading home just two hours after surgery. Sound too good to be true? Thanks to a remarkable Canadian innovation, this is now a reality for thousands of people around the world.
Meet Intellijoint Surgical Inc., a homegrown success story that began as a university project and grew into a global leader in surgical technology. Founded in Kitchener by University of Waterloo engineering grads Armen Bakirtzian, Andre Hladio, and Richard Fanson, this company is changing how hip and knee replacements are done, making recovery faster, safer and more precise.
Small Device, Big Results
Since 2010, Intellijoint has been developing a compact, computer-assisted navigation system that gives surgeons real-time guidance during joint replacement procedures. Using a tiny optical camera, the system provides millimeter-accurate measurements, helping surgeons place implants with incredible precision – even adjusting for patient movement during surgery.
This accuracy means better outcomes for patients, shorter hospital stays, and fewer complications down the road. So far, this Canadian-made technology has supported more than 70,000 surgeries around the world.
Proudly Local, Widely Respected
What makes this story even more special is that Intellijoint has stayed true to its roots. The company partners with the Waterloo Regional Health Network, bringing world-class technology to its own backyard and making it available to local patients.
“Many innovations from Canada never get used here at home,” says CEO Armen Bakirtzian. “We’re proud that our local hospital uses our technology.” It’s a wonderful example of what’s possible when homegrown innovation stays connected to the communities that inspire it.
Listening, Learning, and Leading
At the heart of Intellijoint’s success is a culture built on collaboration. The team works directly with surgeons and healthcare professionals to understand what really happens in the operating room and to design tools that support those real-world needs.
“We’ve always seen ourselves as a problem-solving organization,” says Bakirtzian. “Our goal has been to create technology that fits right into the way surgeons already work.” That ongoing conversation – from the operating room to the design lab and back again – helps shape updates that make a real difference for both patients and surgical teams.
Supporting Tomorrow’s Innovators
Bakirtzian’s own journey as a co-op student helped shape his passion for combining engineering with healthcare. Today, Intellijoint pays it forward by hiring more than 50 co-op students each year. These students get hands-on experience tackling real medical challenges, often going on to become full-time team members.
One of them is Joseph Schipper, who started as a co-op student and now leads Intellijoint’s Algorithms and Research team after more than ten years with the company.
“We’re lucky to work with such bright, skilled students from Waterloo,” says Bakirtzian. “They bring new energy and ideas that help us keep growing.”
From a classroom idea to a global solution, Intellijoint Surgical is proof of what’s possible when innovation is driven by compassion, curiosity, and community. Surgeons currently using this technology can be searched on the company’s website.
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