# TMINI by THINK Surgical

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/robotics/tmini
Frontier: [Robotics](https://technooptimist.io/robotics.md) · Field: Joint & spine surgery · Company: [THINK Surgical](https://technooptimist.io/companies/think-surgical.md)
Stage: Scaling (5 of 5: Research → Proto → Pilot → Deploy → Scaling)
Updated: last update 2026-07-14, facts checked 2026-10-11
Goal: Make robotic knee replacement affordable and implant-neutral. Today's knee robots are big, costly and locked to one company's implants; a small open robot could bring precise bone cuts to more hospitals and surgery centres.
Status: 5,000+ knee replacements; compatible with ~70% of US knee implants; cases up fivefold in a year.
Next milestone: Commercial expansion in the US, target 2026

## Milestones

| Status | Milestone | Date | Slip |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Done | FDA 510(k) clearance for TMINI | 30 May 2023 |   |
| Done | First clinical use (Washington Hospital) | Sep 2023 |   |
| Done | Distribution agreement with Zimmer Biomet | 12 Jun 2024 |   |
| Done | TMINI 1.1 cleared; implants from more makers added | 23 Jul 2024 |   |
| Done | 1,000th procedure | 15 May 2025 |   |
| Done | First cases with Stryker's Triathlon knee | 27 Feb 2026 |   |
| Done | 5,000th procedure | 27 May 2026 |   |
| Done | Up to $65M growth capital to expand sales | 14 Jul 2026 |   |
| Current | Commercial expansion in the US | 2026 |   |

## Upcoming events

- **2026**: Commercial expansion in the US

## Most important updates

- **14 Jul 2026**: THINK Surgical secures up to $65M debt facility from Symbiotic Capital to expand TMINI sales. Healthcare lender Symbiotic Capital provided a debt facility of up to $65 million to grow TMINI's commercial reach. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/think-surgical-secures-up-to-65m-debt-facility-from-symbiotic-capital-e916c2d4.md) · [original source](https://thinksurgical.com/think-surgical-secures-up-to-65-million-of-growth-capital/))
- **27 May 2026**: TMINI reaches 5,000 knee replacements, five times its volume of a year earlier. The 5,000th TMINI knee replacement was performed at Cedars-Sinai Orthopedics in Los Angeles, a year after the 1,000th. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/tmini-reaches-5-000-knee-replacements-five-times-its-volume-of-a-year-dd0d2118.md) · [original source](https://thinksurgical.com/think-surgical-announces-the-tmini-miniature-robotic-system-5000th-procedure-milestone/))
- **30 May 2023**: THINK Surgical gets FDA clearance for TMINI handheld knee-replacement robot. The FDA cleared TMINI, a wireless handheld robot for total knee replacement. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/think-surgical-gets-fda-clearance-for-tmini-handheld-knee-replacement-65b46e2a.md) · [original source](https://thinksurgical.com/think-surgical-receives-fda-510k-clearance-for-tmini-miniature-robotic-system/))

## Current obstacles

- **Competing with Mako and VELYS**: Stryker's Mako and J&J's VELYS bundle robots with their own implants; THINK relies on partners like Zimmer Biomet to reach surgeons.
- **Scan step adds cost**: Needing a CT before surgery adds radiation, cost and scheduling that image-free systems avoid.

## Physics limits

- **Bone cuts versus soft tissue**: A robot can make cuts accurate to about a millimetre, but how a new knee feels also depends on ligament balance, which the plan from bone images cannot fully capture.
- **Saw blades flex**: Even on a perfect guide, an oscillating saw bends and skives on hard bone, so the final cut can stray from the plane the pins defined.

## How it works

### Plan: 3D plan from a CT scan

Before surgery the knee is CT-scanned and the implant is fitted virtually, fixing where each bone cut should go.

### Handpiece: Robot cancels hand wobble

In surgery the wireless handpiece moves to offset the surgeon's natural hand motion, so pins go in exactly on the planned planes.

### Cutting: Guides on the pins

Standard cutting guides slide onto the pins and the surgeon saws along them, replacing many of the usual alignment instruments.

### Implant data: One module per implant

Each manufacturer's implant geometry is loaded from THINK's implant data hub, which is how one robot serves many brands.

## Spec sheet

| Spec | TMINI | Provenance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Procedures (May 2026) | 5,000+ | reported |
| US knee implant volume covered | ~70% | reported |
| Case growth (12 months to May 2026) | 5x | reported |
| Form factor | Wireless handheld handpiece | reported |

Provenance: reported = stated by the company; estimated = our estimate; sample = a sample figure.

## About THINK Surgical

Fremont, California maker of TMINI, a handheld robot for total knee replacement that works with implants from many manufacturers, unlike rivals tied to one company's knees. Privately held.

- TMINI is an open platform: surgeons choose the implant; it covers about 70% of US knee implants by volume, including Stryker's Triathlon.
- 5,000th procedure in May 2026, five times the volume of a year earlier.
- Zimmer Biomet distributes TMINI with its Persona knee; up to $65M debt facility from Symbiotic Capital (July 2026).

- Headquarters: US
- Status: private
- Raised: $65M
- Last round: Debt facility (up to) $65M, Jul 2026, led by Symbiotic Capital
- Website: https://thinksurgical.com
- People: Stuart Simpson (President and CEO)
- Partners, customers, investors: Zimmer Biomet (partner); Symbiotic Capital (investor); Sagentia Innovation (supplier)

Company page: https://technooptimist.io/companies/think-surgical.md

## Related programs

Everything in Robotics: https://technooptimist.io/robotics.md

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