Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm Medical Center Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Jordan Ramage, right, demonstrates the new CORI Surgical System at the New Ulm Women’s Expo and Craft Fair at Jefferson Elementary School Saturday. Robotics Clinical Specialist Pat Jonas is pictured at left.

NEW ULM — A new robotics-assisted, radiation-free orthopedic surgical system with smaller incisions, fewer complications and faster recovery was demonstrated at the New Ulm Women’s Expo and Craft Fair Saturday.

New Ulm Medical Center Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Jordan Ramage and Robotics Clinical Specialist Pat Jonas demonstrated the innovative surgical system for knee replacement surgery and described it in detail.

“The camera sees the probes we put into the tibia (shin bone) and femur (thigh bone). We use another probe to create a customized map of a patient’s knee,” said Ramage. “Normally, systems need a CT (x-ray image) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). With this, we have x-rays showing a patient with arthritis. We map everything out with a probe producing a video image. We can manipulate components to get them balanced, which is what Pat (Jonas) does. The robot cuts holes where they are needed.”

The new, robotic surgical system burr spins at 60,000 RPM when in operation. It sounds somewhat like a dentist cleaning teeth.

The new system helps surgeons create a highly individualized plan specific to the unique shape and motion of a knee. Without CT scans, patients are not exposed to potentially harmful radiation.

The system is used for partial and total knee replacement in a more accurate way than traditional surgery. It allows patients to keep more of their natural bone and ligaments including the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), helping them maintain a more natural rhythm and step.

Surgeons are able to choose from more available implants that can be precision-matched to feel more like a patient’s own knee.

Ramage said there is also technology available for total hip replacement, which he said is becoming more and more available.

“It’s about innovation in New Ulm,” said New Ulm Medical Center Director of Operations Carisa Buegler.

She said new surgical system will be used in the medical center’s fourth operating room.

Kristina Marti of rural Sleepy Eye displayed a variety of homemade soap on her expo table.

“I rendered all the lard for the soap and lotion from our 4-H pigs,” said Marti. “I also use cocoanut, olive and essential oils. I really like the pine and lemon scents. I thought we could use the lard from our pigs for something. We’ve excited to do it. This is the first show I’ve presented my business.”

Other scents include peppermint cocoa, peppermint patty, Christmas pine, zesty lemon, honey and oats, vanilla butter.

Jaime and Erin Hernandez of Sleepy Eye returned to the expo with their business Top Hat Candles. Their scented candles sold fast at the event. The couple have created more than 20 candle scents and wax melts that don’t use flames.

Erin Hernandez said she feels its important to support local community businesses these days.

“We make candles from paraffin, cocoanuts and fragrance oils. They burn nice and clean without soot,” she said.

“We’ll be in a Bloomington John F. Kennedy High School show next week. We’ll be in the Sleepy Eye Event Center Dec. 7. We’ve also been to Oktoberfest in New Ulm and shows as far away as Little Falls,” said Jaime Hernandez.