Spanish medtech startup Cyber Surgery has officially launched Alaya, its next-generation surgical robotic assistant for spine procedures, across Europe — marking a new chapter in precision spinal surgery and regional innovation. Developed and manufactured entirely in the Basque region, Alaya is positioned as a breakthrough in surgical navigation technology, integrating proprietary motion-tracking intelligence to enhance surgical accuracy, reduce radiation exposure, and streamline operating room efficiency.
Headquartered in San Sebastián, Spain, Cyber Surgery describes Alaya as the first robotic spine system to feature Kinematic Navigation Technology, a patented tracking method designed to overcome the limitations of conventional optical navigation systems. Unlike traditional optical setups that depend on line-of-sight cameras, reflective markers, and frequent recalibrations, Alaya’s kinematic approach leverages motion-based tracking that remains accurate and stable throughout the entire procedure.
This innovation allows Alaya to maintain continuous navigation even when visual markers are obstructed or repositioned — a common challenge in complex spinal surgeries. By removing the need for line-of-sight, surgeons benefit from uninterrupted guidance, fewer recalibrations, and reduced reliance on intraoperative fluoroscopy. As a result, radiation exposure for both patients and surgical staff is significantly lowered, while setup time and procedural delaysare minimized.
“Alaya redefines how precision and efficiency can coexist in the operating room,” Cyber Surgery said in its launch statement. The system’s compact footprint makes it easier to integrate into existing hospital infrastructures, particularly in facilities with limited space or hybrid surgical suites. Its modular design and intuitive workflow also make it compatible with minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) techniques, where precision alignment and limited access are critical for patient outcomes.
The robot assists surgeons in performing spinal fixation and alignment procedures with submillimeter accuracy, helping to reduce bleeding, infection risk, and postoperative recovery time. By combining motion-based navigation with robotic assistance, Alaya offers both precision and adaptability, empowering surgeons to plan and execute interventions with enhanced confidence.
The project represents a major milestone for the Basque region, as Alaya is one of the first surgical robots fully designed, developed, and manufactured locally. Cyber Surgery attributes this achievement to a wide-ranging collaboration across Basque public health institutions and technology centers. Key hospital partners include Hospital Universitario de Donostia, Hospital Universitario de Cruces, and Hospital Universitario Araba, all part of the Osakidetza public health network.
In addition, leading regional research and innovation bodies such as BIOEF, IIS BioGipuzkoa, BioBizkaia, and BioAraba contributed clinical and translational expertise, while Ceit, Vicomtech, Tecnalia, and Tekniker supported engineering development, simulation, and validation. This ecosystem collaboration underscores the Basque Country’s growing reputation as a hub for medical robotics and advanced manufacturing.
Cyber Surgery also acknowledged strategic and financial support from industrial and institutional partners, including Egile, IMQ, Geroa, and the Basque Government Venture Capital Fund, with additional backing from the Basque Government, Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, and Spain’s Ministry of Science and Innovation.
With the European launch of Alaya, Cyber Surgery is now transitioning toward international commercialization, aiming to expand its footprint into broader European and global markets. The company said the rollout marks “the beginning of a new era in robotic-assisted spinal surgery,” highlighting Alaya’s potential to make minimally invasive spine operations safer, faster, and more accessible.
The European debut of Alaya, Cyber Surgery’s advanced robotic assistant for spine surgery, is more than a product launch — it signals a technological leap in surgical navigation and a new phase of competitiveness for Europe’s medtech ecosystem. As the first spine surgery robot built around Kinematic Navigation Technology, Alaya demonstrates how motion-based tracking can redefine accuracy, efficiency, and safety in the operating room.
The technology behind Kinematic Navigation
At the heart of Alaya lies its Kinematic Navigation Technology, a patented tracking system that diverges fundamentally from the optical navigation methods used in most surgical robots today. While traditional systems depend on infrared cameras and reflective markers — which can lose calibration if obstructed by instruments or surgical staff — Alaya’s navigation operates on real-time motion data.
Using precise sensors that track the robot’s movements relative to the patient’s anatomy, Kinematic Navigation builds a continuous geometric map of the surgical field. This dynamic approach allows for seamless, uninterrupted guidance, ensuring that the system never “loses sight” of its reference points. It is particularly effective in complex spine procedures where constant patient movement and tissue shifts can challenge traditional navigation systems.
By replacing optical dependence with motion intelligence, Cyber Surgery’s technology offers several practical benefits:
Continuous, stable navigation throughout the surgery — no line-of-sight interruptions.
Reduced reliance on fluoroscopy, minimizing radiation exposure to both the surgical team and patient.
Shorter setup times, as there’s no need for frequent recalibrations or camera alignment.
Compact integration, with a smaller physical footprint that fits easily into crowded operating rooms.
According to Cyber Surgery’s engineering team, these capabilities allow Alaya to perform with unprecedented stability and repeatability, even in high-motion or constrained environments. The result is a robotic assistant that not only enhances precision but also streamlines the surgeon’s workflow, improving efficiency and predictability in every procedure.
Clinical collaboration and validation
The launch of Alaya follows extensive preclinical and clinical validation studies conducted across Osakidetza hospitals, including Hospital Universitario de Donostia, Hospital Universitario de Cruces, and Hospital Universitario Araba. Working alongside orthopedic and neurosurgical teams, Cyber Surgery tested the system’s kinematic algorithms, accuracy thresholds, and intraoperative stability.
Early surgical results have shown promising outcomes. Surgeons reported improved instrument trajectory accuracy, smoother workflow integration, and reduced procedural time compared to conventional navigation systems. The feedback suggests that Alaya can help address two major challenges in spinal surgery — human fatigue and intraoperative uncertainty — by automating complex spatial calculations and providing real-time visual feedback.
One of the most notable advantages cited by clinicians is the significant reduction in radiation exposure. Traditional spinal navigation can require repeated fluoroscopic imaging to maintain visual reference, whereas Alaya’s motion tracking maintains continuous positioning without repeated X-ray checks. This improvement supports both patient safetyand staff occupational health, aligning with European hospitals’ goals of reducing cumulative radiation exposure in surgical settings.
A regional innovation with global ambitions
Cyber Surgery’s success with Alaya has also become a symbol of industrial collaboration in the Basque region, where healthcare technology, research institutions, and advanced engineering firms have joined forces to develop globally competitive solutions. Through partnerships with Ceit, Vicomtech, Tecnalia, and Tekniker, Alaya benefitted from world-class expertise in robotics, computer vision, and human-machine interaction.
The company’s ecosystem-driven approach mirrors a broader European trend — emphasizing local innovation with global scalability. Backed by funding from the Basque Government Venture Capital Fund, Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, and Spain’s Ministry of Science and Innovation, Cyber Surgery aims to position Alaya as a European alternative to U.S. and Asian spinal robotics systems.
“Alaya represents the fusion of surgical expertise, advanced robotics, and local innovation,” a company spokesperson said. “It’s proof that world-class surgical technology can be designed and manufactured right here in the Basque Country — and now, shared with the world.”
Next steps: international expansion
Following regulatory approval and early clinical deployment in Spain, Cyber Surgery is now preparing for a broader European rollout, targeting major healthcare markets including Germany, France, and the Nordic countries. The company also plans to pursue FDA clearance to enter the U.S. market in the future.
The next development phase will likely include integrating AI-driven surgical planning and predictive analytics, enabling Alaya to analyze intraoperative data and suggest optimal screw trajectories or correction strategies. These advancements could further position the robot as a next-generation platform that learns from each procedure, enhancing surgical precision over time.
As Cyber Surgery begins its international commercialization, the company stands as a rising European competitor in the global spine robotics field — one increasingly defined by automation, adaptability, and intelligence. With Alaya, it has not only introduced a new tool for minimally invasive spine surgery but also helped lay the foundation for a European hub of robotic surgery innovation.
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