Dr. Darja Marolt
A study recently published in the online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
has shown that human embryonic stem cells can be used to grow bone tissue grafts for potential research and therapeutic applications. Dr. Darja Marolt of The New York Stem Cell Foundation implanted bone progenirots derived from human embryonic stems cells into mice. Over time the implanted bone tissue continued to develop into normal bone structure without any incidence of tumor growth.
The research marks a significant step toward using stem cells in therapies to repair or replace bone tissue. Patients who have suffered traumatic injuries (including wounded soldiers) and patients with birth defects could all potentially benefit from this treatment.
-Chris Wiltz
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Warsaw Orthopaedics Companies Generate $11 Billion
Fact: 43% of the workforce in Kosciusko County is employed in the orthopaedic device manufacturing industry. --Brad Bishop, executive director of OrthoWorx
Last week I went on a media tour of Northeast Indiana, where I traveled from Fort Wayne to South Bend, visiting established companies as well as start-ups in the industry. To outsiders, Indiana is most well known for its focus on orthopaedic device manufacturing in Warsaw, which is clearly alive and well. However, Northeast Indiana (comprised of 10 counties that do not include Kosciusko County, where Warsaw is located) is also home to a medical device manufacturing community of more than 40 companies that are responsible for creating 2600+ jobs, according to the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership. Within the region, employment in the medical equipment and supplies category has more than doubled—growing 135%—in the past ten years.
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In 2007, Claire Lomas was thrown while horse riding and left with severe injuries that paralyzed her from the chest down. On May 8, 2012 Lomas completed the London Marathon, walking two miles a day of the 26.2-mile route over the course of 16 days, in the process becoming the first person to complete a full marathon using the ReWalk bionic suite created by Argo Medical Technologies.
The ReWalk is an FDA approved device that uses actuation motors and an array of computer-aided motion sensors to allow mobility to patients with lower limb paralysis. Patients with a healthy cardiovascular system and bone density, who are able to move their arms and shoulders (walk with crutches) can utilize the ReWalk to stand, walk, and even climb stairs. Argo Medical Technologies hopes the ReWalk can allow patient to enjoy a higher quality of life and also reduce the risks and complications of a wheelchair.
For her efforts Lomas raised over 128’000 US dollars for charity for spinal...
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Bioventus LLC (Durham, NC), a company specializing in active orthopaedic healing was launched today. Spun out of Smith & Nephew, the business was formed in 2008 as the company's biologics and clinical therapies division. Smith & Nephew has retained 49% ownership of the firm and will distribute products on behalf of Bioventus outside of the United States. The majority owner of the firm is Essex Woodland Health Ventures (London), an healthcare investment firm with $2.5 billion under management.
Bioventus now has approximately 500 employees and has announced its plans of hiring 50 additional staff.
Although technically a new company, the firm generates almost a quarter of billion dollars in revenue. Its best-known product is Exogen, an ultrasound device that speeds the healing of broken bones.
The company also makes Supartz Joint Fluid Therapy and and Durolane, an injection treatment for osteoarthritis.
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A new hip implant developed by a team of international collaborators could provide high durability without the use of any metal. The implant uses a new combination of materials and is said to be more durable compared to conventional options. Researchers used fiber-reinforced PEEK in the hip socket and ceramic in the femoral head of the implant. Researchers also redesigned the way the implant is attached to the bone. In addition, the team, which consisted of ten companies, research instutites and universities, also created a tool used to attach the implant to surgical instruments.
Read more about the new implant in a blog post on medtechinsider.
— Camilla Andersson
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In mice with ears that heal rapidly, cartilage (shown in the thick blue border) also regenerates and heals more quickly. Washington University researchers found that the same genes that promote healing after cartilage damage also appear to protect against osteoarthritis. (image via Sandell Laboratory)
How long does it take your pierced ears to heal? The answer could be an indication your susceptibility to arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting 25 million people in the United States alone, and it cannot be detected in its early stages. That may soon be changing however because of new research from the University of Washington in St. Louis. After finding that some ear-tagged laboratory mice were healing more quickly than others, researchers hypothesized that the mice’s ability to quickly heal cartilage may be occurring throughout their entire body. The team, led by Dr. Linda J. Sandell bred the mice that healed rapidly with...
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Reporting by ProPublica this week took aim at FDA's lack of a tracking system for medical device implants, such as artificial hips. The journalism nonprofit drew attention to the fact that the agency has no way to keep tabs on how many devices are implanted each year and pointed out that the process for reporting device malfunctions and failures is severely flawed.
While progress has been made with regard to requiring a unique device identifier system, no such system is currently in place. Senators are pushing for a rule to require one, which they hope to have in place by the end of this year.
But at least one company is already working on a solution to the problem of tracking devices. Pittsburgh-based Ortho-tag has created a microchip that can be attached to an implant at the time of surgery. The chip can be programmed to store information such as the implant's type, model, serial number and manufacturer; the date of the procedure; where it was performed; and the name of the surgeon...
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With graduation right around the corner, now is the perfect time to recognize the hard work and passion of students who are conducting research, and developing prototypes and new materials, at universities across the globe. Their work will be part of the foundation for new devices and therapeutics that will improve the quality of, and potentially save, many, many lives.
In just a couple of weeks, 30 students at Grace College (Winona Lake, IN) will be the first to graduate from the Orthopaedic Regulatory and Clinical Affairs (ORCA) graduate program. After successfully completing the one-year accelerated program, students, some of which come from orthopaedic companies, receive a graduate certificate or an M.S. in regulatory and clinical affairs. Twenty-five more students will be starting classes in the ORCA program this month as well. According to Grace College, the ORCA program is the only graduate program designed for orthopaedic regulatory and clinical affairs...
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The LinDi linear distractor automates the process of lengthening children's bones by continually separating the surgically broken bone as it heals. The device invented by Rice University seniors is intended to make the process safer and easier for children who suffer from bone deformities. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University).
Nearly 10 million children suffer from deformities that require the use of limb lengthening technologies. The process of limb lengthening is difficult and causes stress on the surrounding nerves and tissues.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a solution to this stress with the LinDi, an automated linear distractor that creates a more natural and faster growth process for new bone.
To correct a deformity, a surgeon must break the bone and use a distractor, which stretches the bone as it heals. The patient is then in charge of turning the screw several times a day to ensure that the bone is being very gradually stretched. “The...
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Stryker is doing something right. For the fifth time, the company has won the Gallup Great Workplace Award. Stryker is the only medical device company on the list and is one of two five-time award winners. Among the characteristics that make the 27 winners stand out is their global leadership role and employee engagement. Some may disagree that Stryker is such a great place to work, as the company announced it plans to layoff 5% of its global workforce last year.
Stryker's President and CEO MacMillan Resigns
Earlier in the year, the Gallup Management Journal praised Stryker employees for their level of engagement at the company, which leads to greater employee happiness, according to the survey. The company has consistently made “best” lists. Last year, the company ranked 68th on Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list.
The winners were notified in March and will be presented their awards during the 2012 Gallup Summit next...
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More about Biomet:
Biomet Resolves FPCA Investigation
Biomet, Zimmer, Stryker, Among Top 25
Jobs Lost & Gained in 2011
As part of a strategy to strengthen its global reach in the trauma market, Biomet announced an offer to pay about $280 million in cash for DePuy's trauma business. The announcement was made this morning.
“This transaction will provide Biomet with a much stronger presence in the global trauma market and greatly expands our sports, extremities,and trauma business, which is a meaningful growth driver for Biomet,” said Jeffrey Binder, president and CEO of Biomet in a company release. “The DePuy Trauma team has done a great job of building a successful business. We look forward to welcoming them as Biomet team members and working alongside them to fulfill our commitment to providing customers with outstanding products and service, as well as continued innovation.”
The binding offer expires on June 1.
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In 2011, the shoulder joint was the third most frequently replaced joint, after the hip and knee, in the United States. Total shoulder replacement remains an effective treatment but it also requires a significant and delicate rehabilitation time.
Dr. Ryan Simovitch performs rare total shoulder replacement surgery with rotator cuff sparing approach at Jupiter Medical Center
Dr. Ryan Simovitch of the Jupiter Medical Center’s Hospital for Joint Disease has
performed one of the first successful total shoulder replacements using a new rotator cuff sparing technique. Where conventional shoulder replacements require detaching the subscapularis tendon, which leads to a delicate, early post-operative phase of rehabilitation, this new technique uses tools, developed by Exactech, to leave the rotator cuff intact by utilizing the small space between rotator cuff tendons.
In a press release from Jupiter Medical Center, Dr. Simovitch says, [The Rotator Cuff Sparing...
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