Europe: Hip Replacements Increase by 33%, Knees by 50% Plus
Between 1998 and 2008, European countries saw a huge increase in hip and knee replacements. This trend is expected to continue, as the prevalence of osteoarthritis goes up during the next few years. Two main factors, which come as no surprise, can be blamed for the rise in this condition--an aging population and the rise of obesity. The report, Health at a Glance: Europe 2010, also states that...
Sourcing Suppliers of Machining Services
Finding a supplier that has a solid understanding of materials has a strong influence on the success of a product. Machining medical implants and instruments is a complex process. The properties of the raw materials and the production processes used to manufacture medical devices can present extreme machining challenges. For those and other reasons, medical device OEMs should invest...
The Future: Orthopaedic Coverage from Head to Toe
When Cayenne Medical (Scottsdale, AZ) was founded in 2005, its vision was to create the complete package for the knee and all soft tissue-type reconstruction. After having success with products designed for this area, the company’s goal has transformed into becoming a one-stop shop for an orthopaedic surgeon.  “Cayenne’s goal is to grow into a comprehensive sports...
Bicompartmental Knees Inch into Total Knee Market
The iDuo G2, from ConforMIS, targets only the diseased portions of the knee. Tissue and bone preservation has become a big deal in orthopaedics. When ConforMIS Inc. came out with technologies that not only precisely fit patients but also avoided removing bone, it was praised for its innovation. Although the company continues to improve its products, John Slamin, senior vice president...
Barely Scratching the Surface
A close-up of a spinal implant with a proprietary texture etched into the surface. Until very recently, there were a limited number of surface texture application methods available to designers and manufacturers of metal orthopaedic implants. The most commonly used were porous coated beads and plasma spray to provide on-growth surfaces to orthopaedic implants. Today, an increasing...
Using Green Technology to Machine Materials
A close-up view of a fixture holding nitinol tubing illustrates the accurate features generated by an MDP patent-pending, threading process. This unique grinding technology often eliminates the need for subsequent operations. (Photos courtesy of TESCAN USA/OBERG INDUSTRIES) Generating a feature in standard alloys can be challenging. Design criteria mandate smaller products, more-...
Additive Manufacturing a Hot Area in Orthopaedics
Additive manufacturing is getting attention for its ability to accelerate the product development process. The most common types of rapid prototyping methods are additive technologies, meaning that the model is built by adding material layer by layer. By contrast, subtractive prototyping methods create a model by removing material, typically by means of standard machining methods such as...
Recovery of Orthopaedics Companies Remains Slow
  In a daily letter from Canaccord Genuity, analysts reiterated a statement made last summer about the end of the glory days in orthopaedics. That is not to say that things won’t get better, but don’t expect to see improvements until the economy as a whole recovers. Three Manufacturers Who Look Good: China Kangui Holdings. The China-based orthopaedics company continues to grow...
Best of Both Worlds: Stanmore’s Patient-Specific Implant Meets Robotics
  In 2012, UK-based Stanmore Implants is preparing to take on part of the world (the UK, Europe, and the United States) with a patient-specific knee system that integrates robotics. Although there are technologies that address patient-specific implant "My general view is that there’s an interest in robotics and computer assistance, and there’s an interest in...
Orthopaedics Market in Brazil, India, China to Hit $3.1 Billion by 2017
Over the next five years, the orthopaedics market in Brazil, India, and China will see a boost from medical tourism, better surgeon training, and growing adoption of certain procedures such as cranio maxillofacial fixation. Some quick stats about the orthopaedic device market, courtesy of GBI Research:     China Brazil India 2010 Value $879 million $575.6 million $385.6 million...