Forming Technology With a Twist
  Koslosky Finding the ideal material for an orthopaedic implant isn’t always a straightforward process. As manufacturers look for more effective and less invasive technologies, Secant Medical LLC (Perkasie, PA) has stepped up to the plate in working with customers to not just develop a customized technology but also to understand their specific needs. The company places...
Expanding Medical Textiles: Q&A with Biomedical Structures CEO Dean Tulumaris
  The demand for biomedical textiles continues to grow as device OEMs look for strong yet flexible fabrics to replace Dean Tulumaris, president and CEO of Biomedical Structures materials such as metal or plastic, and the movement is increasing competition in this segment of the industry. In a Q&A with the president and CEO of Biomedical Structures (Warwick, RI), Dean Tulumaris...
Physicians and Device Companies: Understanding the Rules of the Road
In recent years, the orthopaedics industry has been shaken by Department of Justice (DOJ) investigations into inappropriate consulting agreements between doctors and manufacturers. The resulting fallout has left many physicians wary of working with device companies. Some doctors don’t even want to entertain the idea, while others tread very lightly on the subject. The biggest problem with...
Packaging: Don’t Overlook Sterility
Fronk Andrew Fronk, packaging development consultant at Orchid Design, will be speaking during the Orthopaedic Packaging Trends session at OrthoTec 2011. Here’s a sneak peek into the issues that he plans to tackle.   OrthoTec: What challenges specific to package sealing and in-process testing in orthopaedics do manufacturers face? Andrew Fronk: Sterile package integrity is...
Part II Forming Technology With a Twist
ORT: What are some areas of innovation? Koslosky: We’re seeing interest in many exciting areas. One important point to clarify is that the concepts and product ideas generally originate with our clients. It’s up to us to bridge the gap between what their concept is and how to make a plausible textile structure out of that [idea]. The new and interesting areas that are starting to...
Message to Manufacturers: Engage with Social Media
@MariaFontanazza @hjluks OrthoTec: Thanks for taking some time today to discuss OA & tech. What is OA? Howard J. Luks: Thanks Maria. OA=Osteoarthritis. It is a progressive degenerative disease resulting in loss of cushioning or cartilage in [the] knee. ORT: How prevalent is OA in the U.S.? Luks: Osteoarthritis is very prevalent in our society. It is estimated that 65% of people...
The Next Generation: Regeneration
In recent years, regeneration technology has become an exciting area within orthopaedics. The interdisciplinary approach aims to repair damaged tissue and restore it to full function. With few manufacturers in the orthopaedics segment of biologics, one Belgian company is positioning itself to become a global leader in the field. Tigenix NV (Leuven), whose slogan is “regenerating motion,...
Where Evidence is King
Q&A Stephen Chan As the squeeze to contain rising healthcare costs becomes tighter and tighter, medical device companies need to prove the value of their technologies now more than ever. This is especially important for manufacturers of complex devices such as orthopedic or cardiovascular implants, as these segments have been facing intense scrutiny. Demonstrating that a...
The Past, Present, and Future of Knee Implants
  Q&A       John Slamin The technology and procedure for knee replacements have evolved quite a bit over the years, but certain things about them have remained constant. Now that more patients are undergoing the process at younger ages, some of those constants need to be rethought. One of the people at the forefront of that effort is John Slamin, vice...