Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOGB20250313008
- Term of Validity
- 13 March 2025 - 13 March 2026
- Company's Country
- United Kingdom
- Type of partnership
- Investment agreement
- Targeted Countries
- Austria
- Belgium
- Cyprus
- France
- Greece
- Finland
- Croatia
- Bulgaria
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Germany
- Spain
- Italy
- Hungary
- Romania
- Ireland
- Luxembourg
- Slovenia
- Lithuania
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Portugal
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- Malta
- Latvia
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General information
- Short Summary
- UK based SME developing an ultra-low-wear, total-hip-replacement implant designed to last a lifetime. The hip replacement exhibits drastically less wear compared to current devices with tests showing it has a 50+ year device lifespan. The SME are interested in finding investors to fund their product development programme and bring the hip replacement to market.
- Full Description
-
UK based SME, a spin-off from the University of Malta (UoM) is developing a hip replacement, an ultra-low-wear, whole-life, tri-axial hip replacement that allows for earlier treatment of hip osteo-arthritis for all patients when they need it, irrespective of age, gender or ethnicity.
Hip arthritis affects 600m people globally and continues to rise with increasing lifespans and obesity levels, with 2 million total hip replacements (THR) performed annually worldwide. Many patients receive their new hip in later life however for younger, active patients, treatment options are limited. Many delay surgery and compromise on activity levels as pain worsens. Some opt for surgery, but data suggests that nearly 30% of implants fail within 20 years and more than 58% fail within 25 years. Additional surgeries in later life have higher risks, such as anaesthetic complications and prolonged immobility.
The SMEs inventors explored why humans suffer from hip more than ankle arthritis, despite the ankle joint carrying substantially more weight. Answering this question led to the development of their hip replacement, a tri-axial hip made of 3 separate rotating cylinders allowing movement on a single plane each, mimicking the ankle. This change in implant design whilst still using clinically accepted materials drastically reduces implant wear, with tests showing the possibility of an implant with 50+ years longevity. Flexion and extension are also increased allowing for positions such as squatting and cross-legged sitting, postures which are part of everyday life for many, including Asian populations, worldwide. Despite the multiple surfaces, dislocation risk is decreased by an innovative interlocking mechanism.
The SME’s hip replacement addresses the health inequalities seen with hip resurfacing, giving younger women a viable surgical option for treating hip arthritis, but also gives all younger, active patients the possibility of a whole-life hip implant, without the risk of revision surgery in later life. Fewer revision procedures offer hospitals cost, efficiency and clinical waste savings with improved sustainability.
The SME is interested in partnering with investors willing to finance the further development of their technology through to design freeze and preparation of a design history file. Investors in this current round will be prioritised should they wish to participate in future rounds. A comprehensive business plan (with relevant financial information) is available on request. - Advantages and Innovations
-
The SME’s hip replacement is a tri-mobility implant composed of three articulated heads (each moving in a single plane) built with materials already in clinical use, guaranteeing safety and leveraging on current surgical implantation procedures.
Design novelties:
1. Each head exerts unidirectional movement on a different plane (increasing range of movement (ROM) and reducing cross-shear effect to ~0 and resulting in polymer alignment and strengthening over time):
a. Coronal plane (abduction-adduction)
b. Para Sagittal plane (flexion-extension)
c. Transverse plane (medial/lateral rotation)
2. Reduced contact pressure through larger articular surfaces (resulting in reduced wear)
3. Interlocking mechanism’s captive design minimises dislocation risk
The current design is based on a press-fit cup that consists of a solid Additive Manufacture Titanium (AMTi) shell underlaid with a Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) liner. The AMTi shell has an osteoconductive porous outer structure to promote bone cell growth to create strong and long-lasting natural biological fixation (osseointegration)
Performance testing (computational, lab and cadaveric studies) looking at mobility and wear show:
• Expected durability of at least 50 years (alternatives last 10-25yrs)
• Wear reduction (78% reduction on UHMWPE prototype and zero-wear on VEHXPE prototype)
• Increased range of motion by 24% in flexion-extension plane - Stage of Development
- Available for demonstration
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- IPR status
- IPR granted
- IPR notes
-
US2022233320A1
EP3989885A1
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
The SME is seeking to conclude agreements with investors who are interested in financing the further development of their technology. To date, the SME has raised over £2.6M in grant and equity funding. They are particularly interested in investors with experience in medical devices and those who have connections that could help facilitate the SME's commercialisation efforts.
A comprehensive business plan, including relevant financial information, is available upon request. - Type and Size of Partner
- Other
- Type of partnership
- Investment agreement
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 06001013 - Medical Technology / Biomedical Engineering
- Market keywords
- 05004004 - Medical instruments
- Targeted countries
- Austria
- Belgium
- Cyprus
- France
- Greece
- Finland
- Croatia
- Bulgaria
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Germany
- Spain
- Italy
- Hungary
- Romania
- Ireland
- Luxembourg
- Slovenia
- Lithuania
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Portugal
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- Malta
- Latvia
