Image-to-Implant Production Offers Advantages in Knee Replacement (Orthopreneur)
While many medical devices lend themselves to a “one size fits all” production model, knee replacement implants do not. Variations in patient anatomy make it impossible for a limited range of “off-the-shelf” sizes to fit most patients like their own natural knees. To address this challenge, surgeons must first try to identify the implant that most closely matches a patient’s anatomy. During a typical knee replacement, the surgeon must remove excess bone and tissue to fit the patient to the implant. The result is an implant that can overhang bone and doesn’t reproduce the shape of the joint.
For many years, this has been the prevailing standard. Mass-produced implants are shipped to hospitals, where they are kept in inventory until needed, often for months or years. However, ConforMIS has developed a model to produce customized knee implants. Using digital imaging, 3D printing and other advanced technologies, each patient receives a customized knee implant designed to match his or her own natural knee. Importantly, the technology is able to support a highly automated and scalable production process wher...
