An innovative Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) tag to improve the monitoring of Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)
A French company develops medical implantable devices embedded into knee prosthesis to make them connected.They are developing an innovative medical device to improve the monitoring and the efficiency of total knee arthroplasties (TKA). The company is looking for orthopaedic implants manufacturers in Europe and USA for R&D collaboration in order to embed the chip into their TKA, and apply this innovation in other devices (hip, shoulder arthroplasties…).
Today, practitioners can only use X-Rays or CT scanners to assess TKA. Unfortunately, the data they provide are neither specific nor sensitive. It cannot detect an early loosening of the TKA.
This innovative device gives precise and specific data about the adhesion of the TKA to the bone, during its lifetime, without expensive or invasive examination. It can also detect an infection by measuring the temperature on contact with the TKA.
Furthermore, simple identification of an implanted TKA can be tricky because of the complete lack of centralized register, and therefore of actual traceability. The device identifies the reference number of the TKA, points out a possible surveillance, gives a complete history of previous examinations, and collects every past examination in a worldwide centralized register.
The company is looking for orthopaedic implants manufacturers in Europe and USA for R&D collaboration in order to embed the chip into their TKA, and apply this innovation in other devices (hip, shoulder arthroplasties).
Advantages:
The device is very miniaturized and looks like a SIM card. Its PEEK (polyetheretherketone) biocompatible waterproof case contains several captors (temperature, pressure) linked to a battery-free RFID chip. It is inserted into a notch, into both tibial and femoral components of the TKA, at the time of surgery. Contrary to other devices of the market, this device offers in vivo centralized traceability. It allows the patient and the practitioner to communicate with the TKA through a RFID reader, and obtain unique data:
- identifies the reference number of the TKA,
- points out a possible surveillance,
- gives a complete history of previous examinations,
- collects every past examination in a worldwide centralized register.
There are no medical devices of this type today on the market.
Type and Role of Partner Sought:
The company is looking for knee orthopaedic implants manufacturers in Europe and USA to integrate the RFID tag into their prostheses.
- Specific area of activity of the partner: arthroplasties, orthopaedic implantable devices.
- Task to be performed by the partner sought: R&D collaboration is seeking in order to embed the chip into their TKA, and apply this innovation in other devices (hip, shoulder arthroplasties…).
