Last week, ConforMIS, a medical technology company based in Massachusetts, launched its first two 3D printed hip system implants which, according to ConforMIS, is “the first ever 3D designed primary total hip replacement system.”
A day prior to this launch, on July 31st, the first surgeries using this system were performed on by Gregory Martin, M.D., Joint Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Surgeon at the JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, Florida.
“The ConforMIS Hip System is designed to address many of the shortcomings of primary hip replacement today. For the first time, orthopedic surgeons have a fully-guided system designed to address the wide variations in anatomy presented across our cases,” said Dr. Gregory Martin M.D, a Surgical Consultant within Conformis’ design team.
Adapting to new medical technologies
Within the past two years, the FDA has cleared a number of 3D printed medical implants to be surgically placed within the human body. Considering the emergence of approved 3D printed implants as well as 3D printed surgical devices, surgeons must learn and adapt to these new medical technological solutions.
Hip implants, in particular, have a significant function within the human body. This is because they act as a replacement for diseased or damaged areas of the hip joint – which is responsible for a wide range of body movement. And, with additive manufacturing, implants can be created to perfectly match for a patient’s anatomy.
According to Mark Augusti, CEO and President of ConforMIS, the hip replacement global market is worth an estimated $7 billion. Thus, with the release of the ConforMIS Hip System Augusti expects “lead the way in innovative solutions by providing surgeons with game-changing operative solutions to better serve them and their patients in hospitals and ambulatory surgical settings.”
“With our expert surgeon design team and leveraging our extensive experience in automated 3D printing and additive manufacturing enabled us to bring a revolutionary new hip replacement system to market.”
The ConforMIS Hip System
The ConforMIS Hip System uses proprietary advanced imaging and design software, to deliver a suite of FDA-cleared patient conforming knee and hip replacement implants. Following the conversion of a patient’s CT scan into a 3D computer model, the distinctive measurements are transformed into a pre-operative surgical plan that is delivered to the surgeon in advance of the operation.
With patient-specific 3D printed components, the Conformis Hip System is delivered directly to the hospital or surgery center in a single patient-labeled kit, eliminating the need for excess inventory. This includes patient-conforming, single-use, 3D printed cutting guides which reduces the need for reusable instruments required for a standard total hip replacement.
Furthermore, surgeons are able to collaborate with Conformis during the pre-surgical planning phase to design the optimal hip system for each of their patients. Augusti added:
“Our 3D implant design process provides surgeons with interactive input and improves operational efficiencies compared to 2D templating. The design process produces specific individualized pre-navigated cutting guides and implants.”
The first two ConforMIS Hip System surgeries were conducted as part of a limited launch while the complete commercial launch is expected to be announced in 2019.
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Featured image shows the ConforMIS Hip System. Image via ConforMIS.
