Exactech has unveiled an exclusive partnership with medical device developer Statera Medical to design a smart reverse shoulder implant called Goldilocks.
Based in Florida, US, Exactech is a developer and manufacturer of implants, instrumentation, and intelligent technologies for joint replacement surgeries.
Statera Medical, which is a startup based in Canda, is engaged in developing smart and personalised orthopaedic implants.
The project kick-off meeting between Exactech and Statera Medical took place last month, marking the beginning of a collaborative effort over the coming years to co-design and develop the smart reverse shoulder implant.
Designed to address the critical balance between joint stability and mobility, Goldilocks is said to have advanced pre- and post-operative adjustment capabilities. These ensure personalised optimisation for various shoulder pathologies while minimising the risks of complications.
One of the features of Goldilocks is its ability to facilitate micro-adjustments to the implant. This allows for optimal functionality through minimally invasive means and will reduce the likelihood of invasive revision surgeries in the event of complications.
Goldilocks utilises a patented communication protocol to stay connected, offering full passivity without the need for batteries, thereby ensuring patient safety and guaranteeing an infinite lifespan.
Communication is activated only when necessary, during surgery and patient follow-up to enhance safety and reliability.
Furthermore, the implant comes equipped with an intuitive interface, which streamlines the surgical process and provides real-time insights into in vivo behaviour. This feedback enables surgeons to optimise the mobility and stability of the implant, thus improving overall surgical outcomes.
Statera Medical CEO Samuel Bourdon said: “Through the use of smart implants, which provide more objective data, we aim to help surgeons select the correct implant size and offset for a particular patient and provide the best balance of joint mobility and stability for all major joints.
“Our breakthrough device-designated technology provides real-time data and adjustment capability to help surgeons uniquely treat their patients.”
By using this technology, surgeons gain a more accurate and straightforward method for assessing soft tissue tension during surgery, which ultimately boost precision and efficacy in joint replacement procedures.
Exactech extremities senior vice president Chris Roche said: “Currently, the process surgeons use to select reverse shoulder implant size and offset for a given patient is subjective.
“If the reconstructed joint is too loose, the patient may be at risk for instability, whereas if the joint is too tight, the patient may be at risk for scapular stress fractures and perhaps implant loosening as well.
“In partnership with Statera, we will create a new process to help surgeons objectively quantify a patient’s soft tissue tension and then adjust the ideal implant offset and size for that particular patient.”
