Columbia Technology Ventures

Hip implant for securement to the femur of a subject with applications to other joints

This technology is a patient-specific, minimally invasive hip implant that can be secured onto existing hard tissue in the body without the use of screws or other fasteners to penetrate the bone. Besides hip replacement, other orthopedic implants could benefit from this innovation.

Unmet Need: Durable, patient-specific hip implants

Hip implants play a crucial role in restoring mobility and improving the quality of life for individuals with hip joint degeneration or injury. The securement of implants is traditionally completed with penetrating bone screws/bolts/shafts or fasteners like cement or glue to hard tissues. In areas like the hip joint, which has high load bearing and mobility requirements, these securement techniques are sub-optimal as they are unable to withstand long-term use and are invasive to surrounding hard tissue (e.g., femur). In areas like the shoulder joint, outcomes from traditional securement leave room for improvement. Thus, to improve patient quality of life, there is a need for minimally invasive implants with improved longevity and functionality.

The Technology: Minimally invasive and reversible hard tissue implant

This technology is a patient-specific, minimally invasive, and reversible hip implant with potential applications for other endoprosthetics. This design provides a precise fit to the patient’s existing 3D bone structure, which can be determined by routine medical imaging techniques. These implants can then be installed with minimal bone remodeling and without the need for bone screws or penetrating bolts or stems, which thereby reduces the risk of future fracture, infection, and revision surgeries. The hip version of the implant is designed for maximal mobility about the hip joint and stability of the ball-and-socket structure of the hip in the joint, thereby reducing the risk of the implant procedure. For smaller bones such as in shoulder replacement, this method can provide added strength and efficiency.

Applications:

  • Treatment of hip diseases
  • Prosthetic limb integration
  • Joint replacement implants
  • Research platform for implant materials, designs, and technologies

Advantages:

  • Patient-specific
  • Less invasive
  • Shortens and simplifies steps for hip replacement surgery
  • Reduces inflammation and infection risk by eliminating openings in existing bone tissue
  • Reversible for future procedures
  • Requires minimal bone remodeling
  • Encloses rather than penetrates the bone

Lead Inventor:

Elias Issa, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Pending (WO/2024/026489)

Tech Ventures Reference: