Research and Markets has announced the addition of Frost & Sullivan's new report "Orthopedic Medical Devices: Emerging Technologies and Trends" to its offerings.
Research is looking beyond using implants, screws, and metallic cages, to incorporating biologic bone substitutes with regenerative potential to address orthopedic conditions. For example, Medtronic Sofamor Danek of Memphis licensed the growth factor rhBMP-2 developed by Wyeth and this powerful bone stimulant has been coupled with their LT-CAGE Lumbar Tapered Fusion Device. "However, a biologic substitute can be any material that dynamically alters and affects the surrounding environment to proceed in an active biological manner, which manifests as cellular activity, growth, and differentiation," say the analysts of this research. "For instance, orthopedic surgery requires surgeons to use biocompatible, specifically designed metal implants to structurally support a fractured bone or, in some cases, to fuse bones in spinal conditions."
Currently, surgeons are looking toward a biologic component incorporated with the metal implant so that the latter serves to regenerate living bone tissue, while the metal implant functions in a structural manner. The next stages of technology development are set to reduce the amount of metal in implants and use biodegradable scaffolds for the structural function. The shift in the industry is toward the application of biologic materials. There is a strong demand in the industry for grafts and synthetic materials, growth factors, viscosupplements - primarily hyaluronic acid preparations to address a wide range of orthopedic conditions. 'Regeneration' seems to be the final goal since different kinds of cells are being adopted for bone regeneration, repair, and replacement. More R&D activities are being focused on stem cells, particularly adult stem cells, to develop therapies that use an individual's own cells to heal bone ailments. Interestingly, about 46 percent of research occurring globally in the biologics space is centered on allograft or DBM, close to 33 percent is focused on bone growth factors or regenerative cells and 21 percent on synthetics.
Report information: http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/02556e/orthopedic_medical