Top 4 Orthopedic Innovators in 2023: Boosting Your Practice's Success

The orthopedic device market is expected to reach nearly $70 billion by 2027, largely driven by a growing elderly population and the rising prevalence of orthopedic disorders like osteoporosis. You’re probably already familiar with the major players in the orthopedics industry, like robotics giant Stryker and Johnson & Johnson’s orthopedics franchise DePuy Synthes. Although these long-lived corporations dominate market growth in the industry, smaller orthopedic companies have capitalized on the latest technological advancements to turn orthopedic innovation on its head.

To meet the changing demands in the industry, the top orthopedic companies have focused on improving existing technology, like robotics and implants. But several smaller players in the orthopedics industry have turned to emerging technology, from artificial intelligence to 3D printing, to develop novel solutions to common challenges in the field.

Seeing what’s on the horizon in these orthopedic companies inspires a forward-thinking approach to patient care. Keep up with new developments, and you will discover the latest technology to set your practice apart from your competitors.

Embody

Medical device manufacturer Embody created the first collagen-based orthopedic implant that mimics the structure and chemistry of natural collagen to treat tendon injuries. Approved by the FDA in 2020, the TAPESTRY Biointegrative Implant triggers the body’s healing processes to form new, dense collagenous tissue. Traditionally, tendon repair has centered around mechanical solutions rather than biologic augmentation. But unlike mechanical repairs, the TAPESTRY implant actually augments a patient’s existing tendons and ligaments to support better, faster healing and functional outcomes.

Repairing tendon injuries, particularly in the Achilles, rotator cuff, and ACL tendons, is very challenging, given the higher chances of re-tearing these injuries. For massive rotator cuff injuries, the re-tear rate after arthroscopic repair can reach 94% — far above an acceptable level for orthopedic surgeons or their patients. Furthermore, a revision procedure is much more difficult and often less effective, which reduces patient satisfaction.

Embody’s TAPESTRY implant resolves many of the common issues with tendon repair, like poor healing rates and the rejection of inferior tissue taken from the patient or a cadaver. Instead of suturing the tendon to the bone, you can install the TAPESTRY implant. After the procedure, it will gradually resorb and leave behind new tissue to augment the existing tendon. With this implant, you can avoid using autografts, which require an additional surgical site and may extend a patient’s healing time. It also reduces the likelihood of reoperation, which can be costly for patients with no guarantee of success.

Exer Health

Exer Health, a digital health company, has brought next-generation artificial intelligence to any mobile device so orthopedic surgeons and other providers can capture accurate motion data from patients both in-person and remotely. With just a smartphone camera, Exer Health measures patient performance metrics like range of motion, reps, and adherence to home exercise protocols (HEPs). Range of motion is particularly applicable to post-surgery patients.

Orthopedic surgeons often go weeks between seeing patients. Without visibility of a patient’s day-to-day recovery, you might not realize that their treatment plan isn’t effective until much later, prolonging the process even further. If a patient isn’t healing well after surgery or their rehabilitation isn’t progressing as expected, you need to intervene sooner rather than later. Exer's simple mobile app gets your real-time objective data that didn't previously exist.

Exer Health enables remote therapeutic monitoring to give you deeper insight into a patient’s recovery. After collecting motion data and other patient-reported outcomes (PROs), Exer Health generates personalized progress reports so both you and your patients can see how they’re doing throughout their recovery. The software doesn’t require any additional equipment, so you can start using it with patients right away. Plus, the Exer Physio mobile app will send daily or weekly prompts to remind patients to complete their HEPs and submit self-reported data like pain levels, which strengthens patient engagement.

Canary Medical (in partnership with Zimmer Biomet)

A collaboration between Canary Medical, a medical data company, and leading medical device manufacturer Zimmer Biomet resulted in the first and only FDA-approved “smart” knee implant for total knee replacement surgery.

Persona IQ combines Zimmer Biomet’s proven design with Canary Medical’s proprietary sensor technology to measure gait metrics like range of motion, step count, walking speed and distance, and more. The smart implant enables remote patient monitoring so orthopedic surgeons can actively monitor their patients’ recovery between office visits.

In October 2021, Dr. Peter Sculco and Dr. Fred Cushner performed the first knee replacement using Persona IQ at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). “In the first several weeks following knee replacement, hard work is required from the patient, and there can be deviations in recovery that can set people on the wrong path,” said Dr. Sculco. “[With Persona IQ], when I go into the exam room to see a patient at the six-week follow-up visit, I should have a very granular understanding of how his or her recovery is going.” Patients also have access to their data so they can stay engaged in their recovery process.

Compared to typical wearable devices, Persona IQ virtually eliminates the need for patient adherence because the implant continuously collects data as patients go about their daily activities. The implant is designed to collect data every day for the first year after the surgery, providing orthopedic surgeons with highly accurate insights into how the knee is functioning. Canary Medical’s next step is to translate the raw data into predictive analytics to enhance patient care and ultimately improve outcomes.

Spentys

Spentys is a medical equipment manufacturer that has leveraged emerging 3D scanning, modeling, and printing technologies to create personalized 3D-printed orthotics devices. With the Spentys platform, you can scan a patient’s anatomy using a regular tablet and create a fully customized, 3D-printed orthopedic device for rehabilitation tailored to the individual patient.

Traditional immobilization devices — like slings, plaster casts, and boots — are often more bothersome than helpful. Patients need to be careful to keep their casts dry, and doctors need to remove an orthosis before examining the patient or taking an X-ray. Customizing these orthotics is also costly and time-consuming, so many orthopedic surgeons settle for ready-made options. This means you need to have multiple orthotics devices in stock at all times or risk being unable to properly treat your patients.

Each patient has a unique anatomy, so a tailor-made orthosis would be far more effective and comfortable. Spentys enables fast and efficient production of fully customized orthotics devices that are up to 10 times lighter than their traditional counterparts. The aerated design won’t trap heat or sweat, which irritates a patient’s skin and can cause bedsores. The waterproof material allows patients to swim and shower without taking extra precautions, improving patient satisfaction and adherence. For emergency room applications, you can also use Spentys to quickly create customized orthoses for trauma patients on-site at the same cost as a traditional cast.

Keep up with next-generation orthopedic companies to future-proof your practice

By following these emerging companies, you will better prepare your practice for what comes next in orthopedics — and leave your competition in the dust.

Many orthopedic surgeons want the latest iteration of proven technology from leading orthopedic manufacturers. However, if you look at newer companies in orthopedics, you will learn about cutting-edge technology that will give you unparalleled visibility of the patient experience while enabling you to stand out from other orthopedic practices. To learn more about emerging orthopedic technology, check out our article about the latest trends in orthopedics.