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| News in Brief - June 2010 Brief items of the latest industry news... |
| Appointments - June 2010 Stay up to date with the latest changes in personnel... |
| Surgical Innovations Wins Queen’s Award for Enterprise Leeds based Surgical Innovations have been awarded a Queen’s Awards for... |
| Image Revamp for Joint Replacement Instrumentation One of the last British-owned orthopaedic instrument manufacturers has launched a... |
| Sheffield Precision Medical Launched Formally Finsbury Surgical Ltd, Sheffield Precision Medical is... |
| Giltech and B1 Medical Collaborate on Development of Biodegradable Suture Anchor Giltech, in the field of controlled delivery and biodegradable technologies... |
| Olympus Corporation Invests in Small Bone Innovations Small Bone Innovations, Inc. announced that Olympus Corporation, Tokyo, Japan has... |
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Company News In Brief
 Based on its recent analysis of the orthopaedic braces and supports market, Frost & Sullivan recognises Bledsoe Brace Systems with the 2010 North America Frost & Sullivan Award for Technology Innovation for its magnesium products featuring durable, lightweight braces with sleek, low profile designs, launched in January 2009. Introduction of these braces marks a groundbreaking development in the braces and supports markets.
Magnesium offers many advantages, including ultra-lightweight, improved strength and great force resistance. Bledsoe engineers have harnessed this unique combination of properties in the metal to make a completely new line of braces.
“Bledsoe has been able to compete with the major companies in the braces and supports market due to its deep understanding the needs of the market and providing solutions that are better than the giants in the space,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Aarti Shetty. “The weight of the product goes a long way in determining its comfort for patients, especially for long-term use, and the new Bledsoe knee braces are up to 50% lighter than their predecessors and offer perfect support to the knee while being very durable.”Stryker Corporation’s Orthopaedics Division is celebrating this month the one-millionth manufacturing of its Exeter hip stem, an implant developed in collaboration with an orthopaedic surgeon and engineer to address the problem of aseptic loosening. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the Exeter hip system.
Developed in 1970, the Exeter hip stem was the first ever collarless, polished and tapered stem, a design which helped to significantly reduce implant loosening and the rate of revision surgery.
In 1988, the Exeter hip again revolutionised hip replacement surgery when Stryker supplemented its design with femoral heads of different lengths and sizes, enabling surgeons to better recreate patients’ unique anatomy, among other benefits. By more closely matching the biomechanics of patients, the Exeter hip replacement system provides surgeons the potential to reduce dislocation and leg length discrepancies, which can be associated with readmission and revision surgery.
“I can truly say that the Exeter hip system remains the most successful hip replacement system ever developed, and this is confirmed on all National Joint Registers,” said Mr. Graham Gie, consultant orthopaedic surgeon of the Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre, Exeter, and one of the most prominent Exeter surgeons in the world. Up to 120 people will lose their job after a company announced it was closing its manufacturing plant in Leatherhead.
DePuy Orthopaedics, which provides orthopaedic devices, has announced it intends to close its Finsbury Orthopaedics facility at Mole Business Park in Randalls Road, Leatherhead, subject to statutory consultation.
A company statement said about 120 Finsbury employees located at the site would be affected.
He said: “As part of the integration of the Finsbury business following its acquisition by DePuy in December, the company is rationalising its combined products portfolio to focus on lines that best meet the current and emerging needs of its healthcare markets. It plans to discontinue sales of a number of Finsbury products manufactured at Leatherhead.”
Matt Jewett, Finsbury’s managing director, said: “We regret the impact this would have on our employees. We carefully considered all options before arriving at the plan to phase out operations at Leatherhead.”
The company plans to phase out operations at Leatherhead by the end of June 2011.Surgical Innovations Wins Queen’s Award for Enterprise Leeds based Surgical Innovations have been awarded a Queen’s Awards for Enterprise; the UK’s most prestigious award for outstanding innovation and business performance. Surgical Innovations’ award, under the Innovation category, acknowledges the technical and clinical excellence they have achieved with their pioneering YelloPort+Plus® – a port access system which acts as a channel into the body allowing surgeons to carry out delicate keyhole procedures.  Announced on the Queens birthday (21st April), the awards are made each year by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on the advice of the Prime Minister, who is assisted by an Advisory Committee that includes representatives of Government, industry and commerce and the trade unions.
Graham Bowland, Managing Director of Surgical Innovations, said: “We are delighted to win such a prestigious ‘royal’ award for our contribution to the healthcare industry.
“We were one of the first companies to develop flexible but rigid laparoscopic devices and have since gained a worldwide reputation for developing and manufacturing innovative devices. This award acknowledges this commitment and also the dedication made by every single one of our employees from design through to production and also acknowledges Yorkshire’s cutting edge Healthcare Technologies industry.”
The YelloPort+Plus® device combines both reusable and disposable elements and was designed through close collaboration with surgeons in order to exceed their needs and provide the highest levels of patient care.
Formed in 1992 by Professor M J McMahon, one of the UK’s foremost laparoscopic surgeon and renowned surgical instrument maker Peter Moran, Surgical Innovations have gained a worldwide reputation for innovation as a result of building and introducing the latest cutting edge medical technologies.
Image Revamp for Joint Replacement Instrumentation One of the last British-owned orthopaedic instrument manufacturers has launched a new corporate image and revealed plans to diversify the business into new product areas. The company formerly known as Joint Replacement Instrumentation will now trade as JRI Orthopaedics under the leadership of new managing director Keith Jackson.  Mr Jackson told the Yorkshire Post: “We have been growing steadily but we felt, given the current economic climate and changing dynamics of the orthopaedic market, we need to do some things differently.”
Cosmetic changes include a new logo, but the most significant difference will be in the company’s approach to innovation, said Mr Jackson, who took charge earlier this year.
The company will launch new product ranges this year which will see JRI move beyond hip replacement instruments into high-technology devices for shoulders and knees.
JRI is well known in the medical device sector for its hip replacement implants, which are coated with hydroxyapatite, a material which forms a natural bond with the bone.
The technology, developed by founder Ronald Furlong, significantly extends the life span and effectiveness of the implant. JRI started trials for new shoulder replacement implants in April, based on technology it developed in partnership with Newcastle University.
The company manufactures its products at a £6m facility in Sheffield, which opened in 2007. It has been operating in Sheffield for much longer, as Mr Jackson explained.
“When we moved into manufacturing more than 30 years ago, the founder chose Sheffield because of its reputation. Sheffield has an international reputation for processing and machining specialist metals.
“We are well positioned in Sheffield. There is a cluster of medical device companies in Yorkshire and Humber, particularly orthopaedic companies around Sheffield, therefore the supply chain is very well developed. That’s why we have invested heavily in the facility, which is state of the art.
“It’s no longer just a manufacturing facility. We now have research, product development, regulatory affairs and marketing. It’s become the hub of JRI in the UK.”
The company has a turnover of £17m and the majority of its profits are donated to its owner, the Furlong Research Charitable Foundation.
Mr Jackson said: “The business model is quite unique, definitely in orthopaedics and probably in medical devices. The donations fund cutting edge research in the field of orthopeadics and medical research programmes for surgeons.”
Asked if demographics favour the orthopaedic sector, Mr Jackson said: “We are all living longer and active for longer therefore patients tend to wear out their joints. The most effective treatment is joint replacement, which is the market we are in.
“To balance that, there are more and more people needing joint replacements and there is going to be some downward pressure brought to bear, which we are already seeing.
“That’s why it’s important, if we are going to remain in the UK, that we are as efficient as we can be so we can offer products the NHS can afford to buy.”
JRI has no plans to move offshore in the foreseeable future, he said.
“We will do everything we can for that not to happen. If you were producing a commodity, it would be very difficult to defend that position. We are making precision products.”
Keith Jackson said: “We are one of a dying breed of British manufacturers in the orthopaedic sector. A couple of our competitors displaced manufacturing jobs outside the UK.”
Asked if British manufacturing has a future, Mr Jackson said: “It does, but it needs to be in innovative products. The days when we could safeguard our future by having high-quality products is fading. But if you have high technology products, things which require more brainpower, that’s one area where the UK can compete.”
JRI exports around a third of its products, predominantly to Europe.
Source: Yorkshire Post
Sheffield Precision Medical Launched Formally Finsbury Surgical Ltd, Sheffield Precision Medical is now independently owned. Their innovative product portfolio comprises of full instrument sets including assemblies, rasps, reamers, drills and screws; all intricately designed, developed and manufactured in-house by their team of experts.  The company offers a total manufacturing solution, taking a product from concept, through design, prototype and batch manufacture; providing customers with a quality product.
Brian Reece, Managing Director of Sheffield Precision Medical Ltd, said: “Our reputation is built on quality and the ability to make quick turn rounds using state-of-the-art equipment delivered by our highly skilled workforce. We are looking forward to using our specialist in-house knowledge further to work with other companies to provide our customers with the latest in pioneering products.”
Sheffield Precision Medical Ltd was created with its workforce in mind, with company shares offered to its staff and associates. The company also donates a percentage of its profits to the Mercy Ships charity that offer emergency response to areas of great need worldwide; supporting healthcare professionals during testing times.
Giltech and B1 Medical Collaborate on Development of Biodegradable Suture Anchor Giltech, in the field of controlled delivery and biodegradable technologies, and B1 Medical have signed an agreement to collaborate on the development of a pioneering suture anchor. Giltech has been working with biodegradable phosphate glasses for over twenty years. Its CorGlaes™ Pure is uniquely formulated for each bespoke application to ensure the appropriate dissolution profile is achieved. B1 has a pioneering suture anchor system that enables easy single step insertion, which it plans to develop as a complementary product to its existing portfolio. The combination of this original design and Giltech’s biodegradable glass would provide a suture anchor that degrades in the body in a highly controlled fashion. Speaking about the deal, Mark Wickham CEO of B1 Medical said, “I am delighted that our two companies have come together on the development of this exciting new product. B1 Medical has an exclusive first look and option agreement with the prestigious Institutions of NHS Grampian, the University of Aberdeen and the Robert Gordon University on intellectual property generated in the field of orthopaedics. The novel suture anchor system is an example of the several innovative new orthopaedic products that B1 Medical has in development.” Gillian Watson, Managing Director of Giltech added, “Our biodegradable glass has been used for many years in medical devices and woundcare products. We have explored a number of opportunities to enter the orthopaedics market and consider the arrangement with B1 to be the most compelling. We’re very much looking forward to this collaboration and the positive results it will generate.” Olympus Corporation Invests in Small Bone Innovations Small Bone Innovations, Inc. announced that Olympus Corporation, Tokyo, Japan has made a strategic investment of $12 million in SBi Series E Preferred Stock. The parties agreed that the investment grants no special privileges and will not influence SBi’s operating independence. Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, president of Olympus, said: “Our investment in SBi will help small bone and joint treatments continue to be the fastest growing sector in the orthopaedics market. It will also complement our biomaterials programs for maintaining musculoskeletal health.” Anthony G. Viscogliosi, Chairman & CEO of SBi, added: “This important investment will accelerate the worldwide rollout of SBi’s S.T.A.R.® total ankle replacement system by providing capital for inventory and expanding surgeon education and training.” Stay up to date with the latest changes in personnel The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery have recently announced two new executive appointments. Mr. Kent Anderson was appointed CEO/Publisher in January and Vernon T. Tolo, M.D. took office as Editor-in-Chief in April.
Mr. Anderson and Dr. Tolo replace James D. Heckman, M.D. who is retiring after serving for ten years as Editor-in-Chief and CEO of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, American Volume (JBJS).
Commenting on his new role, Dr. Tolo states “I consider it essential that JBJS continues to be the highest quality general orthopaedic surgery journal, in these days of so much orthopaedic subspecialization. Whether in print or electronic form, JBJS will remain in the forefront in educating orthopaedists both nationally and internationally. It is a wonderful honor to have been selected as JBJS editor and I am excited to meet the challenges and opportunities of my new position.”
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