12 Growing Orthopaedic Companies Expand Their Patent Portfolios

implants 900

Technological innovations are occurring amongst smaller and growing companies, as evidenced by the following patent-related strategic announcements. Importantly, these companies aim to protect those innovations in their home countries and abroad. The spine segment leads the announcements in this article, followed by arthroscopy/soft tissue repair, but all segments are represented as are multiple countries.

For companies’ that are exhibiting at the upcoming North American Spine Society (NASS) in Los Angeles (September 26-29), we’ve included their booth numbers should you wish to pay them a visit.

Advanced Biomedical Technologies Gains Patent for Polyamide Plate in China

  • In January, Advanced Biomedical Technologies announced that it was granted a patent in China, titled “Bone Fracture Plate Made of High [Grade] Polymer Materials.” The patent (ZL 2014 1 0647464.1) supports the development of fiber-reinforced polyamide products that may be used to treat trauma and cartilage injuries, as well as in dental applications. The company’s products are intended to offer an alternative to metal implants and other re-absorbable fixation devices, and are designed with the ability to control the speed by which the devices degrade.

Amedica Granted Patent for Silicon Nitride and Ceramic Materials

  • Amedica was issued U.S. Patent No. 9,925,295, covering Ceramic and/or Glass Materials and Related Methods and addressing improvements to the antibacterial, osteoconductive and osteoinductive characteristics of silicon nitride and other ceramic materials. Specifically, the methods are intended to make the materials more suitable for use in manufacturing a variety of biomedical implants. We place this in the spine category because Amedica markets spinal fusion products, though the company is also developing wear- and corrosion-resistant implant components for hip and knee arthroplasty. (NASS Booth #1611)

Ceterix Orthopaedics Awarded Multiple Patents – Suturing Method, Knee Meniscus Repair

  • In January, Ceterix announced that it was issued U.S. Patent No. 9,861,354 protecting products and methods—specifically, placing a circumferential compression stitch—to arthroscopically pass suture through soft tissue in very tight joint compartments. The circumferential compression stitch is reportedly the only meniscus repair technique that treats the femoral and tibial sides of a tear simultaneously, enabling the repair of injuries that may previously have required partial or complete meniscus removal.
  • In March, Ceterix announced that it was issued U.S. Patent No. 9,913,638 relating to knee meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament repair—specifically, a method to securely fasten the meniscus during a meniscal root repair.
  • In June, Ceterix announced that it was issued U.S. Patent No. 10,004,492 for a method of placing a suture around a tear to repair damaged meniscus. This is the second set of method claims describing the company’s proprietary Circumferential Compression Stitch.

Episurf Medical Granted Patents in U.S., EU and Japan

  • In February, Episurf Medical announced it received a Notice of Allowance addressing 3D-based assessment of joint lesions. This complements an earlier patent, “System and Method for Creating a Decision Support Material Indicating Damage to an Anatomical Joint,” granted in 2017.
  • In March, Episurf announced an additional European Patent, Method and Mode for Manufacturing a Surgical Kit for Cartilage Repair. The patent covers the image segmentation process used for joint damage visualization and for manufacturing patient-specific joint implants and instruments and has patent protection in Australia and China. In July, the company announced a Japan patent is forthcoming.
  • In May, Episurf announced another European patent for individualized surgical instruments, specifically for a drill guide for use with the Episealer® Femoral Twin implant. This represents the first patent approval within this patent family.

iOrthopedics Received Patents and Allowances for its Universally Expanding Cage

  • iOrthopedics received patent awards and allowances for its Universally Expanding Cage, giving exclusive rights in the spine expandable interbody arena. The U.S. Patent Office granted validation for U.S. Patent Nos. 9,861,494 and 9,999,515, with confirmed claims covering a device and method for independently altering the distance and angle between opposing vertebral endplates from the proximal end of the device. The UEC arthrodesis applies from cervical to lumbar regions, using novel internal mechanisms to expand rectangular, cylindrical or custom implants, with any surgeon-selected insertion vector. R. Thomas Grotz, M.D., inventor of Stryker’s AccuLIF® interbody spine cage, designed the UEC.

Kuros BioSciences Issued EU Patent for Osteoinductive Materials

  • In March, Kuros BioSciences announced that it was granted European Patent No. EP3021878, “Method for Producing an Osteoinductive Calcium Phosphate and Products thus Obtained,” protecting MagnetOs bone graft substitute. The production method creates a surface topography that instructs stem cells and osteoprogenitor cells to differentiate into bone-forming cells. The biphasic calcium phosphate material upon which MagnetOs is based have shown equivalence to autograft in clinically-relevant preclinical models.

Merete Issued Patent for 1 Compression Locking Hole Plate

  • In January, Merete announced that it was issued U.S. Patent No. 9,820,787, “Apparatus for the Constant-Angle Fixation and Compression of a Fracture or Osteotomy of a Bone.” The patent addresses a novel bone plate that provides constant compression and locking with a single-hole, one-screw design. The design differs from standard locking plates, where a combination hole accommodates either compression or angular-stable screws. Rather, the 1 Compression Locking Fixation Plate combines fracture/osteotomy compression with angle-stable fixation. The one-locking-screw design allows compression and fixation in one step.

Orthocell Gains EU and Australian Patents for Tissue Regeneration and Repair

  • In January, Orthocell announced that it was granted an Australian patent, Sutureless Repair of Soft Tissue, protecting its CelGro® collagen medical device platform for soft tissue regeneration and repair. This represents the company’s first patent granted for sutureless repair of tissue and a further expansion of its global intellectual property protection. CelGro, a collagen scaffold, can be applied in multiple indications including repair of bone, tendons, peripheral nerves, etc.
  • In May, Orthocell announced that it was granted an EU patent, “Method for Producing a Collagen Membrane and Uses Thereof,” for its CelGro collagen device for soft tissue regeneration and repair.

Ortho RTi Received Notices of Allowance for EU Patents Protecting Ortho-R Technology

  • In March, Ortho Regenerative Technologies (Ortho RTi) announced that it received an EU Notice of Allowance for Patent Application Number 10831000.4, “Novel Forumulation of Physiological Chitosan-Inorganic Salt Solution/Blood Mixtures for Tissue Repair.” When issued, the patent will protect the composition of Ortho-R biopolymer material for the biologic repair of tissue. This derives from the company’s second series of patent applications for its propriety biopolymer platform, globally. Ortho-R is in development for the repair of rotator cuff tendons, meniscus and articular cartilage. The polymer can be directly placed into an injury site during a routine procedure, reportedly without significant additional time of the surgery.
  • In May, Ortho RTI announced that it received an EU Notice of Allowance for European Patent Application Number 10831011.1, “Soluble Physiological Chitosan Formulations Combined with Platelet-Rich Plasma for Tissue Repair.” This latest patent, when issued, will also provide intellectual property protection for the formulation of Ortho-R biopolymer material for the biologic repair of tissue.

Simplify Medical Granted Patent for Artificial Intervertebral Disc with Lower Height

  • Simplify Medical received its 50th U.S. patent (No. 9,883,945), titled “Artificial Intervertebral Disc with Lower Height.” It addresses the low-profile and anatomically-shaped design of its Simplify® cervical disc replacement. Earlier this month, the company closed an additional US $23.3MM in the second tranche of a Series B financing, for a total $44.3MM raised. Funds will support ex-U.S. commercialization and U.S. clinical trials studying the Simplify disc. (NASS Booth 1911)

Spineology Received Notice of Allowance for Mesh Spacer Hybrid

  • Spineology received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for patent application No. 15/476,911, Mesh Spacer Hybrid. The notice includes three independent device claims for the Duo intervertebral implant, which features PEEK intervertebral spacer elements and expandable mesh graft containment. Duo represents the first combination of PEEK, titanium and graft containment mesh elements, with a design intended to reduce the access necessary for implantation vs. traditional lateral systems. (NASS Booth 1901)

TransS1 Granted Patents Addressing Presacral Interbody Fusion Technologies

  • TranS1 was granted patents addressing presacral interbody fusion technologies, including two new expandable cages designed to create lordosis at L5-S1 and a new sacroiliac fusion technique. The TranS1 portfolio comprises minimally invasive approaches with the Pylon™ system for posterolateral decortication and bone graft placement, KeyLIF™ MIS Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion system and AxiaLIF® presacral interbody fusion. “TranS1’s patent portfolio remains one of the strongest in the industry,” said Jeffrey Schell, chief executive officer of TranS1, who is also a patent attorney. “Our strategy remains to advance the most innovative technologies to lessen tissue trauma during spine surgery and to vigorously guard those technological innovations through domestic and international patent protection.”

For assistance with your company’s intellectual property, search for a provider in the Supplier Directory.

You may also find these articles of interest:

Join us!

The best of BONEZONE content delivered to your inbox, twice each month.

RELATED ARTICLES



CONTACT BONEZONE

 

CONTACT BONEZONE