Polycarbonate-Urethane Coated Universal Talus Implant

Summary of the technology

● A series of universal-geometry talus implants with different sizes have been created.
● Polycarbonate-Urethane (PCU) coatings may simulate natural cartilage on implants.
● PCU coated implants may reduce the risk of cartilage wear and bone fracture for talus implants.

University of Alberta, Technology Transfer Services

Details of the Technology Offer

Talus implants have been regarded as a promising treatment method for talus avascular necrosis. To capitalize on the benefits of talar replacement over other surgical approaches, while reducing issues related to wait time and cost, a series of universal implants with different sizes using a single-shape template have been developed by a team of surgeons and engineers. Universal implants can improve cost-effectiveness and production speed, and in doing so, promote improved clinical outcomes while maintaining a degree of customized size and fit for patients. However, existing implants are made of stiff materials (cobalt chromium, titanium, ceramic, etc.) that directly oppose natural cartilage. Our studies confirm that adding a layer of polycarbonate-urethane coating reduces contact pressure and redistributes it more evenly, which in turn may reduce the risk of cartilage wear and bone fracture. Universal talus implants with PCU coating may make talus replacement a more rapid and cost-effective treatment for talus avascular necrosis, reducing production cost and wait times for talus replacement surgery.

Intellectual property status

Patent already applied for

Patent application number : PCT/CA2022/051564

Where : WIPO(PCT)

Publications:

  1. Polycarbonate-urethane coating can significantly improve talus implant contact characteristics” Liu et al, J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2022 Jan;125:104936.
  2. The evaluation of artificial talus implant on ankle joint contact characteristics: a finite element study based on four subjects” Med Biol Eng Comput. 2022 Apr;60(4):1139-1158.

Related Keywords

  • Medicine, Human Health
  • Medical/health
  • Medical Health related
  • Therapeutic
  • Clinical Medicine
  • Welfare technologies
  • implant
  • foot and ankle

About University of Alberta, Technology Transfer Services

Transforming discoveries and innovations into reality is a complex and lengthy process. UAlberta’s Technology Transfer Services (TTS) team helps facilitate this journey. Part of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation) portfolio, TTS helps researchers, postdoctoral fellows, staff and students transform innovations and discoveries into reality—moving them out of the university to benefit society, the economy, the world.

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