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PVI is extending the lifetime of orthopaedic prosthetic joints by applying precision metrology and manufacturing to the manufacture of ‘hard’ (e.g., metal on metal, ceramic on ceramic, metal on ceramic) joint components. The manufacturing of Olympic Extended Lifetime Prosthetic Joints™ is designed to ensure that surface roughness and geometry are controlled to minimize wear—a major source of joint failure. Currently available prosthetic joints fail due to multiple causes (e.g., direct wear, or the body’s reaction to wear particles); PVI’s solution eliminates wear and wear debris, thus extending the lifetime of prosthetic joints.

The components of commercially-available prosthetic joints rub against each other at discrete points during movement. The resulting friction causes the joint to deteriorate over time and deposit debris in the body. The tiny particles of material that are removed from the surface of the prosthetic joint remain in the tissues. In many patients, these particles cause a reaction that lead to inflammation and, ultimately, the loosening of the implant. The source of the wear is due to a classical tribological mechanism: poor fit between non-conforming surfaces.

Direct wear is also a common cause of prosthetic joint failure. Inadequate control over joint geometry (e.g., fit and conformity) and surface finish lead to accelerated wear and catastrophic failure after relatively short (10-15 year) intervals.

To address these problems, PVI has teamed with medical researchers to develop the OPI Extended Lifetime Prosthetic Joint™. Designed so the moving points of the prosthetic joint conform within microns, OPI Lifetime Prosthetic Joints™ wear at much (orders of magnitude) lower rates than commercially available appliances. This results in a superior prosthetic joint that provides lasting comfort for the patient.

Over 600,000 hip and knee implants are performed each year in the US. The total number of hip and knee replacements is projected to reach 2,000,000 by 2030. Combine this with the fact that currently available prosthetic joints must be replaced every ten to fifteen years, and it becomes clear that a permanent prosthetic joint solution is an essential part of our future healthcare system.

Responding to this important health care issue, OPI’s Extended Lifetime Prosthetic Joints™ will provide economically feasible, permanent joint replacement—a solution ensuring that patients requiring a prosthetic joint will undergo surgery only once.