Project description
An intelligent implant for spinal surgery
Spine fusion, performed almost 1.5M times per annum, is one of the most invasive, costly, and failure-prone surgical procedures in modern medicine. Spine fusion typically involves the use of various implants and bone graft material to cause two vertebrae to fuse together with the goal of reducing movement and the associated chronic back pain. The EIC-funded SmartFuse project has developed a first-of-kind intervertebral implant with an embedded electrotherapeutic technology that harnesses electrical signals to accelerate, control, and monitor bone growth. The implant system, which connects wirelessly to the cloud, is designed to significantly improve patient outcomes with accelerated bone healing and provide the physician with real-time feedback on the healing process by monitoring the extent and quality of bone growth.
Objective
Spinal surgery has a significant failure rate of 18% leading to devastating complications for patients. With the knowledge that bone remodels naturally using electric signals, we are transferring cutting edge neuromodulation technology into the orthopaedic field. We incorporate our proprietary, wirelessly powered bio-electrical stimulation system into standard orthopaedic implants. Our first product, SmartFuse, addresses the issues of non-union and bone overgrowth in spinal fusion surgery by harnessing the local delivery of electrical stimulation to accelerate bone growth and control the formation of new bone. In addition to accelerating and controlling bone growth, SmartFuse can measure the quantity and quality of new bone, enabling real-time feedback on the progress of healing to the physician and other caregivers. Through EIC funding, we will complete a clinical pilot trial, and prepare a pivotal study demonstrating efficiency and safety to achieve the necessary market approvals.
Fields of science
Not validated
Not validated
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-AG - HORIZON Action Grant Budget-BasedCoordinator
431 53 Mölndal
Sweden
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.