Project description
Embolisation treatment device for arthritic knee pain
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a long-term chronic disease characterised by the deterioration of cartilage in joints, which results in bones rubbing together and creating stiffness, pain, and impaired movement. OA is the single most common cause of disability in older adults, and prevalence is increasing due to population ageing. It is also responsible for millions of steroid and non-steroid based knee injections globally each year. The EU-funded ADDEGE project is developing a new treatment paradigm for OA. This device will allow interventional radiologists to reach deep into the anatomy and safely deliver targeted embolisation treatment to OA patients. It will operate and treat areas that are significantly smaller than those currently treated.
Objective
Chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis (OA) is prevalent in 12% of the global population over the age of 60 (Yuji Okuno,
Amine Korchi, Takuma Shinjo, Shojiro Kato, Takao Kaneko, 2017). OA results in a loss of mobility and debilitating pain in
those effected. It can ultimately lead to invasive knee replacement or reconstruction surgery. OA is responsible for more than
6 million steroid and non-steroid based knee injections globally each year. It is among the top three reasons, globally, for
both opioid and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug prescriptions.
Given the well documented economic benefit that comes with restored mobility in patients, the negative side effects of
current drug treatments (addition for opioids and gastrointestinal complications for NSAIDs), the expense and recovery time
associated with surgery, and the high ongoing cost of drug therapy, a new treatment paradigm for osteoarthritis is certainly
needed.
The end product is a device will allow Interventional Radiologists to reach deep into the anatomy and safely deliver targeted
embolisation treatment to this patient population. It will operate and treat in arteries that are significantly smaller than those
currently treated.
The treatment has the potential to generate a €2Bn saving from the global healthcare spend and delivery meaningful long
term pain relief for up to 90% of those treated.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
H91XW6Y Galway
Ireland
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.