Intellectual
property, manufacturing and exclusive marketing rights are
owned by Orthosonics
Ltd, part of the Orthofix
group. Orthosonics is based at Bremridge. SRA Developments
is the sub-contract manufacturer.
SYSTEM FOR CEMENTED ARTHROPLASTY
REVISION
The task of removing PMMA bone cement
during revision arthroplasty has always posed a challenge
to the surgical team. Difficulty in visualisation, ambiguity
in discriminating between cement and bone and unpredictable
scheduling all add to unnecessary complications and in the
worst cases severely compromised bone stock and the need
for expensive prosthetics and other reconstructive materials.
Removing these unpredictable problems requires a device
that can be relied upon to restore a planned schedule and
outcome.
Ultrasound when applied correctly, can
make the cement removal part of the operation predictable,
safe and by definition more efficient and quicker.
PMMA bone cement responds instantly to
a vibrating wave-guide. The putty-like consistency of the
cement is then easily removed from the endosteum through
novel design of the wave guides (probes). Cortical bone
does not absorb ultrasound as readily as the cement and
therefore the surgeon will have awareness of the position
of the probe within the bone through both audible and tactile
feedback. By always transferring the softened cement as
the probe moves, heat build up is not a major issue.
The new system has been designed
to provide even more opportunity for the surgeon to check
the quality of the bone. Through a dedicated endoscope,
camera and flat screen monitor, the surgeon can observe
the cement removal process and interface with recording
equipment. Constant monitoring during use alerts the surgical
team to the status of the system preventing overload. Newly
designed cables and connectors and even quicker 'tuning'
simplify the set-up for the nursing team.
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