Millions of people suffer daily with the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis. Current treatments to slow the progression of the disease are limited. Although, that may change very soon. There is a new medical device that may offer an option – the Calypso Knee System.
Going on now is a clinical trial to examine the device’s ability to extend the life of the joint, while at the same time allowing patients to remain active without knee pain. There is great potential in this gadget. They are very optimistic about the design of this implant and its ability to relieve knee pain and help patients with osteoarthritis prevent or delay knee replacements.
The first surgery in the U.S. was recently performed by surgeons at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Dr. David Flanigan, the orthopedic surgeon who performed the surgery said:
“It works like a shock absorber to take pressure off the inside of the knee while creating a cushion similar to what cartilage provides in a healthy joint. The hope is that it increases joint functionality, reduces pain and delays a total knee arthroplasty for years or even decades.”
Research has proven that knee osteoarthritis may begin or progress if the joint is exposed to excessive stress or load. Anatomy, injury, or excess weight, are a few of the factors that can lead to joint overload. That’s where the Calypso Knee System steps in. The device is designed to restore the joint to normal loading conditions which should relieve pain and maintain healthy cartilage.
The device itself was developed by Moximed, Inc., a company based in Fremont, California, to treat osteoarthritis in the inner knee, the most commonly affected area. It is to be implanted under the skin, alongside your knee-joint, through a single incision. And unlike joint replacement procedures, none of your bone, ligament, or cartilage is removed, which may help maintain future treatment options. Flanigan said:
“We’re hoping that this will be an opportunity for patients with osteoarthritis to remain active without pain for a much longer period of time.”
As of now, over 700,000 knee replacement surgeries are performed in the U.S. every year, and that number only continues to grow. If the trial is successful, this shock absorber will be the option to reverse that statistic. Dr. Flanigan expects the Calypso Knee System will pass trials and soon be available to patients across the country. The device will be used to help more people avoid joint replacements, preserve their knees, and carry on living their lives free of pain.
