Winning Technology: Cobra Suture Passer
Stryker Corp.
Inventors: Charles Bourland, Johnny Valadez
Engineer: Charles McCartney
Cobra is the market’s first reusable suture passer for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with a rigid stainless-steel needle. Many sports medicine physicians who have used suture passers in arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs complain of intraoperative misfires or distal tip needle breaks from suture passers with reusable nitinol needles. Nitinol needles, in particular, have to maintain enough flexibility to deform back into the suture passer so there are trade-offs with strength and rigidity.
The COBRA suture passer is made from stainless-steel needle, so it is the first reusable suture needle.
No disposable needles. No needle migration. Avoid needle breakage. And is able to pass through calcified cuffs.
A recent study found that nitinol suture passers should be used during rotator cuff repair when the torn end of the tendon is thicker than about 7 to 9mm in order to prevent needle penetration failure. And, remember, retained surgical objects are associated with prolonged operative time, patient injury, prolonged hospital stays, readmission, and reoperation.
Durability and reliability, that’s what attracted our judges to COBRA.
Winning Technology: Frog-Skin
PolyPhysics, Inc.
Inventor: Brian Stewart
Engineer: Brian Stewart
Increasingly popular with athletes and the Navy Seals (of course, with a name like Frog-Skin…), frog-skin therapy delivers cold therapy in a wrap to treat overuse or extensive training soft tissue injuries.
The skin is made from an engineered elastic composite material that regulates skin temperature during cold therapy. Frog-Skin therapy wraps also provide soft adaptive compression, conforming to numerous body locations, body types and sizes.
There are two variations of Frog-Skin therapy wraps. Frog-Skin 43 regulates skin temperature to 43F (6C). Frog-Skin 64 regulates skin temperature to 64F (18C) and is designed for cold-sensitive patients. Frog-Skin materials and products are latex-free and are made entirely of non-toxic materials.
Frog-Skin therapy can be used in diverse settings including the field, clinic and at home and it has an additional safety margin due to its ability to maintain skin at temperatures low enough to induce therapy, by 11+ degrees F warmer than ice. Because of its precision temperature control, it has extended application times and is more comfortable for patients, increasing compliance. It also avoids CBAN (cold, burning, aching, numbness) progression. Users do not need to have medical experience to use these wraps.
A patent application for Frog-Skin™ thermal composite material, with multiple embodiments, was filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office on August 18, 2017.
