An entirely new type of knee implant to treat osteoarthritis (OA) has been surgically implanted for the first time in the U.S.
Known as the Calypso Knee System, the device was developed by Hayward, California-based Moximed, Inc. According to the company, the CalypsoKneeSystem treats OA in the inner knee and is designed to provide support outside of the knee joint without altering the anatomy or removing any tissue from the knee itself.
The procedure was done by orthopedic surgeon David Flanigan, M.D., at theOhio State University Wexner Medical Center as part of a trial with four participating sites.
“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,” said Flanigan. “The hope is that it increases joint functionality, reduces pain and delays a total knee arthroplasty for years or even decades.”
Dr. Flanigan told OTW, “Overall, many solutions are being investigated to help the early to moderate arthritic patient prolong the need for total or partial joint replacement. The Calypso Knee System is one of these solutions that retains normal joint structures and function but off-loads the medial compartment. If this becomes a realistic alternative, it may help delay and/or decrease the number of total knee replacements needed.”
“This is an innovative solution for a large number of patients, and the trial will provide important data that can have a positive impact on our patients. This trial continues on previous studies in Europe and the U.S., and I with all of the investigators are excited to continue this important investigation into alternatives for the arthritic patient.”
Looking for solution other than knee replacement as my orthopedic surgeon does not believe I am a good candidate for replacement as I have a deficit on my left side that has the OA knee. I have ‘bone-on-bone’ and need to wear an unloader knee brace to walk.
Arthur, if you do end up with a replacement knee or somesuch, make sure the biomechanical issue that created it is fixed too, otherwise the mechanical knee will not work so well.
If you have the ability to travel, the first cartilage regeneration drug that actually works just hit the market in South Korea. It’s called ‘invossa’. Recently it’s availability has been expanded to around 11 countries. It should be available here in the united states in a few years.
Also in the pipeline is sprifermin, TPX-100, and a couple others which have done extremely well in clinical trials, but are also a few years off from approval in the United States.
The Kinespring has gone through 2 iterations and now Calypso is the 3rd version? Doesn’t seem like it is working as intended.
I am probably the perfect candidate for this. Really hoping it gets approved soon or they need another test subject. Injured a knee 25 years ago the inside while not touch yet is thin. In a year or two who can say…
Unfortunately, I have tried to find out what the clinical trial on the Calypso knee system has determined. What degree of success/failure. Nada, and I can’t wait for years for relief from pain. Why info is not updated, who knows?
I am waiting to hear this is coming to Australia