Zero Knee Replacement?!
Barrett has recently founded ZKR (Zero Knee Replacement) Orthopedics, a company focused on developing a new family of knee implants to address patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Working with sports orthopedist Jeff Halbrecht, M.D., of San Francisco, ZKR is developing a less invasive, outpatient surgical treatment alternative which employs the use of implants.
Patellofemoral osteoarthritis is common, hard to treat, as well as painful. Barrett explained that patients often spend years engaging in conservative therapies. Many find that even after enduring shots, oral medications, physical therapy, they still end up resorting to invasive surgery with significant recovery time.
ZKR is currently developing an implant-based knee procedure, which treats the condition by taking pressure off the patellofemoral joint. The idea is that by elevating the kneecap with implants, pain and inflammation can be reduced via a 30-minute outpatient procedure, without the invasive surgical bone cuts and long recovery time involved in a total knee replacement surgery. Clinical trials were set to begin last month but are pending due to the current pandemic. Barrett said that patients can walk the very day of procedure, with no long recovery process.
Themes in Barrett’s Career Story: Simple Solutions for Complex Problems
After 25 years of experience in areas of business, fundraising, product development and marketing and navigating the realms of clinical trial fundraising, intellectual property and regulatory affairs, Barrett’s intent remains clear. “The consistent thread with all these companies is a simple technology—and I love simplicity and I love elegance—so let’s find simple and elegant approaches to solve vexing clinical problems that are often addressed with far more complex solutions.”
These themes of addressing unmet orthopedic surgical needs with simple and effective approaches are woven throughout the story of Barrett’s career. “We preach that every day with all the engineers I work with. If you can do something with two parts versus five—let’s figure that out.”
Barrett has found this work gratifying, especially “working with a great team. This is a tough business where very few companies actually achieve successful outcomes. The pathway through product development requires more steps than any other industry. You need a great group of independent thinkers and doers who can solve problems and keep marching together. I have had the good fortune to be associated with multiple great teams over the years.”
He continued, “I think anyone in the medical device business would agree how deeply satisfying it is to see a new therapy successfully used clinically for the first time. It goes back to many years of work from the idea or concept to improve patient care, to making the correct decision to pursue it and doing all the work necessary to carry this therapy into the clinic where it might become a standard of care. That is a long and complex road and I have had the good fortune to accomplish this on multiple occasions.”
Looking Ahead
Barrett is nurturing a new project that we can look forward to hearing more on soon. A new company he’s working on will be offering more innovative trauma products, Barrett told OTW. There will be more news on the horizon about this project soon.
Barrett and his team welcome any partnerships and support in their efforts to bring these innovative approaches into orthopedics. “I’ve got a great group that I’ve worked with consistently, whether it’s the surgeon or the team, and we’re working to advance all these technologies to the next level.”
I would clarify that John Barrett is a co-Founder of ZKR Ortho. The lead physician is Jeff Halbrecht.
https://zkrortho.com