DJO Global and University of Utah to develop new prosthesis

DJO Global has announced a new alliance with the University of Utah to develop an implant prosthesis for above-the-knee amputees.

The device will be a percutaneous osseointegrated prosthesis, an alternative to traditional socket technology involving an implant in the femur that protrudes through the skin and attaches to a prosthetic limb.

In the past, these devices have been associated with infection risks at the site where the implant protrudes through the skin, but the university has been able to counteract this using a soft tissue seal created with DJO Surgical's new proprietary titanium P2 porous coating.

Animal trials have proven successful and development work on a human implant has already begun, with clinical studies set to commence in around two years.

Bryan Monroe, senior vice-president and general manager of DJO Surgical, said: "We believe that we have developed a winning solution that will have a monumental impact on the lives of amputees."

Last week, DJO Global reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2012, during which it experienced a 2.9 percent year-on-year sales increase to $286 million (182.57 million pounds).