4 ms·

We haven't explored an application for ortho hardware and I don't know that much about the space. But I'll certainly go out and learn more, and when I say me I

• giarc 11y ago
  It's a huge area. In 2011 there were nearly 1 million total joint replacement procedures in the US alone (that doesn't include many other type of procedures involving hardware)[1]. Rates of infection are around 1-2% depending on the joint. Many infections can be treated with antibiotics, but many need the joint replaced. Replacement means another procedure that carry risks and costs. Therefore, prevention of these infections is key. Most of these infections occur as a result of biofilm formation on the surface of the artificial joint. Seeding of these biofilms occurs either through break in sterile practice during the operative procedure or from a BSI or some other systemic infection. Either way, surface improvements could drop the SSI rate, and therefore drop associated costs. 1 - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00233 http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00233