Are smart knee implants the next big thing in ortho?

Orthopedic device industry watchers think so, and Zimmer Biomet appears set to be the first out of the gate this year through a partnership with the startup Canary Medical.

What do drug-eluting stents and “smart” implantable medical devices have in common? It turns out it’s a lot, at least according to Dr. Bill Hunter.

The founder and CEO of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals from 1992 to 2011, Hunter saw that medical device companies had cardiovascular stents that could save lives but also caused inflammation problems, while pharmaceutical companies had drugs that could stop the inflammation. He helped bring the technologies together, playing a role in the invention and development of the Taxus drug-eluting coronary stent from Boston Scientific and the Zilver PTX peripheral drug-eluting stent from Cook Medical.

Hunter started Canary Medical (Vancouver, British Columbia) in 2012 because he thought that micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), sensors, batteries and wireless communications had advanced enough — especially when it came to pacemakers — that one could package sensors with implantable medical devices.

The company’s name came from the idea that the resulting data stream could do for healthcare what canaries did for coal miners: Provide an early warning.

“I used to say, ‘We live in a world where your refrigerator’s connected to the internet. Why are lifesaving medical devices not?’ There’s some pretty valuable information we’d like to know,” Hunter said in a recent interview with Medical Design & Outsourcing and MassDevice.

“We were all from a cardiology background,” Hunter said of the Canary team in the early days. “We thought, ‘Hey, we could do this almost by making a pacemaker.’ We take a battery, we take telemetry, substitute sensors for the leads.”

By Chris Newmarker | MassDevice

Image Credit: Zimmer Biomet

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About Peter Coffaro 510 Articles
Peter Coffaro is a growth-driven and strategic executive with over 25 years of progressive management success in the medical device industry. With a proven track record and recognized expertise, Peter has established himself as one of the top influencers in medical sales, as acknowledged by prestigious publications such as the World Journal of Orthopedics, Exponential Healthtech, and MedReps.com. Throughout his career, Peter has accumulated 10 years of combined sales management experience, excelling in various roles including Director, General Manager, Distributor, and Vice President. He has worked for industry-leading orthopedic companies such as Zimmer, DePuy, and Stryker, solidifying his deep knowledge and network within the field. Peter’s passion for innovation and emerging technologies led him to found OrthoFeed, an award-winning blog covering digital orthopedic news and emerging medical technologies. Through this platform, he stays at the forefront of the industry and contributes to the dissemination of valuable insights. Peter is a three-time Hall of Fame award winner at Johnson and Johnson, demonstrating his exceptional contributions and impact on the organization. His expertise extends to areas such as organizational development, business development, sales management, digital marketing, and professional education. Peter earned a B.S. degree in Biology and Chemistry from Northern Illinois University, further complementing his comprehensive understanding of the medical field. With his wealth of experience, strategic mindset, and dedication to advancing healthcare, Peter Coffaro is a valuable asset and leader in the medical device industry.

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