MISHA Knee Shock Absorber: Interview with Anton Clifford, CEO of Moximed

Moximed, a medtech firm based mostly in California, has developed the MISHA knee system, an implantable shock absorber to be used in sufferers with knee osteoarthritis. The system is designed as a substitute for complete knee substitute, and may also help to scale back ache and discomfort for sufferers when performing each day actions, similar to strolling. The system is implanted on the surface of the knee, beneath the pores and skin, and there’s no must take away bone, muscle, or ligament, leading to a a lot quicker affected person restoration in contrast with knee substitute procedures.

Many sufferers with knee osteoarthritis are in any other case wholesome and lively. Such sufferers could also be reluctant to get a knee substitute, which is an end-stage process with a big restoration time. A substitute knee might also prohibit motion and exercise considerably, so for somebody with an lively life-style, a much less invasive process that may nonetheless help with their knee osteoarthritis could also be a greater possibility. That is the area of interest that the MISCHA knee system intends to fill.

Medgadget had the chance to talk with Anton Clifford, founder and CEO of Moximed, concerning the know-how.

Conn Hastings, Medgadget: Please give us an summary of knee osteoarthritis and its penalties for sufferers.

Anton Clifford, Moximed: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a nationwide well being disaster, affecting the lives of over 32 million adults within the US, and is projected to influence 70 million People by 2040. Knee OA develops when the protecting cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time, inflicting ache because the bone ends rub collectively throughout regular motion. The vast majority of folks with knee OA are beneath 65 years of age, and the quickest rising section is represented by folks aged 45 – 65 years previous, making knee OA particularly debilitating to an individual’s means to stroll and take part in each day actions.

Medgadget: What kinds of conservative remedy are at present out there for such sufferers?

Anton Clifford: Individuals with knee OA normally begin with non-surgical therapies, like weight reduction, knee injections, bodily remedy, or off-loader braces. Non-surgical therapies enhance or alleviate signs for a lot of, however some folks nonetheless want extra reduction. Sadly, there isn’t a treatment for osteoarthritis, and plenty of sufferers are ultimately confronted with a remedy dilemma: quit their each day actions and stay a compromised life-style or quit their joint with a complete knee substitute.

Medgadget: What dictates the development to complete knee substitute? Why are sufferers reluctant to bear this process?

Anton Clifford: Greater than half of the folks with knee OA are of working age, however complete knee substitute is an end-stage remedy and should require vital exercise limitations. Youthful or reasonably diseased sufferers with knee OA are sometimes not candidates for arthroplasty and have few remedy choices. Surgeons and sufferers alike are pissed off by the remedy hole that exists at this time between non-surgical care and complete knee substitute surgical procedure.

Medgadget: Please give us an summary of the MISHA Knee System and the way it works.

Anton Clifford: The MISHA Knee System is the primary FDA-cleared implantable shock absorber developed for the remedy of medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. The MISHA Knee System reduces the height forces on painful knee joints throughout actions similar to strolling, operating, or just standing. The implant is positioned beneath the pores and skin, however exterior the joint, throughout an outpatient process. Not like joint substitute surgical procedures, none of a affected person’s bone, ligament, or cartilage is eliminated, minimizing restoration and making certain all future remedy choices are nonetheless out there. No weight bearing or vary of movement restrictions are required, and there aren’t any device-imposed limitations on return to exercise.

Medgadget: How has the know-how fared in current medical research?

Anton Clifford: In our most up-to-date medical research, an amazing majority of research contributors skilled speedy, substantial, and sustained enhancements in ache and performance. At two years, 96% of sufferers skilled clinically significant ache reduction, and 92% of sufferers skilled clinically significant practical enchancment. Moreover, sufferers quickly returned to exercise and returned to full weight bearing inside 13 days.

Medgadget: Sometimes, how lengthy can the know-how help a affected person in avoiding the necessity for a knee substitute?

Anton Clifford: Our implantable shock absorber (ISA) know-how has over a decade of medical expertise, over 1,500 handled sufferers, and has demonstrated the flexibility to scale back joint stress and ache for these with gentle to average osteoarthritis. The ISA with a polymer shock absorber has been used within the clinic for over eight years, and the 5-year estimated freedom from arthroplasty is 85%.

Hyperlink: Moximed homepage…

Flashbacks: Implantable Knee Shock Absorber Embedded in First Affected person in U.S.; Atlas, an Implantable Shock Absorber for Your Knee; KineSpring: Shock Absorbing Implant Reduces Joint Stress in Energetic Sufferers