Tarun Goswami, DSc, associate professor of biomedical and orthopaedics at Wright State University in Dayton, OH, is approaching local manufacturing companies to commercialize his artificial joint research. “We have to create some local interest so this can actually see the market,” says Goswami, who worked with students to develop toe brace and total toe joint replacement technologies for which patent applications have been submitted. Goswami also collaborated with students and with Richard Laughlin, MD, who chairs the department of orthopaedic surgery at Wright State’s Boonshoft School of Medicine, on a total ankle replacement system. The researchers also have submitted a patent application for that technology.<\/p>\n
It’s not clear how much revenue the artificial joint technology could generate. However, the decision by Wright State’s Office of Technology Transfer and Development to seek patents is a vote of confidence in the technology’s commercial potential, says Reid Smith, interim director of the OTTD. “This is a growing market, and it’s going to continue to grow as the population ages,” Smith points out. Goswami sees strong potential for collaboration in the Dayton region. “Dayton is famous for materials research,” he says. “The base is here, as well as very strong industry support that we have developing new surgical-grade materials for these kinds of implants.” Promising materials include a polymer known as PEEK and a nickel-titanium alloy. The technology could improve the longevity of artificial joints, Goswami says, which, in turn, could cut health care costs. The technology’s commercialization could mean good jobs for the region, he adds.<\/p>\n