Ascension Orthopedics granted patent for pyrocarbon humeral head design

Ascension Orthopedics, Inc., announced in a press release the receipt of a European patent for a pyrocarbon humeral head design currently being developed as a component of the TITAN Modular Shoulder System released in September 2010.

Jerome Klawitter, PhD., founder and chief science officer of Ascension Orthopedics, stated in the release, "I am very pleased our pyrocarbon humeral head hemi-arthroplasty has been patented. pyrocarbon has been shown to cause much less damage to cartilage and bone joint tissues than the Co-Cr metal alloy currently used for shoulder joint hemi-arthroplasty. A pyrocarbon humeral head replacement should extend the functional life of shoulder hemi-arthroplasty and result in improved patient outcomes. Extensive design and testing has resulted in the development of a product which will soon be available for clinical use."

Klawitter pioneered efforts using pyrocarbon in the manufacture of mechanical heart valves. In the 1970s, his focus turned toward the design of pyrocarbon implants for the orthopedic market. His collaborative efforts with the Mayo Clinic lead to the founding of Ascension Orthopedics in 1992. Since the introduction in 2000 of the first pyrocarbon total joint replacement for the MCP joint of the hand, Ascension has been dedicated to building on the company's experience by successfully using pyrocarbon in both hemi and total joint arthroplasty applications.