Gainesville, Florida-based Exactech designed the Activit-E polyethylene for its Truliant knee replacement system. It combines material strength and toughness through chemically crosslinked polyethylene. It also eliminates the need for gamma irradiation technology used in previous polyethylene generations.
Exactech said its design helps to maintain oxidative resistance and long-term performance, including strength and stabilization.
“After years of research and development in polyethylene, Activit-E represents a breakthrough achievement for Exactech. It is the next generation of highly crosslinked polyethylene with vitamin E antioxidant that is intended to further our primary goal of providing immense benefits to our patients,” said Adam Hayden, CMO and SVP, large joints business unit at Exactech.
Orhun Muratoglu of Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston) created the new-generation polyethylene. Muratoglu, director of the Harris Orthopaedic Lab at MGH, invented the first crosslinked polyethylene and the first of multiple generations of vitamin E, antioxidant polyethylene for leading orthopedic companies.
Muratoglu said the strength, flexibility and toughness address a need in total knee arthroplasty. Additionally, Muratoglu said it addresses the looming shortage of gamma radiation for crosslinking. This ensures that patients continue to benefit from crosslinked polyethylene’s “clinically proven advantages” in total joints.
Exactech plans to launch the first Activit-E products in the beginning of the third quarter in the U.S. The company expects to begin global expansion in 2024.