Total
Wrist Implant

Feb. 6 2003 Kinetikos Medical Inc. (KMI), a company specializing in small bone medical devices, announced the launch of its total wrist implant, Universal2 (UNI2) at the 70th Annual American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting. 

The implant, a second generation version of the Universal Total Wrist Implant, an existing and successful product with 12 years worth of supporting clinical data, is proven to be significantly more stable than any total wrist implant previously marketed in the U.S. and is designed for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The most common treatment for people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis is total wrist fusion, which eliminates pain but renders the patient incapable of wrist movement. The UNI2 is a form of total wrist arthroplasty, a procedure offered in the U.S. since the 1970s in which implants offer a viable alternative to fusion. Unfortunately, most wrist implants have not proven to be clinically effective due to implant designs and the complex biomechanics of the wrist. The most common complaints associated with most forms of wrist implant arthroplasty include loosening and dislocation.

"The UNI2 is the best option on the market for the millions of Americans suffering from debilitating rheumatoid arthritis.  It removes a source of terrible pain for them while restoring function and increasing quality of life," says James F. Ham, President of KMI. 

"Our clinical trials have shown that this device eliminates virtually all of the former problems with wrist arthroplasty." 

He adds:  "Most importantly, we have had zero dislocations so far, and we expect that trend to continue."

The UNI2 is the second-generation wrist implant to the Universal Total Wrist Implant System, which was introduced in 1996. Due to its unique technical design, the UNI2 is the best option available today, offering stability, variable sized polys to correctly restore carpal height, and precise instrumentation.

The implant can be offered to  people with rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic arthritis, SLAC wrist and Osteo arthritis. It can also be used in the revision of a failed implant, in younger patients with generalized articular disease or in difficult situations where clinical experience indicates that other reconstructive efforts are likely to achieve unsatisfactory results.

The system consists of four implant sizes with variable height poly interfaces and an instrument tray with four sizes each of radial and carpal implants. The carpal poly implant is made of U.H.M.W.Pe. and is uniquely designed to minimize the risk of dislocation due to its precise mating with the radial component. Titanium Bone screws are also provided.

About KMI

Kinetikos Medical Inc. (KMI) develops, manufactures and markets innovative surgical solutions for small bones, state-of-the-art joint replacement implants, fixation devices and surgery support devices. KMI currently has six products on the market and five in development. 

All products are focused on extremities surgery. KMI develops products for the small bone market, and the company's innovative products benefit both patients and physicians by providing unique solutions to everyday surgical problems with products and instruments that deliver reproducible results. The company is located in San Diego, CA; its Web address is http://www.visitkmi.com .