Two patients in Israel have undergone knee surgery to receive the NUsurface Meniscus Implant – reportedly the first “artificial meniscus” to be marketed in the Middle East, Active Implants LLC reports.

Until now, the NUsurface Implant, developed by the Memphis, Tenn-based company, was only available in Israel in clinical trials.

The procedures were performed by two surgeons who have been involved with the NUsurface Implant development since 2006: Dr Gabriel Agar from Shamir Medical Center completed the first commercial case in a public hospital on November 11 and Dr Ron Arbel from Ramat-Aviv Medical Center treated the first commercial patient in a private clinic on November 12, the company notes in a media release.

“After more than 10 years in clinical trials, it is an exciting time to finally be able to make the NUsurface Implant available to Israeli patients,” Agar says. “Continued pain after repairing meniscus tears is a very common orthopedic problem, and until now, we have not had effective treatment options.”

The NUsurface Meniscus Implant is inserted into the knee joint through a small incision, and patients typically can go home soon after the operation. The implant mimics the function of the natural meniscus and redistributes loads transmitted across the knee joint. It is made from a medical grade plastic and, as a result of its unique materials and composite structure and design, does not require fixation to bone or soft tissues. 

“The NUsurface Implant has been extensively studied in clinical trials in Israel, Europe and the US,” Arbel states. “The implant is designed for patients who still have persistent knee pain following a meniscus surgery, and it is ideal for those who have exhausted other treatment options but are too young for total knee replacement.”

In the US, the NUsurface Meniscus Implant was recently granted a Breakthrough Device Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Filling the gap in treatment options between minimally invasive meniscus repair and total knee replacement is a large unmet need in the orthopedic market,” shares Ted Davis, president and CEO of Active Implants.

“The NUsurface Implant was invented and developed in our R&D center in Israel, so for us it is very exciting to finally bring the device to people in Israel.”

[Source: Active Implants LLC]