animalTECH
Mass production of surgical implants offers the benefit of reduced cost-efficiency in combination with high production quality. However, the question remains why one should offer a standard implant to a patient with unique and highly individual anatomical and biomechanical specifications, when we have all the tools available to tailor the implant as needed?
Therefore, thinking case-based and customizing implants rather than mass-producing is the maxim at animalTECH. Being more than a decade behind human medicine, it is time to introduce advanced digital technology to the veterinary operating room and making advantage of Industry 4.0 in small animal surgery
Being a loyal customer of various veterinary product companies, it was the ongoing frustration of missing solutions to common orthopaedic challenges and our ever-growing interest in engineering technology and rapid prototyping, which build the foundation of the implant product line of animalTECH. Especially, custom made implants to the individual patient’s anatomy is one of the core principles at animalTECH. Why should one offer a standard implant to a patient with unique and highly individual anatomical and biomechanical specifications, when we have all the tools available to tailor the implant as needed? Thinking case-based rather than mass producing is the top at animalTECH. Along with this, we make use of the advantages of alternative materials other than steel and titanium, such as PEEK and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) considering implant design, production and clinical application a multimodal approach, where we combine the benefits of different types of materials for the benefit of our patients.
Finally, we complement custom made implants with 3D printed templates, jigs, drill-guides and anatomical models to train in a dry-lab setting and guide the implantation intraoperatively, thereby reducing the risk of complications and surgical complexity.
With more than two decades of the experience, it is our pleasure to support surgeons along the process of complex osteotomy planning and guide them through the procedure in the OR with matching templates, jigs and anatomical models, as well as the matching custom designed bone plate(s) – if requested.
On the other hand, our passion for teaching and training students, residents and veterinary surgeons in general, fueled the development of the training and surgical simulator product line of animalTECH.
We are not considering animalTech to be a business rival for the established implant companies to which we feel amicably attached. In fact, animalTECH is focusing on the development and production of niche products, bridging the gap between financial profit, customization and small series production.
Products/ Services
- chondroTECH- Synthetic Osteochondral Reconstruction
- spineTECH- Spinal Distraction, Repositioning and Fusion Cage
- customTECH – Custom Made Implants
- 3D Printed Anatomical Models
Send your image data with some sort of scale (for final planning we will need CT) along with some background data regarding the patient and the challenge you are facing, and we will make you an offer without any obligation.
ChondroTech
Indicated for focal resurfacing of Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) or traumatic (osteo)chrondral lesions using an individually shaped fully synthetic biphasic implant composed of a titanium socket – for bone fixation and mechanical support – and a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) cup as bearing surface.
Opposed to full metal implants, TPU mimics to a great extent the elastic properties of hyaline cartilage, enabling a long-lasting function with no or only minimal wear at the opposing cartilage surface (Cook 2013). Both, the metallic socket as well as the TPU bearing surface are custom shaped, perfectly fitting to the individual local anatomy and thereby restoring physiological joint surface geometry and contact. Primary indications are OCD lesions in the shoulder, the elbow, the stifle and the tibio-tarsal (hock) joint. In general, biological defect reconstruction is always preferred over synthetic techniques and especially in the stifle joint, immediate reconstruction with autologous bone transplants should be the first choice. However, in case of unavailability of (sufficient) osteochondral transplants (either auto- or allografts), concerns about donor site morbidity and associated potential complications or in case of difficulties in finding a geometrically matching donor site (such as for talar OCD), synthetic custom-made implants overcome all these limitations. Anchorage is similar to traditional osteochondral transfer procedures, where the implants are press fitted into the recipient area. The titanium socked with its dedicated surface finish stimulates both bone on-growth and in-growth, assuring stable fixation, also on long-term, while the TPU assures only minimal wear and minimal debris formation for years.
Another advantage of such custom-made osteochondral implants, is the simplicity in guiding the surgeon through the procedure in the OR, by providing, along with the implant, the specific drill guides for perfect implant positioning.
In addition, we ship a complete set of extra guides and a bone model of the affected joint to allow for dry-lab training in each individual case, which further reduces p.o. complications thus enabling also the less experienced surgeons to achieve consistent outcomes.
Last but not least, we include all the necessary instrumentation/reamers on a free on loan basis, to spare you from investing in specific tools, which might not be otherwise used on a regular base.
SpineTech – Spinal Distraction, Repositioning and Fusion Cage
Chronic dynamic cervical intervertebral disc disease (Wobbler) has been reported to benefit from some form of distraction and fusion of the affected vertebral segments. The established fusion cage systems on the market have to fight the limits of generalising, where the implant design has to follow the principle “one shape – fits all”. SpineTECH on the contrary, is constructed such as to match the unique anatomical features of the patient’s specific anatomy, re-establishing physiological alignment of the two affected vertebrae, including correction of dorsal tipping, while at the same time providing strong bridging with strong locking screw fixation. Because the cage system serves as its own drill guide, screw placement is completely without risks, making the procedure the safest available today. Topological optimization of the cage also improves biomechanical compatibility, reducing the risk of progressive subsidence of the cage into the vertebral end plates and subsequent loss of distraction.
We include all necessary instrumentation on a free on loan basis, to spare you from investing in specific tools, which might not be otherwise used on a regular base.
Upload your image data with some sort of scale (for final planning we will need CT or MRI) along with some background data regarding the patient and we will make you an offer without any obligation. Make sure to provide cervical images with and without axial distraction, to allow for optimal assessment of physiological intervertebral disc height.
customTECH – Custom Made Implants
Why individual veterinary implants?
Standard total or partial joint replacement implants often do not have the optimal properties in terms of size, shape, stiffness and/or the ability to be securely anchored in regions with poor bone stock. Especially in revision surgery or in cases with severely abnormal anatomical features, where standard implants may not offer a safe or functional solution, designing and producing a custom-made implant with a matching surgical guide to facilitate the correct placement in vivo could be the best option. Depending on the case, we offer implants, which complement the standard joint prosthesis you are using (e.g. total hip from KYON or BioMedtrix) or we provide the complete implant set (e.g. CUE-like implant system for unicompartimental elbow and talus pathologies; bi- or unipolar shoulder prosthesis).
3D Printed Anatomical Models
3D models of patient specific anatomy can help surgeons to better plan complex surgical procedures. But also for education and training, anatomical models are of great help.
We provide anatomical models using different 3D printing technologies, including multi-color printing. Beside printing bone models, which are easily extracted from commonly derived from CT images, we also perform semi-automated segmentation and subsequent 3D printing of soft tissue organs, based on CT or MRI data.
Upload your image data along with some background data regarding the patient and the challenge you are facing, and we will make you an offer without any obligation.