Medical Device Link.

Biomedical engineering students at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore) may have found a way to speed up the recovery period for patients who undergo surgery to treat orthopedic injuries such as ruptured tendons. By embedding a patient’s stem cells into a surgical thread, the researchers believe that they can not only improve healing and reduce inflammation but also lower the chances of reinjury. The technology has potential in treating tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries. It could also possibly be used in the field of cardiology. Using stem cells could reduce the likelihood of rejection as well.

Early study results revealed that the stem cell–embedded sutures can withstand surgical procedures and retain the ability to transform into replacement tissue—including cartilage or tendon. Should the same results occur in future human testing, the technology could offer tremendous potential to patients. The current recovery period for Achilles tendon repair is up to a year and about 20% of cases require another operation, according to Matt Rubashkin, leader of the Johns Hopkins team. In addition to accelerating the healing process, these new sutures could reduce operation and follow-up therapy costs for hospitals and patients.

More details about these new sutures are available on the Med-Tech Precision blog.