Erika Rose | Times Correspondent
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When one side of a person's knee joint is worn due to arthritis, either from injury or a deformity, the typical answer is a partial knee replacement, in which only the most damaged areas of cartilage are replaced instead of the entire joint.
However, even with this more minimally invasive option, the incision for a partial knee replacement can be as long as 4 inches, resulting in significant pain and recovery time for the patient, says Dr. Ron Clark, a South Bend orthopedic surgeon.
Still, Clark says there hasn't been much urgency in the surgical world to change what is regarded as a highly successful surgery. From a surgeon's point of view, the procedure is effective and let's face it, it doesn't hurt the doctor a bit.
In 2002, when Clark first learned to put in partial knee implants, he thought there had to be a better way to do the partial implant through a smaller incision and by disturbing less tissue, resulting in a faster and less taxing recovery for the patient. He wanted the device to be implanted more readily with the use of the artheroscope, a ballpoint pen-sized surgical tool fitted with a tiny camera.
"I came up with a concept that I thought would address some of the problems that the previous design had," he said. "It was mainly related to the way in which the lower bone was surgically approached."
So he contacted Ross Mack, a retired engineering professor from Valparaiso University who helped him begin the process of designing a new device that addressed some of the previous shortcomings.
Together with Mack, and a patent attorney, Mark Morrison, Clark formed a company, Valparaiso Orthopedic Technology, and organized a team to develop and distribute the Solo Partial Knee System. In 2005, the three founders incorporated and moved the company out of Clark's home. Now known as VOT Arthroscopic Solutions, the orthopedic medical device company is now located in Warsaw, Ind.
In March of 2008, the final version of the VOT device was FDA-approved. In December of 2008, the first patient received Clark's partial knee implant. To date, Clark has used the new implant in about 24 patients, who he says are reporting high levels of satisfaction.
As word of the device spreads among physicians and more doctors undergo training to use it, the numbers of successful operations are rising, Clark says, with three other doctors currently trained to date.
Though using the device is a little more challenging for the surgeon, it is certainly preferable for the patient, who can walk away with a 1-1/2-inch incision instead of up to 4 inches. Though there have been no formal studies by VOT to back the claim, the result - at least in Clark's practice - is an acceleration in recovery by about 50 percent as compared to the traditional partial knee replacement. Clark has found his patients typically go home the same day and require about half the recovery time. It will take several years to truly see how well the implant functions and whether the early good results hold up.
The ideal candidate for a partial knee replacement with the Solo implant is a patient with deterioration on one side of the knee. Clark says the technology is especially exciting news for younger patients, those 60 and younger, who can get relief while staving off a total knee replacement which is likely to be needed later. He says the less traumatic surgery is also good news for the older patient who has a less demanding lifestyle and might not ever require additional surgery.
Most importantly, Clark says the improved procedure means less patients will have to endure a painful waiting game.
"Many times, patients postpone major knee surgery because they are told they are too young and that they have to wait," Clark says. "That's because when you operate on a knee you remove bone that can never be replaced. This system removes very little bone so should it not last the entire life of the patient, it has the advantage of being interchangeable to other types of knee devices so that patients have more options."
For information about the Solo Partial Knee System, call VOT Solutions at (866) 942-9498.
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INDIANAPOLIS - Six local companies were among the 50 companies earning a place in Indiana's second annual field of "Companies to Watch."
The local companies are New Carbon Co. Inc. of South Bend; Tru Pay Corp. of Mishawaka; Electronic Commerce Inc. of Elkhart; Livin' Lite Recreational Vehicles Inc. of Wakarusa; Quality Hardwood Sales Inc. of Nappanee; and VOT Solutions of Warsaw.
The accolade, presented by the Indiana Economic Development Corp., its Small Business Development Center network, Purdue University and the Edward Lowe Foundation, recognizes the state's privately held businesses that employ up to 150 employees and have between $750,000 and $100 million in annual revenue or working capital.
"Mid-sized companies like these named Companies to Watch make up the foundation of the Indiana economy," said Mitch Roob, secretary of commerce and chief executive with the Indiana Economic Development Corp., in a press release.
According to the release, the 50 Companies to Watch, which were named after evaluating the more than 500 nominations for the awards, represent industries ranging from food manufacturers to software developers and medical device makers to financial services firms.
The 50 chosen companies project to have combined revenues in excess of $671 million and create more than 560 new jobs this year. The revenue projections represent an increase of more than $200 million from 2008.
Nearly 3,800 midsized companies with between $5 million and $100 million in annual sales operate in Indiana, according to a 2008 Indiana Chamber of Commerce Foundation study. Those companies employed more than 386,000 workers and produced more than $55 billion in annual sales.
With major sponsorship from Barnes & Thornburg LLP, the Companies to Watch awards program is an initiative developed by the Cassopolis, Mich.-based Edward Lowe Foundation.
The 50 Companies to Watch will be honored at an Aug. 27 ceremony at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.
VOT Solutions is proud to report their first surgery using their new, innovative SoloTM Partial Knee System.The Solo Partial Knee System is implanted using an arthroscopically assisted technique with minimal bone resection and a small incision.
"I am very pleased and encouraged by our first surgery as we were able to keep the incision size to approximately two inches and we are well on our goal to reducing the size to one inch for a full resurfacing of the medial condyle." The smaller the incision the less surgical trauma. The patient was released from the hospital after an overnight stay.Moreover, she did not complain of pain and experienced an excellent range of motion.", stated Ron Clark, M.D. Founder and Chairman of VOT LLC. "Our goal for the Solo System is to provide a surgical technique and implants that allow our patients to benefit from limited soft tissue damage and minimal bone resection.".
"This milestone procedure utilizing a patent pending cement injection technique, with improved implant fixation, is just the beginning of VOT's commitment to innovative options in the treatment of osteoarthritis ", noted David Blakemore, VP of R&D."We have also started development on yet smaller knee surface replacements that restore more selective areas of the damaged knee joint."
VOT Solutions is an orthopedic medical device company located in Warsaw, IN and focused on the design and development of innovative knee surgical devices and techniques.
For more information about the company, please contact Tom Carter, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at VOT, 720 E Winona Ave., Warsaw, IN46580, phone at 574-269-4103, ext. 224. Or review website at www.votechnology.com.
VOT announces Micropulse Incorporated located in Columbia City, IN as their manufacturing partner for a complete line of knee implants, instruments and delivery systems. "VOT is excited about our new business partner," said Hans Stover, President & CEO of VOT. "Micropulse brings a wealth of orthopedic design and manufacturing expertise that allows us to focus on developing and launching products."
"We are pleased to partner with and provide VOT with design and manufacturing support for new market changing technology," said Brian Emerick, President and CEO of Micropulse, Inc. "We are excited to be part of something so innovative and look forward to assisting VOT with their future success. They have all of the ingredients for success including a strong management team, innovative market changing products and key surgeon relationships." Micropulse uses state of the art machinery and technology to provide design, prototyping and manufacturing of the most demanding instrumentation, implants and delivery systems. "Due to a high level of customer satisfaction and the increasing demand for our orthopedic products, Micropulse is in the process of adding 47,000 square feet to our facility and investing $6 million in plant and equipment to keep up with future manufacturing needs," said Emerick.
VOT Solutions is an orthopedic medical device company located in Warsaw, IN and is focused on the design and development of innovative knee arthroscopic and arthroplasty surgical devices.
For more information about the company please contact Tom Carter, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at 438 E. 200 N, Warsaw, IN 46582, phone at 574-269-4103, ext. 224.
VOT Solutions announces a move to 720 East Winona Ave, Warsaw Indiana. VOT has continued to add employees and consultants over the past year of operations and needed more space for development and design. "VOT is very excited about the move as it shows continued growth of the company and the need for additional space to move more activities in house," said David Blakemore, Vice President of Research and Development. "The added office space and engineering lab will be necessary as we continue to expand and add more development engineers and other staff to drive the growth of the company."
VOT Solutions is an orthopedic medical device company located in Warsaw, IN and is focused on the design and development of innovative knee arthroscopic and arthroplasty surgical devices.
For more information about the company please contact Tom Carter, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at 438 E. 200 N, Warsaw, IN 46582, phone at 574-269-4103, ext. 224. Or review website at www.votechnology.com.
VOT announces it received 510K approval from the FDA for a new uni-compartmental knee implant called "SoloTM Partial Knee System." The major advantage of the Solo Partial Knee is that the device can be surgically implanted using an arthroscopic assisted technique through a single, 25 mm (1 inch) opening which dramatically reduces the incision size and soft tissue trauma to the patients compared to conventional partial knee replacements. The procedure also utilizes bone sparing resection techniques which opens the procedure up to much younger patients.
"This is an important milestone for our young company," says Hans Stover, President & CEO of VOT Solutions. "We believe this product will provide a great solution to patients who suffer from osteoarthritis, but who are not ready for a total knee replacement."
Knee arthritis afflicts millions of people and each year approximately 660,000 knee joint replacements are implanted in the US alone. Annual growth rates over the last decade average greater than 10% and the market is expected to exceed a million surgeries by 2010. The number of knee replacement candidates who decline surgery (i.e. patients in these treatment gaps who are foregoing surgical treatment) is undocumented, but projected to be quite large, given that over 21 million people in the US suffer from osteoarthritis.
VOT Solutions is an orthopedic medical device company located in Warsaw, IN and is focused on the design and development of innovative knee arthroscopic and arthroplasty surgical devices.
For more information about the company please contact Tom Carter, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at 438 E. 200 N, Warsaw, IN 46582, phone at 574-269-4103, ext 224.
VOT announces the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors: Bix Benson, Ruffolo Benson LLC and Main Street Venture Fund; Brian Emerick, President & CEO Micropulse Inc.; Rod Mayer, CEO DVO Extremity Solutions, a division of Tornier. "VOT is extremely excited about the new additions to the board," said Hans Stover, President & CEO of VOT. "The new members bring a wealth of orthopedic experience and business knowledge to assist in the future success of the company."
All directors bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the company. Mr. Benson through years of financial and start-up company experience, Mr. Emerick provides a strong understanding of the orthopedic manufacturing and Mr. Mayer brings many years of orthopedic sales and marketing, and most recently as CEO of a successful start-up, DVO Extremity Solutions, who was acquired by Tornier in 2007. "It's comforting to know that you have a strong team of board members with a multitude of successful experiences and industry knowledge to assist in guiding the company," said Stover.
VOT Solutions is an orthopedic medical device company located in Warsaw, IN and is focused on the design and development of innovative knee arthroscopic and arthroplasty surgical devices used in bone, muscle and joint surgery. For more information about the company please contact Tom Carter, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at 438 E. 200 N, Warsaw, IN 46582, phone at 574-269-4103, ext. 224.