SAN DIEGO, CA - DJO Incorporated, a global provider of products and services that promote pain management and musculoskeletal and vascular health, announced today that its surgical division, DJO Surgical, has signed an agreement with Italian based implant company, Lima Corporate. The strategic partnership will allow Lima Corporate to distribute select DJO Surgical products in several countries in Europe, while Lima Corporate will provide products for sale in the US through DJO Surgical.
As a starting point, Lima Corporate will distribute DJO Surgical’s 3DKnee™ and Foundation™ Total Knee Systems in selected European Markets. The result of more than a decade of research, the 3DKnee is the first knee implant specifically engineered to accommodate the important changes in contact, movement, and pressure that occur in the knee joint after total knee replacement. Not only is the 3DKnee designed to provide a wider range of motion and greater stability than other knee prostheses, its revolutionary design is also intended to minimize the stresses that have traditionally led to the premature deterioration of most available implants. As a result, the 3DKnee should have a longer life expectancy than other devices, making ideal for younger patients.1
Also, as part of this first phase, DJO Surgical will pursue FDA clearance to bring to the United States Lima Corporate’s Revision Hip Stem and Acetabular Cups System, including Trabecular Titanium™. Trabecular Titanium is an innovative multi-planar hexagonal cell structure imitating the cell structure of the trabecular bone. Its morphology and dimensions have been optimized to improve vascularization and therefore maximize osteointegration. The low rigidity of the Trabecular Titanium structure fosters the transmission of physiological loads from implant to bone. It is far more resistant compared to trabecular bone, therefore it can be used as the ideal filler/support structure for bone in growth. Clinical studies have demonstrated
excellent osteointegration and a Bone Implant Contact BIC of 95% in 26 weeks. Trabecular Titanium can be applied in the most diverse prosthetic implants, from initial and revision Acetabular cups to cemented cup and glenoid cages.2
The relationship between these two outstanding and innovative companies will allow each of them to leverage one another’s product portfolio and increase their product offerings to better serve their customers. It is expected that both companies will begin rolling out these initial products in late 2009.
“It would be difficult to find a better match between two total joint companies,” said Les Cross, president and chief executive officer of DJO. “Our product lines and geographic strengths are quite complimentary. We are excited to be able to provide each other products that will allow both companies to grow in their respective market spaces.”
In commenting on the new agreement, Stefano Alfonsi, chief executive officer for Lima Corporate said, “At Lima we believe that collaboration is great source of innovation and customer service; we believe that connecting good people and sharing ideas across the globe gives us the ability to anticipate customer demand. This collaboration allows us to serve a worldwide customer base. We are mastering technology and materials for orthopaedics and we are confident that U.S. markets will also welcome our capability. At the same time we are really enthusiastic to be able to provide to our European customers a clinically proven and innovative knee systems provided by DJO Surgical.”
About DJO Incorporated
DJO is a leading global developer, manufacturer and distributor of high-quality medical devices that provide solutions for musculoskeletal health, vascular health and pain management. The Company's products address the continuum of patient care from injury prevention to rehabilitation after surgery, injury or from degenerative disease. Our products are used by orthopedic specialists, spine surgeons, primary care physicians, pain management specialists, physical therapists, podiatrists, chiropractors, athletic trainers and other healthcare professionals. In addition, many of the Company's medical devices and related accessories are used by athletes and patients for injury prevention and at-home physical therapy treatment. The Company's product lines include rigid and soft orthopedic bracing, hot and cold therapy, bone growth stimulators, vascular systems, electrical stimulators used for pain management and physical therapy products. The Company’s surgical division offers a comprehensive suite of reconstructive joint products for the hip, knee and shoulder. DJO's products are marketed under the brands Aircast®, DonJoy®, ProCare®, CMF™,
Empi®, Saunders®, Chattanooga, DJO Surgical, Cefar®-Compex® and Ormed®. For additional information on the Company, please visit www.DJOglobal.com.
About Lima Corporate
Lima Corporate is the Italian International Leader of Orthopaedics and Traumatology.
For over 60 years Lima has been present in the medical field with implantable prosthesis substitutive of bone articulations for knee, hip, shoulder and minor joints arthroplasty. Lima Corporate project is to produce a complete system of interchangeable modules to better adapt the implant to each patients needs, thus reducing surgery time and improve functional rehabilitation.
Lima Corporate core business combines its experience in the orthopaedic field with its know-how in the area of implantable materials of biomechanics; it applies distinct concepts such as modularity and the use of innovative materials like Trabecular Titanium and bioceramics. Strongly oriented to international, Lima Corporate has a company structure which consists in three modern facilities in Italy - in the regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia Romagna and in Sicily - in addition to its 11 Subsidiaries.
Since 2008 the Company Hit Medica is part of Lima Corporate. Hit Medica offers a wide range of trauma, hand and foot surgery products and is continuously committed to the research of innovative procedures, giving the customer the possibility to choose the best surgical solution for every patient. Hit Medica operates in Italy and worldwide through a network of company representatives and exclusive distributors.
For additional information on the Company, please visit www.lima.it
1Data on file at DJO Surgical
2Data on file at Lima Corporate
Bryan Monroe, Senior Vice President, General Manager
(512) 834-6226
