Scripps Clinic Awarded the Hap Paul Award for Outstanding Development in New Technology of Joint Replacement

The HAP Paul Award for outstanding development in new technology of joint replacement was awarded to the Scripps Clinic Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education (SCORE) on September 24th at the International Society for Technology and Arthroplasty (ISTA) conference in Rome, Italy. The award-winning research paper, “Tibial Forces Measured in Vivo After Total Knee Anthroplasty” will be published by ISTA as a special article in the Journal of Anthroplasty.


Darryl D’Lima, MD, director of the Smith-Richardson Joint Mechanics Laboratory accepted the award at a special plenary session during the conference. The work was part of a team effort led by Clifford Colwell Jr, MD. SCORE personnel who also contributed to the project included Juan Hermida, MD; Shantanu Patil, MD; Nick Steklov; Bao Nguyen; Mary Hardwick, RN, and Pam Pulido, RN.


The research was made possible by the first ever, custom-designed implant which was implanted into a patient in February, 2004. Known as the electronic knee, the implant contains tranducers, a microtransmitter and an antenna that allow transmission of force measurements into a computer-readable format. This revolutionary technology allows scientists at SCORE to measure in real-time the distribution of forces to the implant and the load-carrying capabilities of the bone as the patient walks, climbs stairs and exercises. This knowledge will give scientists, engineers and industry the ability to design better knee replacement prostheses in the future.


Founded in 1924, Scripps Clinic is a multi-specialty, outpatient care facility caring for patients at multiple locations throughout San Diego County. Scripps Clinic and its physicians are world-renowned for research-driven care and medical specialty expertise and is an operating unit of Scripps Health, a not-for-profit, community-based health care delivery network that includes more than 2,600 affiliated physicians, five acute-care hospitals, home health care and associated support services. Scripps Health is one of the largest health care organizations in San Diego County, drawing from the expertise of more than 10,000 health care professionals.


For more information about the electronic knee or knee replacement surgery call 1-800-SCRIPPS (1-800-727-4777).

Related tags: