Scripps Health announced Thursday that it has received a $317,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop an innovative “smart shoulder” replacement implant.
The grant will fund a two-year research initiative at the Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education (SCORE) at Scripps Clinic in Torrey Pines Mesa. The project aims to improve the design and functionality of shoulder prosthetics, a growing, important field as shoulder replacement procedures continue to rise across the United States.
“Shoulder replacement surgery represents an important area of study,” said Dr. Darryl D’Lima, director of orthopedic research at Scripps Health and co-lead investigator of the project. “Studies show that the number of these procedures has grown significantly in recent years in the United States, and the trend is expected to continue. We need to gather and review data to better understand ways we can improve shoulder prosthetics and rehab approaches for patients, and this grant funding is an important first step toward that goal.”
The project is a collaboration between Dr. D’Lima and Dr. Heinz Hoenecke, an orthopedic surgeon and researcher at Scripps Clinic and the initiative’s co-lead investigator. The team will design, develop, and test a prototype implant with wireless technology, sensors, and rechargeable power capabilities.
The “smart shoulder” implant will be able to remotely and continuously transmit key data from within a patient’s shoulder joint after surgery. Metrics such as mechanical forces, temperature, and range of motion will be captured in real-time, offering a deeper understanding of how the implant interacts with the body.
The team will initially test the device on a human cadaver shoulder to validate the technology. According to Scripps, this approach could revolutionize how orthopedic surgeons monitor and adjust treatments for patients recovering from shoulder replacement surgery.
“The smart implant will serve as both a functional shoulder joint replacement, as well as a research tool that can continually record and transmit data from inside the patient’s shoulder,” Scripps Health said in a statement.
This new development builds on Scripps’ legacy of groundbreaking prosthetic advancements. 2004, Dr. Clifford Colwell made history at Scripps Green Hospital when he implanted the world’s first electronic knee prosthesis into a patient. That landmark project yielded valuable insights into how mechanical forces impact knee function, setting a precedent for today’s “smart” orthopedic innovations.
The initial funding comes from the National Institute on Aging, a division of the National Institutes of Health. After the two-year research phase, Scripps Health will seek additional funding to advance the project into clinical studies, potentially shaping the future of orthopedic care and rehabilitation.