Introducing the newly-CE marked Biphasic Plate

Superior fixation for optimized fracture healing.

On April 21, 2021, the Biphasic Plate DF (Distal Femur) obtained the CE certification as a class IIB medical device.

This great achievement represents a formidable team effort, made possible by the AO Innovation Translation Center (AO ITC) Technology Transfer.
In fact, Biphasic Plating is a new solution devised by the AO Research Institute Davos (ARI) in Switzerland, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia and 41medical as a legal manufacturer. Due to the development incubator funding from the AO ITC, the development phase of the distal femur version started in 2018 and today the plate is in first series production in preparation for clinical application in mid-2021 in Europe.

Clinical problem

Severe trauma to the extremities is a leading cause of disability during the wage-earning period. The socioeconomic burden of fracture is substantial: loss of working capacity represents more than 60% of the total cost of fractures, while the direct cost of medical treatment is less than 20%. Optimal outcomes require not only solid union but also early and complete recovery of limb function. The current generation of fracture fixation plates focuses on minimizing the impact of surgery and preserving biological healing potential. However, their design poorly controls a second critical component: the mechanical environment of the fracture. Furthermore, these plates are prone to failure, which limits function and delays return to work.

Novel solution

The Biphasic Plate with its novel plate fixation design:

  • Provides a beneficial mechanical environment at the fracture site for robust fracture healing

  • Increases implant strength which carries potential to permit full, early weight bearing and prevent implant fatigue-related failure

  • Standardizes and, therefore, simplifies the surgical procedure

Invented by Associate Professor Devakar Epari from QUT and ARI Focus Area Leader Markus Windolf (among others), the Biphasic Plating concept was proven by mechanical testing and preclinical experiments conducted at ARI between 2016 and 2018. Results of the large animal study, which were published in the August 2020 issue of the Injury journal [1], support in vivo feasibility of the Biphasic Plating concept. Additionally, computer simulations were performed at QUT, demonstrating its improved mechanical performance [2].

Fig 1 Biphasic Plate DF (Distal Femur) features a transverse slot in a region of increased thickness that simultaneously provides controlled fracture motion and enhanced implant strength, as indicated by substantially lower stresses in the implant. Standard locking plates produce variable fracture motion depending on the working length, whereas the Biphasic Plate provides controlled fracture motion over a wide load range. The Biphasic Plate DF is designed to be compatible with existing 5.0 mm DePuySynthes locking screws and insertion instruments. The implant is pre-contoured for optimal fit with the region of increased thickness accommodated in the supracondylar region of the distal femur.

 

References

1. Hofmann-Fliri L, Epari DR, Schwyn R, et al. Biphasic Plating—in vivo study of a novel fixation concept to enhance mechanobiological fracture healing. Injury. 2020 Aug;51(8):1751–1758.

2. Epari DR, Gurung R, Hofmann-Fliri L, Schwyn R, Schuetz M, Windolf M. Biphasic plating improves the mechanical performance of locked plating for distal femur fractures. J Biomech. 2021 Jan 22;115:110192. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.110192. Epub 2020 Dec 24.