New DePuy Hip Implant Receives FDA Clearance

Warsaw, INWith DePuy hip replacement lawsuits piling up in Canada and the US, the unit of Johnson & Johnson recently received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration for use of a new titanium foam in two new implant systems.

The DePuy GRIPTION TF Acetabular Augment System for hip replacements and the GRIPTION TF Cones for knee replacement surgery are the first implants to be manufactured from the technology.

David Floyd, DePuy Orthopaedics' worldwide president, said that the newly approved technology will be particularly useful in instances of complex joint replacements.

"DePuy's GRIPTION TF System features several unique advances to create customized intraoperative solutions for patients who require complex revision surgery," Floyd said. "With DePuy's GRIPTION TF technology, surgeons will be able to more confidently address even the most challenging defects in conjunction with our Pinnacle Acetabular Cup System."

DePuy Orthopaedics has come under tremendous scrutiny recently, particularly in Canada, where a recent hip replacement recall is expected to affect a total of 4,000 Canadians. A class-action lawsuit has been filed by Canadian patients who suffered the consequences of the faulty implants.