Public Funding for Garland Surgical Limited

Why is it that humans suffer from hip and knee arthritis but do not suffer as much ankle arthritis, despite the fact that the ankle joint is carrying substantially more weight than either of the other joints? Answering this question led to the development of the GarlandHip, a tri-mobility hip made of 3 separate rotating cylinders allowing movement on a single plane each, mimicking the ankle. Tested in a recognised facility, this hip showed drastically less wear, indicating the possibility of a prosthesis with a greatly increased lifespan of possibly over 50 years. Flexion and extension are also very greatly increased in the prosthesis possibly allowing squatting and cross-legged sitting. Despite the multiple surfaces, dislocation risk is decreased by an innovative interlocking mechanism. This prosthesis is currently made from metals and polymers already clinically approved and in widespread use in the market. It may be the optimal solution for young active people needing a hip replacement at an early age, opening up the possibility of "A Hip for Life". Garland Surgical Ltd was founded early 2022, dedicated to innovating joint implants, commencing with the development of the proprietary GarlandHip. In this project, Garland will partner with the University of Leeds to further develop the implant, miniaturising it to make it suitable for smaller patients. They will develop and test prototypes including finite element analysis, full construct hip simulator testing, frictional testing, adverse testing and rotational testing. Garland will also begin to seek FDA PMA approval to enable early US commercialisation, and will undertake ISO 14001 Environmental Standard and ISO13485 QMS stage 1 audit.