Design Team Member Jason Nowak, DPM, FACFAS, of Shasta Orthopaedics performed the first surgery in California last week. “I was very proud to be the first to use these instruments,” he said. “The unique 3D-printed tibia and talar cutting guides, specifically made for my patient, helped me align and cut each bone with one instrument, saving time and increasing my surgical efficiency.”

An Exactech Active Intelligence® technology, the Vantage Ankle PSI cutting guides are created from patients’ CT scans and delivered in approximately two weeks. The cutting slots on the instrumentation feature a rippled surface to allow water to flow through to keep the bone cool during surgery. In addition, the instrumentation includes soft tissue offsets, which are designed to allow the surgeon to remove less soft tissue.

“The Vantage Ankle PSI showcases our commitment to delivering personalized solutions and smart technologies that optimize the way surgeons perform every case,” said Chris Roche, Vice President of Exactech Extremities. “This successful first surgery is a rewarding milestone and a testament to our exclusive partnership with 3D Systems to enhance the total ankle surgery experience.”

According to Menno Ellis, Executive Vice President, Healthcare Solutions, 3D Systems, “We are thrilled to see Vantage Ankle PSI used clinically for the first time. The successful joint development effort between Exactech and 3D Systems delivers on the promise of patient-matched instrumentation to reduce the surgical steps needed for a successful ankle replacement procedure and improve the overall patient experience.”

In addition to Dr. Nowak, the design team includes Robert Santrock, MD, of West Virginia University, Constantine Demetracopoulos, MD, of Hospital for Special Surgery, and Duke University surgeons James Nunley, MD, James DeOrio, MD, and Mark Easley, MD.

Vantage Ankle PSI is used exclusively with the Vantage Total Ankle Fixed Bearing System. This product is currently in pilot launch; full market availability is planned for the end of the second quarter of 2021. Learn more at www.exac.com/foot-and-ankle/vantageanklepsi/.

About Exactech

Exactech is a global medical device company that develops and markets orthopaedic implant devices, related surgical instruments and the Active Intelligence® platform of smart technologies to hospitals and physicians. Headquartered in Gainesville, Fla., Exactech markets its products in the United States, in addition to more than 30 markets in Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Visit www.exac.com for more for more information and connect with us on LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.

About 3D Systems

More than 30 years ago, 3D Systems brought the innovation of 3D printing to the manufacturing industry. Today, as the leading Additive Manufacturing solutions partner, we bring innovation, performance, and reliability to every interaction – empowering our customers to create products and business models never before possible. Thanks to our unique offering of hardware, software, materials, and services, each application-specific solution is powered by the expertise of our application engineers who collaborate with customers to transform how they deliver their products and services. 3D Systems’ solutions address a variety of advanced applications in Healthcare and Industrial markets such as Medical and Dental, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, and Durable Goods. More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.