Technology Implementation Research Center

The Technology Implementation Research Center (TIRC) is under the direction of Dr. Orhun Muratoglu, with Dr. Kartik Mangudi Varadarajan leading research and development efforts. The goal of the TIRC is to conduct translational research addressing critical challenges in adult reconstructive surgery, principally in relation to implants, surgical instrumentation and biomaterials. TIRC projects and expertise are structured to expedite the translation of basic science research to active clinical use and, thereby, directly benefit patients. The TIRC works with several physicians in the department including Drs. Freiberg, Malchau, Holovacs and Rubash. The clinical insights brought by the physician team members are instrumental to the success of the TIRC’s overall mission. The TIRC also has an outstanding team of Research & Development engineers who bring incredible energy and engineering skill to the laboratory. Michael Patrick Duffy and Thomas Zumbrunn are the core TIRC R&D engineers.

The TIRC had an outstanding year with the successful development and licensing of three new technologies. These include a new ACL Substituting Cruciate Retaining (ASCR) TKA implant, a novel soft-tissue-friendly large diameter femoral head, and a novel soft-tissue-friendly dual mobility hip implant. The ASCR implant represents ground-breaking technology, which, for the first time, provides a means to substitute for the function of the resected ACL in TKA surgery, while allowing preservation of the PCL. This technology was developed to help address abnormal joint motion and stability experienced by patients with contemporary implants. The soft-tissue-friendly hip implants were developed to help address anterior hip pain following contemporary hip arthroplasty. In previous years, the TIRC has successfully developed an advanced knee replacement system to more closely mimic normal knee motion, and a pelvic positioning device to enable accurate placement of an acetabular component during hip arthroplasty surgery. Both of these devices are now FDA approved and we look forward to their use in clinical practice.

With these technological developments, the TIRC is at the forefront of many new and exciting advances in the orthopaedic arena. We hope these projects will help establish MGH and our service as leaders in orthopaedic care and translational research. The TIRC has numerous new and compelling projects in the pipeline. We hope for continued success in these efforts.

(L – R) Michael Patrick Duffy, MS, Orhun Muratoglu, PhD, Kartik Mangudi Varadarajan, PhD and Thomas Zumbrunn, MS