Smith & Nephew Inc. Receives FDA 510k Clearance for a 30-year Knee

MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As evidence of its drive to return knee pain sufferers to a lifetime of physical activity, Smith & Nephew (NYSE: SNN, LSE: SN) Orthopaedics Division today announces the results of unprecedented testing on its VERILAST technology for knee replacement implants. After simulating 30 years of physical activity on the company's LEGION™ knee replacement, VERILAST technology produced an 81-percent reduction* in wear, the leading cause of knee replacement failure.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed the results and Smith & Nephew received 510k clearance for claims related to VERILAST technology's ability to "provide wear performance sufficient for 30 years of actual use under typical conditions." The consensus of scientific literature is that knee implants are expected to last 10 to 15 years.

Press release: http://www.devicespace.com/news_story.aspx?NewsEntityId=177779