TOKA

Due to COVID-19, the majority of routine surgical procedures have been suspended. Lifting restrictions and returning to surgery, however, places a significant burden on the NHS. Further, demand for elective joint replacement surgery for osteoarthritis is set to double by 2030. Consequently, surgeons and patients need to interact in new ways to enable procedures to be delivered without compromising NHS workers, quicker operational delivery reducing waiting lists and in-patient time. Consequently, the need for innovative, enabling technologies has accelerated dramatically.

3D Metal Printing (3DMP) is a UK micro-SME specialising in the design and manufacture precision-engineered leading edge medical devices using additive manufacturing technology (3D Printing) supported by digital planning, training and visualisation tools. Our mission is to restore outstanding patient quality of life through cost effective, personalised surgical treatment. Our vision is to become a leading Med-Tech company providing an innovative, integrated range of additively manufactured products, 3D surgical planning and digital applications.

We have developed TOKA(r)--- a novel 3D printed orthopaedic implant providing a personalised solution to knee arthritis for younger patients unsuitable for knee-replacement. Established in 2014, we have grown to 11 staff including biomechanical engineers and software developers with an advisory board consisting of leading orthopaedic surgeons.

The proposed project will enable us to undertake 4 critical tasks significantly accelerating our business plan projections and revenue (1) sterilisation / packaging processes to deliver ready-to-use TOKA kits to healthcare providers; (2) scale up manufacturing processes (3) Patient app; complete and integrate our digital product suite (4) achieve FDA/MDSAP compliance for US market entry.

Successful project delivery will accelerate our timeline to a commercially viable, differentiated product that will increase our competitive advantage over competitor technologies and open global commercial opportunities for 3DMP.

This will support TOKA in delivering positive impact for the NHS (enabling remote consultations minimising infection risk; reducing hospital stays and associated financial savings) and patients (better clinical outcomes; reduced inpatient time; return to active lifestyles with health and wellbeing benefits e.g. preventing the onset of obesity or diabetes).