Imaging News
Knee assessment device available in Canada and US
July 17, 2019
MONTREAL – Emovi, Inc. announced the U.S. launch of KneeKG, the first in-clinic device that meets the global need for measuring knee function with objective and quantifiable data associated with mechanical knee markers and functional deficiencies.
KneeKG is the first device to enable doctors to accurately assess patients’ knees in 3D while the patient is moving and weight-bearing. In contrast to static information from X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), KneeKG quickly identifies the functional causes linked to knee pain, allowing doctors to better target treatments instead of the current process of elimination method, revolutionizing current knee assessment.
In April, the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) announced that it is working to support the commercialization of a provincially implemented software platform and assessment tools that will improve orthopaedic wait times and patient outcomes across Nova Scotia and that Emovi’s KneeKG is a key component of the solution.
The resultant product suite will address gaps in orthopaedic assessments, rehabilitative and post- operative care by providing medical staff with enhanced diagnostic information so they can make more efficient and timely clinic decisions. The NHSA collaborated/partnered with Canadian companies Kinduct Technologies Inc., Emovi Inc., and OrthoMX, with each company having developed a key component of the product suite. The NSHA will be the first fully integrated clinical deployment.
KneeKG can pinpoint functional deficits linked to knee osteoarthritis, ligament injuries, instabilities, and anterior knee pain. By providing technical information to doctors with a higher correlation to symptoms and at a fraction of the cost of high-tech scans such as MRIs, the KneeKG allows doctors to significantly improve patients’ quality of life, pain and functional limitations.
Emovi president and CEO, Michelle Laflamme (pictured), says the company is working to “become a major player in the global orthopaedic and sports medicine field.”
Clinicians perform a Knee Kinesiography using the KneeKG system to accurately and objectively assess the complete movement of the knee to understand pain and symptoms – much like an electrocardiogram does for the heart. Within 15 minutes, it provides a 3D dynamic assessment of the knee to aid in diagnosing pathologic patterns and provide objective information to develop a focused treatment strategy. It also gives patients an increased understanding of their knee function and deficits, which allows them to become more actively involved in the management of their issues.
“Kinematic information is critical to diagnosing a specific pathologic pattern and developing a focused treatment strategy to restore optimal knee function,” said R. Michael Meneghini, MD, orthopedic surgeon, IU Health Physicians. “KneeKG is uniquely positioned to transform patient care through optimizing outcomes and function, reducing unwarranted interventions and focusing an efficient treatment plan to provide value to patients, physicians, and healthcare organizations.”
Dr. Meneghini has been named among the top 22 knee surgeons in North America and has been selected as an Indianapolis Top Doctor for seven consecutive years.
Knee pain affects one-third of Americans at some point during their life. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of knee pain impacting 13.9% of adults 25 years and older and 33.6% of people 65 years and older in the United States. Biomechanical deficits contribute to the root causes of knee osteoarthritis development and progression and other knee problems such as Anterior Knee Pain which typically affect young adults, soldiers and athletes.
The knee is one of the most frequently injured joints, and when not diagnosed early and managed appropriately, common musculoskeletal injuries may result in long-term disabling conditions. According to American Family Physician, studies concluded that MRI is not a cost-efficient test and adds little to the overall treatment program.
“Our commitment to enabling physicians to improve outcomes for patients with knee pain worldwide will always be our motivation,” said Ms. Laflamme. “With the launch of KneeKG to the U.S. market, we are positioned to help more people than ever before by providing clinicians with the ability to strategically care for the millions of Americans that suffer from chronic pain.”
KneeKG has 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a clinically supported, non-invasive class II medical device for assessing the 3D motion of the knee of patients who have impaired movement functions of an orthopedic cause.
About Emovi Inc.
Headquartered in Montreal, Emovi is a medical device company that develops products for knee joint assessment to restore patient quality of life. In partnership with the Quebec university research community, including the CRCHUM and École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), Emovi completed the development of the KneeKG, a unique clinical tool evaluating knee functional deficiencies linked to patients’ symptoms and pathology progression. Emovi owns multiple patents and the exclusive license to commercialize the KneeKG in several countries. For more information, please visit https://emovi.ca and http://www.kneekinesiography.com.