Biomaterials

In biomaterials, a number of the state’s universities have demonstrated strength, whether in Wichita State University’s work to apply composite engineering expertise, developed through collaborations with the aviation industry, to human health advances or in the internationally acclaimed expertise at the University of Kansas in replacing natural skeletal or oral tissues lost due to trauma, disease, or age.

The value of the global medical device market is estimated to be over $100 billion, with market advances driven by innovation. The dental and orthopedic fields are focus areas in Kansas. The market potential for these two fields is enormous and growing.

Several home-grown companies are part of the medical device cluster. Examples include: Enturia, OsteoGeneX, Innovia Medical, KC BioMediX, Felton International, Pinnacle Technology, and Nanoscale. The R&D decision making for these companies is made locally and these companies have track records in commercializing R&D into products. They are also ideal candidates for collaborative research that can lead to breakthrough innovation. They represent benchmarks for developing a Kansas-based system that supports the creation of more start-up companies led by Kansas entrepreneurs.

Additionally, Kansas is home to a well-established aviation manufacturing cluster, primarily located in the Wichita area. Companies within this cluster use advanced manufacturing technologies as well as advanced materials and composites in the engineering, design, testing, and fabrication of many kinds of parts. These companies include: Spirit Aerospace, Raytheon, Cessna, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and Bombardier-Learjet. Suppliers such as Senior Aerospace, PlasticFab, Fiber Dynamics, and Burnham Composites already provide a critical mass for component manufacturing. This cluster receives R&D support from the National Institute for Aviation Research.

The largest healthcare system in the state is committed to orthopedic research and has a longstanding record of commercial interaction with one of the industry leaders, Stryker Corporation. This effort, along with the base of expertise in engineering and manufacturing of composites located in Wichita has the potential to significantly increase the number of new products being developed in this area as well as positively impact the state economy.

Kansas is well-positioned to lead the next wave of innovation in biomaterials for medical devices because of the unique resources already in place:

• Medical school and bioengineering research at University of Kansas and Via Christi Regional Medical Center;
• Existing, home-grown medical device companies, which have local R&D efforts; and
• Existing, aviation manufacturing cluster with expertise in advanced manufacturing and composite materials.

Examples of success in Kansas

• KC BioMediX is commercializing FDA-approved technologies for the care and treatment of infants born prematurely, particularly assisting with the problem of non-nutritive sucking.
• Innovia Medical has commercialized an FDA-approved product called EarCheck, which utilizes the only technology for the rapid detection of middle ear fluid, a key indication of ear infections.
• Eminent scholar Dr. Paul Wooley has been attracted to Via Christi Research and Wichita State University to study the biocompatibility of composite implants with the goal of developing alternatives to the metal joints used today in knee and hip replacements.