* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    CNN Launches New Show – What to Know About Host Elex Michaelson – Central Oregon Daily

    Get to Know Elex Michaelson: The Dynamic New Host Taking CNN by Storm

    Johnny Depp Set To Finally Make His Big Hollywood Comeback After Amber Heard Controversy – Yahoo

    Johnny Depp Set for a Triumphant Hollywood Comeback Following Amber Heard Controversy

    ‘Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc’ Review: Hit Manga Gets an Ultra-Violent, Surprisingly Emotional Big-Screen Adaptation – Yahoo

    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Review: A Brutal and Unexpectedly Emotional Big-Screen Adaptation

    Reba McEntire Details Personal Relationship With Late Stepson Brandon Blackstock – KNDU

    Reba McEntire Shares Emotional Tribute to Her Late Stepson Brandon Blackstock

    Sacramento city leaders approve adding 2 entertainment zones in midtown – CBS News

    Sacramento City Leaders Approve Two Thrilling New Entertainment Zones in Midtown

    AMC brings first new Dolby Experience to Gwinnett since 2017 – Wyoming News Now

    AMC Launches First New Dolby Experience in Gwinnett Since 2017

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Ghost Tapping is exploiting tap-to-pay technology in order to steal your money; what your need to know – ABC7 New York

    Ghost Tapping: How Thieves Are Using Tap-to-Pay Technology to Steal Your Money and What You Need to Know

    New technology for grading and packing dates – FreshPlaza

    Revolutionary Technology Transforms Date Grading and Packing Process

    Project underway to upgrade technology on 911 towers in Kanawha County – WCHS

    Kanawha County Launches Major Upgrade to 911 Tower Technology

    Next steps: Technology opens new options for greater mobility – Missouri Independent

    Next Steps: How Technology is Opening Exciting New Doors to Greater Mobility

    Rydberg Technologies Inc. Announces Launch of Rydberg Photonics in Berlin – The Quantum Insider

    Rydberg Technologies Launches Exciting New Photonics Division in Berlin

    A look into new technology at Columbia University that could help prevent a dangerous pregnancy complication – ABC7 New York

    A look into new technology at Columbia University that could help prevent a dangerous pregnancy complication – ABC7 New York

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    CNN Launches New Show – What to Know About Host Elex Michaelson – Central Oregon Daily

    Get to Know Elex Michaelson: The Dynamic New Host Taking CNN by Storm

    Johnny Depp Set To Finally Make His Big Hollywood Comeback After Amber Heard Controversy – Yahoo

    Johnny Depp Set for a Triumphant Hollywood Comeback Following Amber Heard Controversy

    ‘Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc’ Review: Hit Manga Gets an Ultra-Violent, Surprisingly Emotional Big-Screen Adaptation – Yahoo

    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Review: A Brutal and Unexpectedly Emotional Big-Screen Adaptation

    Reba McEntire Details Personal Relationship With Late Stepson Brandon Blackstock – KNDU

    Reba McEntire Shares Emotional Tribute to Her Late Stepson Brandon Blackstock

    Sacramento city leaders approve adding 2 entertainment zones in midtown – CBS News

    Sacramento City Leaders Approve Two Thrilling New Entertainment Zones in Midtown

    AMC brings first new Dolby Experience to Gwinnett since 2017 – Wyoming News Now

    AMC Launches First New Dolby Experience in Gwinnett Since 2017

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Ghost Tapping is exploiting tap-to-pay technology in order to steal your money; what your need to know – ABC7 New York

    Ghost Tapping: How Thieves Are Using Tap-to-Pay Technology to Steal Your Money and What You Need to Know

    New technology for grading and packing dates – FreshPlaza

    Revolutionary Technology Transforms Date Grading and Packing Process

    Project underway to upgrade technology on 911 towers in Kanawha County – WCHS

    Kanawha County Launches Major Upgrade to 911 Tower Technology

    Next steps: Technology opens new options for greater mobility – Missouri Independent

    Next Steps: How Technology is Opening Exciting New Doors to Greater Mobility

    Rydberg Technologies Inc. Announces Launch of Rydberg Photonics in Berlin – The Quantum Insider

    Rydberg Technologies Launches Exciting New Photonics Division in Berlin

    A look into new technology at Columbia University that could help prevent a dangerous pregnancy complication – ABC7 New York

    A look into new technology at Columbia University that could help prevent a dangerous pregnancy complication – ABC7 New York

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

Python Power: New Bio-Inspired Device Doubles Strength of Rotator Cuff Repairs

June 28, 2024
in Science
Python Power: New Bio-Inspired Device Doubles Strength of Rotator Cuff Repairs
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Man Shoulder Pain Anatomy Crop

A new surgical device, inspired by the gripping mechanism of python teeth, has been developed to improve the success rate of rotator cuff surgeries. This innovation by Columbia University researchers can significantly strengthen tendon-to-bone repairs, potentially halving the common issue of re-tearing post-surgery.

Columbia University has introduced a python-teeth-inspired surgical device aimed at strengthening rotator cuff repairs and reducing tendon re-tearing, leveraging 3D printing for customization.

When most people think about pythons, they visualize the huge snake constricting and swallowing victims whole. But did you know that pythons initially hold onto their prey with their sharp, backward-curving teeth? Medical researchers have long been aware that these teeth are perfect for grasping soft tissue rather than cutting through it, but no one has yet been able to put this concept into surgical practice.

Over the years, mimicking these teeth for use in surgery has been a frequent topic of discussion in the lab of Dr. Stavros Thomopoulos, a professor of orthopedics and biomedical engineering at Columbia University.

Biomimicry Advancements in Tendon-to-Bone Repair

A leading researcher focused on the development and regeneration of the tendon-to-bone attachment, Thomopoulos is particularly interested in advancing tendon-to-bone repair, necessary for rotator cuff repair and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. In a paper published today (June 28) by Science Advances, his team reports that they have developed a python-tooth-inspired device as a supplement to current rotator cuff suture repair, and found that it nearly doubled repair strength.

“As we grow older, more than half of us will experience a rotator cuff tear leading to shoulder pain and decreased mobility,” said Thomopoulos, who has joint appointments at Columbia Engineering and Columbia’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons as the Robert E. Carroll and Jane Chace Carroll Professor of Biomechanics (in Orthopedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering).

“The best medical intervention is rotator cuff surgery, but a remarkably high percentage of these repairs will fail within just a couple of months. Our biomimetic approach following the design of python teeth helps to reattach tendons to bone more securely. The device not only augments the strength of the repair but can also be customized to the patient. We’re really excited about the potential of our device to improve the care of rotator cuff injuries.”

Python Tooth Inspired Rotator Cuff Repair

Schematic of the python tooth-inspired device interposed between tendon a bone significantly enhances standard rotator cuff repair. Credit: Iden Kurtaliaj/Columbia Engineering

Challenges and Solutions in Rotator Cuff Repairs

Among the most prevalent tendon injuries, rotator cuff tears affect more than 17 million people in the United States each year. The incidence of injury increases with age: more than 40% of the population over 65 years old experience a rotator cuff tear.

Because rotator cuff tears typically occur at the tendon-to-bone insertion site, rotator cuff repair is aimed at anatomically restoring the tendon attachment. Surgical repair is the primary treatment for restoring shoulder function, with more than 600,000 procedures performed annually in the United States at a cost of $3 billion.

However, successfully reattaching tendon to bone remains a significant clinical challenge. High failure rates occur following surgery, with rates increasing with patient age and tear severity. These rates range from 20% in younger patients with minor tears to a staggering 94% in elderly patients with massive tears. The most common failure of rotator cuff repairs is sutures tearing through the tendon at the two or four grasping points where forces concentrate.

While there have been advancements in rotator cuff repair techniques over the past 20 years, the fundamental approach of sewing two tissues together has remained largely unchanged, still relying on sutures transferring tension at high-stress grasping points. Following tendon-to-bone reattachment surgery, sutures can tear through tendons at these points of high stress, a phenomenon known as “suture pull-through” or “cheesewiring,” leading to repair-site gapping or rupturing.

“We decided to see if we could develop a device that mimics the shape of python teeth, that would effectively grasp soft tissues without tearing, and help reduce the risk of tendon re-tearing after rotator cuff repair,” said Iden Kurtaliaj, the study’s lead author and a former biomedical engineering PhD student in the Thomopoulos’ lab.

Innovative Device Inspired by Python Teeth

The team’s original idea was to copy the shape of python teeth, but they went much further, using simulations, 3D printing, and ex vivo experiments on cadavers to explore the relationship between tooth shape and grasping vs. cutting mechanics. Kurtaliaj manufactured a range of tooth designs, optimized individual teeth, arrays of teeth, and finally a rotator cuff-specific array of teeth.

The end result was a biomimetic device, made of a biocompatible resin — an array of teeth atop a curved base — capable of grasping, not cutting, tendon. The teeth are relatively small — 3mm high for a human rotator cuff, about half the length of a standard staple — so that they won’t poke through the tendon. The base can be customized via 3D printing to match the patient-specific curvature of the humeral head at the supraspinatus tendon attachment site (the most commonly torn rotator cuff tendon).

“We designed it specifically so that surgeons won’t need to abandon their current approach — they can simply add the device and increase the strength of their repair,” Kurtaliaj noted.

Collaborative Research Enhances Surgical Techniques

Kurtaliaj led the research as a PhD student under the mentorship of Drs. Stavros Thomopoulos and Guy Genin, the Harold and Kathleen Faught Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, with input for clinical implementation from Dr. William Levine, Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons.

“Due to our laboratory’s close collaboration with orthopedic surgeons, we were especially fortunate to get input from Dr. Levine, along with other surgeons at Columbia, throughout the device’s design development process,” said Thomopoulos.

Future Directions in Surgical Repair

The researchers are now working to develop a bioabsorbable version of the device that would degrade as the rotator cuff heals back to bone, further enhancing its clinical applicability. They are also preparing for a pre-submission meeting with the FDA to facilitate the transition of their device into the market.

Reference: “Python-tooth-inspired fixation device for enhanced rotator cuff repair” 28 June 2024, Science Advances.
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl5270

Authors are: Iden Kurtaliaj, Ethan D. Hoppe, Yuxuan Huang, David Ju, Jacob A. Sandler, Donghwan Yoon, Lester J. Smith, Silvio Torres Betancur, Linda Effiong, Thomas Gardner, Liana Tedesco, Sohil Desai, Victor Birman, William N. Levine, Guy M. Genin, and Stavros Thomopoulos.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : SciTechDaily – https://scitechdaily.com/python-power-new-bio-inspired-device-doubles-strength-of-rotator-cuff-repairs/

Tags: Powerpythonscience
Previous Post

Breaking the Thermometer: Analyzing the Science Behind 2024’s Heat Anomalies

Next Post

Nathan MacKinnon Picks Up The Hart Memorial Trophy & Ted Lindsay Award At 2024 NHL Awards

Ghost Tapping is exploiting tap-to-pay technology in order to steal your money; what your need to know – ABC7 New York

Ghost Tapping: How Thieves Are Using Tap-to-Pay Technology to Steal Your Money and What You Need to Know

October 25, 2025
This Week in Sports Trivia: October 23, 2025 – The Athletic – The New York Times

Think You’re a Sports Expert? Take on This Week’s October 23, 2025 Trivia Challenge!

October 25, 2025
How to watch the 2025 MLB World Series: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays game schedule, channels, streaming, when is Shohei Ohtani starting and more – Yahoo Sports

Ultimate Guide to Watching the 2025 MLB World Series: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays Game Schedule, Channels, Streaming, and Shohei Ohtani’s Start Time

October 24, 2025
A circular economy approach for the global lithium-ion battery supply chain – Nature

Revolutionizing the Global Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain Through a Circular Economy Approach

October 24, 2025
CNN Launches New Show – What to Know About Host Elex Michaelson – Central Oregon Daily

Get to Know Elex Michaelson: The Dynamic New Host Taking CNN by Storm

October 24, 2025
Idaho Medicaid mental health contractor to cut doctor pay rates by 4%-15% – Idaho Capital Sun

Idaho Medicaid Mental Health Contractor to Cut Doctor Pay Rates by Up to 15%

October 24, 2025
Syracuse University declines signing Trump’s higher education compact – Spectrum Noticias

Syracuse University declines signing Trump’s higher education compact – Spectrum Noticias

October 24, 2025
Inventing habitats – High Country News

Building Tomorrow’s Habitats: Breakthrough Innovations Transforming Our Future Environments

October 24, 2025

Enhancing Nucleic Acid Biosecurity to Counter Advanced Generative Protein Design Tools

October 24, 2025
Science Says Optimistic People Live Up to 12 Years Longer. Here’s How You Can Be More Positive, Hopeful, and Confident – Inc.com

Unlock a Longer Life: Discover How Cultivating Optimism Transforms Your Health and Happiness

October 24, 2025

Categories

Archives

October 2025
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Sep    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (884)
  • Economy (906)
  • Entertainment (21,777)
  • General (17,786)
  • Health (9,947)
  • Lifestyle (918)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (906)
  • Politics (916)
  • Science (16,116)
  • Sports (21,406)
  • Technology (15,886)
  • World (889)

Recent News

Ghost Tapping is exploiting tap-to-pay technology in order to steal your money; what your need to know – ABC7 New York

Ghost Tapping: How Thieves Are Using Tap-to-Pay Technology to Steal Your Money and What You Need to Know

October 25, 2025
This Week in Sports Trivia: October 23, 2025 – The Athletic – The New York Times

Think You’re a Sports Expert? Take on This Week’s October 23, 2025 Trivia Challenge!

October 25, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version