Don’t let orthopedic infection slow you down.
Periprosthetic Joint Infection (PJI) which occurs after joint replacement surgery is devastating to patient health, frustrating to surgeons, and costly to healthcare systems. ForCast is developing a proprietary treatment for PJI using localized delivery of antibiotics at the infection site.
About Periprosthetic Joint Infection
Periprosthetic Joint Infection (PJI) is a complication from joint arthroplasty. Infection can appear as early as days and up to years after surgery.
Periprosthetic Joint Infection (PJI) is expected to be diagnosed in nearly 60,000 joint replacement patients this year in the US alone.1
PJI can represent a lifetime risk for any patient that has had joint replacement surgery and can occur in any replaced joint such as knees, hips and shoulders.
The biofilm of bacteria that form on the implant creates a barrier that impedes the ability for antibiotics to eradicate infection, leading to chronic infection that is most prevalent following joint replacement.
Current treatment options are limited, with patients facing lengthy treatment modalities, including implant revision procedures as well as the potential for the loss of limb.
Introducing WIIS
Our Wearable Intra-Articular Infusion System (WIIS) is designed to deliver therapeutic levels of antibiotic exactly where needed, using a novel delivery technology that combines a proprietary catheter with an FDA-approved infusion pump.
WIIS features a custom-designed catheter optimized for intra-articular infusion and sub-chronic therapy. It also utilizes a proprietary, high-concentration antibiotic formulation prefilled into syringes and delivered automatically by an infusion pump, enhancing patient convenience.
Core Technology
Proprietary Catheter
The proprietary catheter is placed during a DAIR or revision procedure and enables ongoing surface care around the skin interface to help minimize the risk of secondary infection. A low-profile storage module supports secure, on-body wear throughout the full duration of therapy, while maintaining comfort and compatibility with the patient’s daily lifestyle.
Wearable Infusion Pump & Cartridge
The system includes a wearable infusion pump and cartridge designed for ease of use. Each cartridge is pre-filled by a specialty pharmacy, so patients don’t need to handle any mixing or filling. The pump connects to the catheter for 15–20 minutes per day to deliver a bolus dose, and is then stored to accommodate daily activities.
Patient, Payer & Provider Benefits
At Home Care
WIIS is intended to reduce the need for lengthy hospitalization. Patients can rehabilitate at home, carry on with their standard recovery and get back to day-to-day life.
Shorter Recovery Timeline
By directly treating the biofilm, our treatment can enable improved outcomes from less invasive treatment procedures, retaining existing implants and thereby lowering costs and speeding patient recovery.
Ease of Use
The catheter is designed for ease of implementation at the time of surgery. The pump and cartridges are designed for ease of use at home for the patient.
Clinical Utility
With the modular pump + catheter design, WIIS can be used with any of the current standard-of-care procedures (DAIR, 1-stage revision, 2-stage revision) thereby creating options for surgeons to optimize treatment for all of their patients.
Potential to Improve Patient Outcomes
By effectively treating the biofilm, use of WIIS as a first-line PJI treatment is expected to get patients back on their feet faster, with fewer complications, and lower risk of mortality.
Contact
To learn more about ForCast: info@forcastortho.com
1. Izakovicova, P. et al, “Periprosthetic joint infection: current concepts and outlook,” EFORT Open Rev 2019;4:482-494.
2. Zhu MF, et al. Success Rates of Debridement, Antibiotics, and Implant Retention in 230 Infected Total Knee Arthroplasties: Implications for Classification of Periprosthetic Joint Infection. J Arthroplasty. 2021 Jan;36(1):305-310
