A hip implant for just Rs 30,000? In a few years this may, indeed, become a reality in India, if the Kolkata-based Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute succeeds in commercialising a technology to make affordable ceramic-based bio-medical implants.
“At the laboratory level, we have tried out our technology for making affordable implants. We are hopeful of coming out with the technology for commercial production in the next few years,” said Kamal Dasgupta, Director of the Institute. While the cost of just a hip implant in the market today could be upwards of Rs 1.75 lakh (excluding the surgery), the institute has produced special ceramic-coated implants at its laboratory at a cost of less than Rs 30,000. It will now have to put the product through an elaborate process of animal and clinical human trials, before offering it to medical devices makers for commercial use.
“We generally either sell the technology to the industry for a one-time fee or on a royalty basis,” said Dasgupta, who was in the city to launch a special glass-lined reactor being produced by a city-based firm.
Knee implants
After developing the hip implant, the institute is now working on bringing out knee and finger implants. “This will take further time, as each implant will require a different technology. Our laboratory results have shown that the ceramic-based hip implants can have a life of 30-35 years, as compared to the 20-25 years that existing products in the market have,” he said.
India is today amongst the world leaders in this segment, with the cost of hip replacement surgery being about one-fourth the cost in the US, the UK and other developed economies.
Laser gun
Another product being developed at the institute is a high-power fibre laser gun used for cutting and drilling operations — it is especially designed for the mining industry.
Dasgupta said the 200 watt power flexible laser gun can effectively cut through minerals and rocks at cheaper costs and in lesser time. “We will be upgrading the technology to produce higher power 1,000 watt laser guns. We hope to commercialise this technology in the next couple of years,” he said.