APRICOT · Project

Ultra-Thin Self-Lubricating Joint Implant That Avoids Bone Removal Surgery

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Imagine your finger joints wearing out like old door hinges — stiff, painful, and grinding. Current replacement joints are like ripping out the whole hinge and bolting in a clunky metal one, and they fail up to 40% of the time. APRICOT designed something more like a slippery, paper-thin cushion that slides right between the worn surfaces — no bone removal, no general anaesthesia, just a minimally invasive fix. It's self-lubricating, preserves your natural joint movement, and could work for patients of any age.

By the numbers

16.3%

Average incidence of osteoarthritis of the hand across Europe

up to 40%

Revision rates reported for finger prostheses

EUR 3,253,045

EU contribution to the project

Consortium partners across 4 countries

SME partners in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Small joint arthritis affects millions across Europe — 16.3% of the population suffers from hand osteoarthritis alone — yet current artificial joint replacements for fingers fail at alarming rates, with revisions needed in up to 40% of cases. Existing implants are invasive, destroy healthy bone, and fail to restore natural joint movement, leaving patients in pain and with limited hand function. The market desperately needs a less destructive, more reliable solution, especially as ageing populations and increased device usage drive demand higher.

The solution

What was built

The team developed an ultra-thin, self-lubricating compliant implant designed to sit between existing joint surfaces without removing bone. They manufactured testing rigs for coupon-level, prototype, and full construct mechanical validation to prove the concept works under real joint loading conditions.

Audience

Who needs this

Orthopaedic implant manufacturers looking for next-generation small joint solutionsDay surgery and outpatient clinics seeking minimally invasive joint proceduresBiomaterials companies with self-lubricating or compliant surface expertiseOrthopaedic surgeons specialising in hand and small joint reconstructionMedical device investors targeting the growing small joint reconstruction market

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Orthopaedic implant manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Medical device companies producing joint prostheses

If you are an orthopaedic device manufacturer dealing with high revision rates on small joint implants — this project developed an ultra-thin, self-lubricating compliant implant that sits between existing joint surfaces without removing bone. With finger prosthesis revision rates reported up to 40%, a minimally invasive alternative could open a fast-growing small joint reconstruction market segment.

Outpatient surgical centres

any

Target: Day surgery clinics and ambulatory care providers

If you are an outpatient surgical centre looking for procedures that don't require general anaesthesia — this project developed a minimally invasive implant for small joint arthritis that can be placed without general anaesthetics. This means shorter procedures, faster patient turnover, and lower operational costs per intervention compared to traditional joint replacement.

Biomedical materials and coatings

SME

Target: Companies specialising in self-lubricating or biocompatible surface technologies

If you are a biomaterials company with expertise in low-friction coatings or compliant materials — this project created a self-lubricating implant surface designed to restore natural joint movement. The technology could be licensed or co-developed for applications beyond fingers, extending into other small joints where current implant solutions underperform.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would this implant cost compared to traditional joint replacement?

The project data does not include specific per-unit cost figures. However, the implant is minimally invasive and does not require general anaesthesia, which would significantly reduce surgical and hospitalisation costs compared to conventional joint replacement procedures.

Can this be manufactured at industrial scale?

The consortium produced test rigs for coupon, prototype, and full construct testing, indicating manufacturing feasibility was explored. With 2 industrial partners (including 2 SMEs) in the 7-partner consortium, there is a pathway from lab-scale to production. However, scaling to full commercial manufacturing would require further development and regulatory clearance.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

As an EU-funded RIA project (EUR 3,253,045), IP is owned by the consortium partners under Horizon 2020 rules. The University of Southampton coordinated, with industrial partners in 4 countries (DE, NL, SE, UK). Licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated with the consortium.

What regulatory approvals are needed?

As a Class III medical device (implantable), this would require CE marking under the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and FDA approval for the US market. Based on available project data, regulatory submissions have not yet been completed — clinical trials would be a necessary next step.

How long before this reaches patients?

The project ended in September 2023 at a proof-of-concept stage with manufactured testing rigs. Based on available project data, clinical trials, regulatory approval, and commercialisation would likely require several more years of development and investment beyond the project's scope.

Does it work only for fingers or other joints too?

The project specifically targeted small joint arthritis, with finger joints as the primary application. The objective mentions the concept is designed for small joints generally. Extension to other joint types would require additional research and validation.

Consortium

Who built it

The APRICOT consortium brings together 7 partners from 4 countries (Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, UK), led by the University of Southampton. The mix is research-heavy with 4 universities and 1 research organisation, but includes 2 industrial partners (both SMEs), giving a 29% industry ratio. This composition is typical for early-stage medical device research — strong academic expertise in biomechanics and materials science, with SME involvement to ground the work in manufacturing reality. For a business partner looking to license or co-develop, the SME participants would be natural entry points, while the university partners hold deep domain knowledge in implant design and testing.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTONCoordinator · UK
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHENparticipant · DE
EURICE EUROPEAN RESEARCH AND PROJECT OFFICE GMBHparticipant · DE
UNIVERSITEIT TWENTEparticipant · NL
GOETEBORGS UNIVERSITETparticipant · SE

How to reach the team

University of Southampton, UK — reach out via their technology transfer office or the project website contact page

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the APRICOT team to discuss licensing or co-development? SciTransfer can arrange a direct connection with the right consortium partner for your needs.

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