The eventual successful commercial introduction of the ATP-funded technologies will bring large health gains to patients with many forms of medical problems, ranging from dental to cardiovascular. These potential benefits are likely to be huge because of the large number of patients who could use these prostheses, the advantages the TE approach has over currently available alternatives, and improvements in the ability of patients to function as a result of using the new technology. The ATP award is playing an important role in bringing these benefits to society, because applications of the new technology are about two years ahead of where they would have been without ATP funding. The study estimated that about 100,000 patients per year with ligament damage would be eligible for the new treatment, that the number using the Tissue Engineering technology would start at 9,000 in the first year of availability and grow to 72,000 ten years later, supplanting an increasing percentage of alternative technologies currently in use. TE accomplished its technical goals.
Prototypes are in testing, although no product has yet entered the market.
Patent disclosures and a joint venture to commercialize the technology may be providing useful knowledge to other researchers in the field. The technology is scheduled to be used first in the fabrication of periodontal prostheses and orthopedic applications. Ideas for skin and wound-healing products are also being explored by the company with potential custmers.