New knee implant aims to repair cartilage and ease pain
NCT ID NCT06915363
First seen Jul 08, 2026 · Last updated Jul 09, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests a new partial knee implant called BioPoly for people with knee cartilage damage and pain. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either the implant or standard surgery (microfracture or debridement). The study measures success by pain and function improvement and whether additional knee surgery is needed within two years.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- BioPoly partial resurfacing knee implant
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this implant could offer a more effective, longer-lasting option for repairing knee cartilage damage, potentially delaying or avoiding total knee replacement.
- What could go wrong
- This is a pivotal trial, but the implant is still investigational. It may not outperform standard surgery, and risks include implant failure, infection, or need for additional surgery.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 152 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Mar 2025
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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30 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patient is between 30 and 65 years of age25. 2. KOOS quality of life score ≤ 60. 3. In the opinion of the Investigator, the patient has the understanding and willingness to comply with all study requirements including the Post-Operative rehabilitation and follow-up protocol. 4. Patient has cartilage lesion that has failed non-surgical conservative therapy (e,g, anti-inflammatory (NSAID), viscosupplementation, steroid injection, physical therapy, or activity modification) after at least 2 months of beginning the therapy or failed surgical conservative therapy (e.g. debridement/lavage, marrow stimulation, or alignment high tibial osteotomy) that was performed at least 12 months ago in the index knee and is a candidate for surgical intervention. 5. Patient has cartilage lesion located in the femoral condyle or trochlear facet. 6. Patient has lesion(s) classified as ICRS grade 2, 3 or 4. 7. Patient's lesion size may not exceed 3.1 cm2 and must be circumscribed by a 1.5 cm or 2.0 cm diameter circle, or 1.5 cm (M-L) by 2.4 cm (A-P) oval of normal or nearly normal (ICRS grade 0 or 1) cartilage, with an overall depth less than 4mm from the articulating surface. 8. Patient has subchondral bone quality that is non-osteoporotic and is sufficient to support the implant. The quality of bone will be assessed by the surgeon intraoperatively with a surgical instrument such as an awl. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patient has body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35. 2. Patient has autoimmune arthritis, as diagnosed by Investigator. 3. Patient has advanced degenerative osteoarthritis in index knee (Kellgren-Lawrence Grade 4 and/or diagnosed intraoperatively). 4. Contralateral knee is known to have symptomatic cartilage, meniscal, or ligamentous lesions, generalized osteoarthritis, or requires surgery. 5. Patient has gout, by Investigator diagnosis or patient-reported history within last 12 months. 6. Patient has a cartilage lesion that is being treated with a non-surgical conservative therapy (e,g, anti-inflammatory (NSAID), viscosupplementation, steroid injection, physical therapy, or activity modification) and it has been \< 2 months since beginning treatment or the patient's cartilage lesion has failed surgical therapy (e.g. debridement/lavage, marrow stimulation, alignment (high tibial osteotomy)) in the index knee and it has been \< 12 months since the surgical treatment. 7. Patient has a cartilage lesion that is being treated that has failed ACI, OATS or Allograft treatment. 8. Patient has malalignment of the index knee (\>5 degrees weight bearing varus or valgus). 9. Patient has bipolar articular cartilage involvement (or kissing lesions) of the ipsilateral compartment (i.e. greater than ICRS Grade 2 on the opposing articular surface) in the index knee. 10. Patient has uncorrected ligamentous instability (good joint stability in the index joint with a Grade 1 Lachman or less, no pivot shift for ACL insufficiency and no posterior translation of more than grade 1; no deficits in flexion or extension of \> 10 degrees compared to contralateral knee) in the index knee. 11. Patient has undergone a total meniscectomy of index knee. 12. Patient has undergone patellofemoral arthroplasty of the index knee 13. Patient currently reports or has a documented history of uncontrolled diabetes. 14. Patient currently has any condition, therapy, or medication known to impair bone healing. 15. Patient has had an active systemic infection or joint infection in index knee over the last 12 months. 16. Patient has an allergy to titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V), ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), or hyaluronan/ hyaluronic acid (HA). 17. Patient is pregnant or is planning to become pregnant (for female patients only) at any point during the duration of the study. 18. Patient has legal involvement or any other issue that would hinder completion of the two-year follow-up period. 19. Patient is participating in other studies and/or receiving any other simultaneous therapy in index knee. 20. Patient has an uncorrected tear of the meniscus of the index knee. (Partial meniscectomy that retains \>50% of the meniscus is allowed prior to or concurrently with the cartilage treatment procedure. Meniscus suture repair is allowed prior to or concurrently with the cartilage treatment procedure if \>50% of the functional meniscus remains.). 21. Patient has an additional cartilage lesion(s) (ICRS Grade 3 or 4) in the index knee, located on the patella, trochlea, tibia, or non-weight bearing area of index condyle that requires treatment. 22. More than one implant is required to accommodate defect in the index knee. 23. Patient has inadequate bone stock (e.g., cysts, osteoporosis) underlying the lesion site as determined intra-operatively by the investigator 1. As determined by the investigator through use of an awl or a similar instrument to determine if the bone quality is insufficient to support the BioPoly device. 2. If the cause of inadequate bone stock is due to cysts or to the boney portion of an osteochondral lesion being excessive, then the investigator may opt to fix the implant with cement rather than exclude the patient for inadequate bone stock. 24. Patients with osteoporosis, osteopenia, Paget's disease, osteomalacia or any other metabolic bone disease; a. Osteoporosis is defined as Simple Calculated Osteoporosis Risk Estimation (SCORE) above 6 and DXA T-score \< -2.5 or QCT T-score \< 80mg/cubic cm. History of a fragility fracture requires that a DXA scan or QCT scan is completed
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
4 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Dupont Hospital
RECRUITINGFort Wayne, Indiana, 46845, United States
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Mayo Clinic
RECRUITINGRochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
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OrthoIndy
RECRUITINGIndianapolis, Indiana, 46278, United States
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Washington University Orthopedics
RECRUITINGChesterfield, Missouri, 63017-5701, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- A pilot study to evaluate the functional outcome of nanofractures for the treatment of cartilage lesions
- CBD oil may curb chronic pain after knee surgery
- Physical therapy may unlock lasting activity for older adults with joint pain
- Ear stimulation vs. steroid shots: a new test for knee pain relief
- Can a Screen-Based tai chi class soothe aching knees?
- Can a daily drink soothe aching knees?