Apple and Zimmer Biomet Launch Digital Care Program for Joint Replacement Patients on Apple Watch

Recently, VCBeat (WeChat ID: VCbeat) learned that U.S. tech giant Apple Inc. will join hands with orthopedic giantHeadZimmer Biomet(Zimmer Biomet), have reached a collaboration in the field of joint replacement surgery. Currently, both parties are conducting clinical research, aiming to improve patients' experiences before and after surgery through Apple Watch and iPhone.

The strategic partnership between Apple and Zimmer Biomet, two technology giants, plays a significant role in driving the deep integration of wearable devices with the healthcare sector and facilitating efficient communication between physicians and patients.

It is reported that Apple and Zimmer Biomet are currently developing an application for the Apple Watch designed to bridge communication between patients and their surgical care teams. Participants in the study will engage with their digital interactive care plans through this app to complete relevant preoperative preparation, recovery, and rehabilitation tasks. The software will also enable clinicians to promptly adjust and modify participants’ care plans, as well as deliver additional educational information and care reminders.

During the clinical research phase, researchers will integrate relevant data and patient feedback with information collected by the Apple Watch to evaluate the technology’s impact on improving patient experience and reducing costs.

According to the latest publicly available information, the study may enroll up to 10,000 participants, making it one of the largest clinical trials in orthopedics in terms of evidence collection.

In the United States, approximately 1 million knee and hip replacement surgeries are performed annually, a figure projected to rise to 3.5 million by 2035.

Zimmer Biomet is one of the largest manufacturers in this field. In 2016, the company acquired RespondWell, an interactive tele-rehabilitation business, which will also serve as a key driver in this research.

Apple’s newly launched Apple Watch has also created a stir in the regulated healthcare sector. Currently, the Apple Watch has become an FDA-cleared technological device capable of performing EKG (electrocardiogram) tests and detecting atrial fibrillation.

In the future, we can predict that wearable devices like the Apple Watch will play an increasingly significant role in clinical trials, such as measuring vital signs or conducting diagnostic tests.

Other institutions involved in the study include academic medical centers such as the University of Utah and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, as well as healthcare facilities such as the Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Southern California and Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts.

“We believe one of the best ways to empower consumers is by enabling them to leverage their own health and activity data to improve their care,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, in a statement.

Zimmer Biomet is a publicly traded medical device company. Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, it is part of the medical device business cluster. In 2001, Zimmer Biomet was spun off from Bristol-Myers Squibb and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on August 7.