Men and women aren't exactly alike. That's the thesis underlying the new knee-replacement device from Zimmer (NYSE:ZMH), among other trends in the orthopedic world.
Zimmer announced last week that the FDA had cleared its Gender Solutions High-Flex Knee, which it claims is the first knee replacement designed specifically to fit a woman's anatomy. Until now, knee replacements have been gender-neutral, with surgeons simply utilizing smaller sizes for women. Meant to alleviate pain and increase mobility, Zimmer designed its new implant based on three shape differences it identified between women's and men's knees. The design is modeled on the company's existing NexGen Knee; implants will begin this spring, with global distribution expected in the fall.
Citing data from the National Center for Health Statistics, the company states that women compose almost two-thirds of the more than 400,000 annual knee-replacement patients, and that women are three times less likely than men to undergo the procedure. The new implant may lead to more women opting to undergo surgery, since it can be completed using minimally invasive techniques, without resorting to bone removal in order to make traditional implants fit a woman's smaller structure.
I actually can't recall whether those iconic '70s television figures, the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman, were composed of gender-specific mechanical joints. In any case, they certainly would if they were built now. Zimmer isn't the only orthopedic device maker to focus on female patients. Stryker (NYSE:SYK) has recently emphasized marketing to women by citing the wide range of sizes available in its Triathlon Knee System. Privately held device manufacturer Cook Group also announced two weeks ago that it would form a women's health business unit to address issues such as pelvic pain, organ collapse, incontinence, and infertility.
Zimmer's first-quarter earnings showed slowing sales in its knee implants. The company's new device should certainly be able to boost revenue by being first to exploit the female marketing angle.
Zimmer's shares are trading at the low end of their 52-week range. Before deciding whether a shapelier knee will improve the company's figure overall, let's see what happens with the potential merger talks reported last week with surgical product manufacturer TutogenMedical (AMEX:TTG), for whom it already distributes certain products. Zimmer is reportedly examining strategic alternatives, including a possible acquisition of all of Tutogen's shares, of which it already holds 33.2%.
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Fool contributor S.J. Caplan gets around on creaky knees and does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned. The Fool has a disclosure policy.
