What are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are important for living organisms for many reasons. Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body, serving as a sort of internal repair system, dividing essentially without limit to replenish other cells so long as the person is still alive. Given their unique regenerative abilities, stem cells offer new potentials for treating diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. The field of medicine devoted to treatments in which stem cells are induced to differentiate into the specific cell type to repair damaged or destroyed cell populations or tissue is called regenerative medicine.
Of primary importance is the adult stem cell. Remarkably, it can renew itself by taking on the characteristics of other kinds of cells in tissue and organs. This ability to transform itself enables adult stem cells to maintain and repair the tissue in which they are found.
Today, donated organs and tissues are often used to replace ailing or destroyed tissue, but the need for transplantable organs far outpaces the available supply. Stem cells offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat diseases such as macular degeneration, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes and other maladies.
The CurPoint Difference: Technology
CurPoint Orthopedic was founded by orthopedic surgeons who have performed thousands of complex surgeries in hospitals all around the world. Highly technical procedures like fracture fixation, total joint replacements, and rotator cuff repairs require state-of-the-art technology to meet our exacting standards. Our patients should expect nothing less. Thus, every piece of equipment used in our outpatient CurPoint centers is identical to what we would use in a hospital operating room setting. It’s simple. Better technology means better results.
Visualization
The Ziehm™ Solo is a versatile mobile C-arm that allows instant image data by means of a low-dose non-invasive x-ray technique during all cell-based medicine procedures. By viewing a full-size monitor with intuitive touchscreen user interface, we can literally see inside the human body. We can track the trajectory and location of every instrument we use throughout the procedure in real-time. There is never any guesswork. But the Ziehm Solo isn’t just for procedures, it can also be used for diagnostic purposes. Any joint—large or small—can be thoroughly assessed for arthritis or instability before, during and after a cell-based procedure.
Preparation
EmCyte™ Corporation is the world leader in Platelet Rich Plasma and Progenitor Stem Cell Biologics with products that meet the highest achievable performance standard. EmCyte is our source for PurePRP™ SupraPhysiologic. It has the perfect cellular composition at ideal concentrations, providing upwards of 9 billion platelets in a 7ml sample. The platelet alpha granules contain various platelet growth factors that can promote tissue repair along with platelet cytokines that can provide the chemical stimulus needed to attract and direct regenerative cells to injured tissue.
EmCyte™ Corporation is the world leader in PureBMC™ and leads all point-of-care bone marrow systems, with supraphysiologic procurement and quiescent cell collection. These donor cells obtained from bone marrow, consist of hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells and total nucleated cells. The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types, including cartilage, bone, muscle, and tendon. These viable MSCs have powerful proliferative capabilities that aid in regenerative therapies.
Injection
Mindray M7™ Ultrasound
Medical ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging technique based on the application of ultrasonic waveforms. It is used to see internal body structures such as tendons, muscles, joints, vessels and internal organs. CurPoint Orthopedic uses the Mindray M7™, one of the most advanced ultrasonic platforms on the market.
Our comprehensive evaluative service includes a thorough ultrasonic assessment of our patients’ musculoskeletal conditions. This ultrasonic information will be captured digitally and overread by a qualified radiologist. The reports will then be placed in our patients’ confidential and secure electronic medical records files. Ultrasound will also be deployed for panoramic imaging and needle placement guidance during the stem cell harvesting and injection phases of our cell-based medicine procedures.
Trice Medical mi-eye 2™
As an adjunct in both the diagnostic and injection phases, CurPoint Orthopedic has the option of using a ground-breaking minimally invasive needle arthroscopy tool called mi-eye 2™. This revolutionary product, developed by Trice Medical, is FDA cleared for the use in diagnostic and operative arthroscopic and endoscopic procedures to provide illumination and visualization of joints. A wide 120 degree viewing angle gives surgeons an expanded perspective to visualize and confirm joint injuries.
By using a Small-Bore Needle Arthroscope under local anesthetic, we can look directly inside joints in an office setting. In some cases, we have the option of using the mi-eye 2™ to assist in the guidance of our stem cell injections.
This in-office imaging solution allows surgeons to perform a full diagnostic arthroscopy on an HD tablet. This all new technology allows surgeons to provide real-time analysis, while simultaneously saving and sharing images and video.