We develop, manufacture and sell artificial joints, bone connecting materials, and spinal fixation systems. In the artificial joint business, we develop total replacement types mainly used in patients with rheumatism and osteoarthritis, and in the bone connecting materials business, we develop plates, screws, and cables that connect bones in the event of fractures. In the spine business, we develop spinal fixation systems to be used in combination with spinal fixation surgery in the event of spinal canal stenosis, spinal slip disease, trauma, and other spinal-related issues. Because artificial joints originated in Western countries, overseas manufacturers generally possess a higher share of the market and are ahead in product development. However, in 2010, our company became the first in the world to significantly improve the wear resistance and oxidative degradation of the polyethylene plate that acts as cartilage in artificial joints by adding vitamin E. Although our only reference is simulation data since the product has only been on the market for a few years, we project that it has a service life of more than twenty years when the general average service life of other products is ten to fifteen years.

 Overseas manufacturers primarily focus on mass production, but we place emphasis on high-mix, low-volume production. Because different surgical procedures and ways of thinking require different shapes and functions for surgical instruments, we sometimes provide products tailored to a specific doctor or hospital. We excel at developing original products that meet the individual requests of medical practitioners.

Our relationship with ACCRETECH began in 2004 when we purchased a roundness measuring instrument. At the time, we were launching artificial hip joint products and purchased ACCRETECH’s measuring instrument in order to measure bone heads.

The Femoral bone head needs to be as perfect a sphere as possible in order to reduce wear on the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene plate (artificial cartilage) at the joint. It is an extremely important component that requires high processing accuracy down to the μm, which is why we adopted ACCRETECH’s roundness measuring instrument. For the part of the hole that joins the bone head and stem, in addition to measuring the roundness with RONDCOM 43C and RONDCOM NEX, we measure straightness using DuraMax. We introduced RONDCOM NEX last year because its previous-generation model RONDCOM 43C was convenient for our needs. We distribute a large number of bone heads every month, but because RONDCOM NEX can measure about nine bone heads simultaneously, we have been able to reduce labor time considerably compared to our conventional method of measuring one at a time. Moreover, once the RONDCOM NEX is set up it automatically measures products, so this helps to free up workers during that time.

We have had ACCRETECH service personnel come on several occasions, and I have the impression that they took great care in dealing with our issues. In addition, ACCRETECH provides maintenance once every three years, so we have experienced no problems in terms of after-sales service. 

In terms of measuring instruments, I want a product that can be programmed more easily. At present, the products that require programming as needed are minimal, but considering such products may increase in the future, I want a product that can be easily programmed, including not only roundness measuring instruments but also 3D CMMs. 

 In recent years, there have been many non-contact measuring instruments that use lasers, but the products we handle include mirror surfaces as well as materials that absorb lasers like ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, which in many cases cannot be measured with a non-contact type measuring instrument. Processing with spray to enable laser measurement is not an option either, because our products are implanted in the human body. However, we still want to use a nondestructive method of measurement. It would be great if ACCRETECH could make a device that could perform non-contact measurement of mirror surfaces and resin products, measure both shape and surface texture with one machine, and even determine whether the product quality is good or bad.