For Patients

The joint surface is composed of cartilage and underlying bone. The cartilage over the bone functions as a cushioning and lubricating surface and its health is essential for our ability to move pain-free.

Unlike bone, cartilage has very limited self-healing capacity due to the absence of blood vessels and a low number of cells. If a damaged joint surface is left untreated, the problem can escalate into further joint degeneration and osteoarthritis, which is a chronic degenerative joint disease affecting the whole joint as an organ.

Therefore, it is essential to treat cartilage lesions in a timely and efficient manner.

Currently, the COPLA® cartilage implant and its safety are being studied in a clinical investigation in Finland and Estonia. The purpose of this study is to determine whether COPLA® is safe and effective for the treatment of cartilage defects in the knee. In this study, volunteers will receive COPLA® during normal cartilage repair surgery of the knee. This is the first study of the COPLA® device in humans. In addition, the safety and efficacy of the COPLA®-specific rehabilitation program is being studied. Visits may include clinical examination, questionnaires about pain and movement, and imaging such as magnetic resonance (MRI). The safety and well-being of participants will be followed up for 2 years after the surgery.

COPLA® is an investigational device and is not approved for commercial use in any country.

The main participating investigators and hospitals for the pilot clinical trial to evaluate the preliminary safety and performance of COPLA® for the treatment of cartilage defects are the following:

Terveystalo, Finland, Teemu Paatela, MD
Mehiläinen, Finland, Mikko Kirjavainen, MD, PhD
Central Finland Health Care District, Hospital Nova Jyväskylä, Finland, Heikki Nurmi, MD
Tartu University Hospital, Estonia, Kaspar Tootsi, MD, PhD

COPLA®