Company: DMJ Concepts, LLC
Patent Number: US 12697412
Patent Title: Materials for piezoelectric implants, and methods of poling materials for piezoelectric response for bone growth stimulation
For September 2026, Swanson Reed has awarded the Kentucky Patent of the Month to Louisville based DMJ Concepts, LLC. The firm secured this recognition for their recent patent detailing innovative materials and poling methods used to create piezoelectric orthopedic implants. This development represents a notable advancement in medical device engineering by offering a new approach to stimulating bone growth and spinal fusion.
Why This Invention is Innovative
Traditional spinal fusion implants act primarily as passive mechanical spacers and often require patients to use external electrical bone growth stimulators to aid recovery. The invention by DMJ Concepts, LLC is innovative because it integrates active therapeutic properties directly into the implant material. By utilizing a specialized mixture of barium titanate and polyetheretherketone, the implant can generate its own electric charge through the piezoelectric effect. When the implant is subjected to normal mechanical stress and compressive loads from everyday activities like walking, it produces a negative surface charge. This localized electrical response naturally stimulates bone growth directly at the surgical site, which eliminates the need for bulky external stimulation devices and improves the overall recovery experience for patients.
Why It Won Patent of the Month
Swanson Reed selected this technology for the September 2026 award because it exemplifies a high level of technical achievement and practical utility in the healthcare sector. Developing an implant that leverages natural biomechanical forces to generate therapeutic electrical charges is a complex engineering challenge. DMJ Concepts, LLC successfully combined advanced materials science with precise manufacturing methods, specifically focusing on the poling processes required to align the materials for an optimal piezoelectric response. This Kentucky based innovation provides a clear and practical solution to a common medical challenge, making it a deserving recipient of this month’s recognition.
R&D Tax Credit Eligibility in the USA
The practical applications of this patent demonstrate numerous activities that would qualify for the Research and Development Tax Credit in the United States. To bring this piezoelectric implant to market, a company must engage in a rigorous process of experimentation to resolve technical uncertainties. Qualifying research activities would include iterative testing to determine the optimal ratio of barium titanate to polyetheretherketone to ensure the material provides maximum electrical output without compromising structural integrity under spinal loads. Additionally, designing and refining the specific poling methods to achieve the correct negative surface charge, along with biomechanical testing to simulate human walking stresses, are strictly technological activities. The financial investments required for prototype development, specialized engineering personnel, and extensive laboratory testing directly align with the criteria of the R&D tax credit, which offers medical device innovators a valuable opportunity to recoup development costs.
