Engineers of Stryker gather surgeon’s ideas of improvements concerning technical design and functionality of the new prosthesis, as well as the operative techniques. Since surgeons apply the product directly, they are the best to know what to improve or invent in order to reduce the complexity of operation technique and to optimize the healing process of the patient. Numerous meetings are necessary to match their needs and requirements with engineers possibilities. For proper communication, surgeons and engineers present essential product modifications e.g. on human hip models (Figure 1).

After composing the list of product requirements, engineers generate virtual 3D-model on high performing computers to visualize and virtually test the developed product (figure 2). They conduct a comprehensive review design in terms of mechanics, tolerance analysis, manufacturability and risk analysis.

In the past 20 years, not only materials and surgical techniques were improved, but also tools and methods to predict implant's behaviour under different loading conditions. With the help of the FEA (Finite Element Analysis) method (figure 3), engineers are able to visualize and virtually test new products to be able to develop more efficient and safer implants.