UK MedTech Startup OSSTEC Raises £2.5M to Launch 3D Printed Partial Knee Implant 

Traditional knee replacements, especially in younger and more active patients, often result in implant loosening and eventual failure. This is largely due to the use of surgical cement, which doesn’t hold up well over time. The consequences, painful revision surgeries, slower recovery times, and added healthcare costs, pose a serious challenge for patients and providers alike. 

London-based MedTech startup OSSTEC is taking a different approach. The company has developed a cementless, 3D-printed partial knee implant that encourages natural bone growth. By mimicking the structure of real bone, these implants offer better fixation, long-term durability, and faster recovery, especially important for younger patients who require a more resilient solution. 

Now, with £2.5 million in fresh funding led by DeepTech VC firm Empirical Ventures, OSSTEC is preparing to bring its implant to market. This raise builds on a £1.2 million seed round completed in March 2023 and brings the company’s total funding to over £3 million, including grants and innovation awards. 

Advanced Technology for Better Patient Outcomes 

Founded in 2021 by Maxwell Munford, Jonathan Jeffers, and Alex Liddle, OSSTEC builds on over a decade of research from Imperial College London. The team brings together medical and engineering expertise to design next-generation implants tailored to each patient’s anatomy and needs. 

Their patented additive manufacturing process creates porous structures that replicate the natural porosity of bone—up to 90% at the interface—improving bone integration and reducing the risk of implant failure. The result is a more natural-feeling joint that performs better under the stresses of everyday movement.

The implants are also designed to work seamlessly with robotic-assisted surgical systems, allowing for more precise placement and less variation in surgical outcomes. This could significantly benefit younger patients, around 450,000 of whom undergo knee replacements globally each year, many of whom face higher risks of revision surgeries. 

Differentiating from the Competition 

While major players like Stryker, Zimmer Biomet, and Smith+Nephew have ventured into cementless solutions, OSSTEC’s advanced 3D-printing approach offers notable advantages. Unlike traditional subtractive manufacturing, which limits design flexibility, OSSTEC’s technology enables intricate, patient-specific lattice structures that enhance stability and reduce the risk of complications such as peri-implant fractures. 

“This represents an exciting new development in orthopaedics that promises improved fixation and reduced risks, providing value for patients, surgeons and the wider healthcare system,” said Dr. Alex Liddle, OSSTEC’s Chief Medical Officer and practising orthopaedic surgeon, in a statement. 

Johnathan Matlock, General Partner at Empirical Ventures, added: “OSSTEC is an excellent example of how scientific discovery can be transformed into real-world impact. The company has huge potential to completely reform best practices in this field of healthcare.” 

Looking Ahead 

For CEO Max Munford, the latest investment signals a critical turning point for the company. “This funding marks a pivotal moment for OSSTEC,” he said. “We’re at the exciting intersection of innovative technology, delivering value for surgeons and patients and high-growth markets—all combined to help more people stay active and pain-free for longer.” 

With plans to partner with leading surgeons and healthcare providers, OSSTEC is setting out to redefine what patients and clinicians can expect from knee replacement surgery.

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