Exactech, Inc. announced that it has extended its relationship with Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, to further advance implant designs for total knee replacement surgery. Exactech plans to introduce a new knee implant as an evolution of its flagship Optetrak brand, as a result of this continued collaboration. Limited release of the new knee is expected in the second half of 2009. For a multitude of patients in more than 30 countries around the world, Optetrak has demonstrated excellent long-term clinical results. Through continued engineering and design development, Exactech and Hospital for Special Surgery defined further design opportunities for knee replacement technology and recently consummated an exclusive agreement to extend Exactech’s license to manufacture and market this evolution of the Optetrak knee, which will be known as Optetrak Logic. “For a decade and a half, Hospital for Special Surgery has enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with Exactech. More than 200,000 total knee replacement patients worldwide have benefitted from this relationship,” said Dr. Thomas P. Sculco, surgeon-in-chief and Korein-Wilson professor of orthopedic surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery. “This latest development represents an important advancement in total knee arthroplasty resulting from our partnership.”