Orthopedic Research and Product Validation Studies
Knee and Hip Implants
Orthopedic Implants
Dr. Hodge holds several patents on Knee and Hip implants primarily for replacing or resurfacing the joint. He also holds patents on other medical devices such as internal brace technology for reinforcing joint stability for ligaments that are injured or weakened by disease or genetics. Dr. Hodge also holds patents on innovative surgical instruments. He currently works with several manufacturers to produce, validate and market the science behind these devices world-wide. Dr Hodge actively educating surgeons, fellows and residents around the world on how to use these devices. He is involved in speaking and performing lived televised surgeries internationally.
Sensing Technology
Dr. Hodge is a co-founder of Lockstep Stability, LLC which is a company developing innovative technology for a variety of human performance measurements. These new, inexpensive devices (Inertial Measurement Unit-IMU) will communicate data through IOS or Android operating systems on aging clients that may have a risk of falling or a high performance athlete that needs feedback on training and competing. Other areas of focus are on outcome measurements on patients following rehabilitation of surgical or medical treatments.
Human Performance Measures
As founder of the Research and Education Foundation, named The Institute of Mobility and Longevity, a 501c3 organization. He has sponsored and led the development of novel testing and treatment modalities. Dr. Hodge knows the importance of quantifying the effects of new treatment methods and continuing to improve and direct these applications. Dr Hodge together with Dr Scott Banks developed a technology for taking fluoroscopic Xray images of joint implants and converting them to 3 dimensional animations which can be highly quantified to measure an implants performance in-vivo. These performance and outcome measures are accomplished through studies supported by industry sponsors and usually with non-profit research centers. Dr. Hodge is involved in setting protocols and advising these research efforts.
Research and Education Foundations
Injury Prevention
Dr. Hodge is involved with research and education foundations who sponsor studies on how injuries occur and how to prevent them. In Boston, he worked on preventing and softening falling injuries in the elderly. In Florida, he has worked on sports injuries that occur in baseball, football and golf. He developed training clinics where coaches learned the correct ways to lower injury risk. Dr Hodge speaks at meetings and community outreach events to educate the populations that can most be benefited from this research.
Artificial Intelligent
Dr. Hodge feels that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) will be a significant benefit to not only coaches, trainers, and medical practitioners, but also can be directly applied to athletes, the elderly with physical disabilities, and patients undergoing medical and surgical treatments. AI will allow correct choices based on massive data fitting algorithms. These choices can be the action items needed to improve performance or prevent injury. One of Dr Hodge’s companies, Lockstep Stability, LLC, is actively involved in developing and enhancing AI.
Publication Management
Dr. Hodge has spent many years in providing important research findings through various peer-reviewed journals as well as internet publication to focus on the audiences who can most use the information either as a trainer/coach, athlete, or as a medical practitioner. He also serves on editorial staff for several journals, including The Journal of Arthroplasy and Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research. As a consultant, Dr. Hodge helps others with the ability to prepare, present and publish their findings.