Advita Ortho reaches another milestone with the first clinical use of Equinoxe® Reverse Shoulder System humeral liners featuring Activit-E® polyethylene.
Advita Ortho Announces First Clinical Use of Equinoxe® Reverse Shoulder System Humeral Liners with Activit-E® Polyethylene
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Advita OrthoActivit-EEquinoxe Reverse Shoulder Systemhumeral liners
GAINESVILLE, Fla., July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Advita Ortho, a global medical technology leader, today announced the first clinical use of humeral liners manufactured with Activit-E® polyethylene, bringing its advanced vitamin E polyethylene technology to the Equinoxe® Reverse Shoulder System. The reverse humeral liners are available for its platform stem, small reverse baseplates and fracture stem, and with this introduction, the Activit-E polyethylene technology is now available across Advita’s shoulder, knee and ankle portfolios. The surgeries were performed by Thomas Wright, MD, of the University of Florida, this week.
Activit-E is a highly crosslinked (HXLPE) ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) that includes the addition of the antioxidant vitamin E. Its composition is designed to offer a unique combination of benefits, including improved wear resistance due to crosslinking and oxidative stability provided by the antioxidant vitamin E when compared to conventional UHMWPE.1-4
“Whenever I plan my cases, I look for products and technologies that provide the ability to enhance my patients’ outcomes. The improved polyethylene wear properties of Activit-E combined with the impressive clinical success of the Equinoxe Reverse Shoulder System have the potential to improve my patients’ lives,” said Dr. Wright.
Activit‑E incorporates vitamin E, a well-established antioxidant, directly into the UHMWPE prior to processing. The vitamin E–enhanced UHMWPE is compression molded into bar stock, annealed for stress relief and then gamma irradiated. This manufacturing process is designed to support long-term oxidative stability while preserving the desirable performance characteristics of the polyethylene. The material is then precision machined into Equinoxe reverse humeral liners.
“This milestone reflects Advita’s continued commitment to expanding meaningful innovations across our portfolio,” said Aurelio Sahagun, Chief Executive Officer. “With the Activit-E polyethylene now available across our shoulder, ankle and knee systems, we’re providing surgeons with another advanced material option designed to enhance surgical outcomes.”
The Activit-E humeral liners are currently available in limited quantities in the U.S. during pilot launch, and Advita plans to expand availability in the fourth quarter of 2026. This new product will also soon launch internationally in limited quantities.
For more information, visit www.advita.com.
References:
Muratoglu O. et al.Wear resistance and mechanical properties of highly cross-linked, ultrahigh-molecular weight polyethylene doped with vitamin E.J Arthroplasty 2006 Jun;21(4):580-91. Doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2005.07.009.
Muratoglu O. et al.A surface crosslinked UHMWPE stabilized by vitamin E with low wear and high fatigue strength.Biomaterials 2010 Sep;31(27):7051-60. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2010.05.041. Epub 2010 Jun 25.
Lerf R. et al.Use of vitamin E to protect cross-linked UHMWPE from oxidation. Biomaterials 2010 May;31(13):3643-8. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2010.01.076. Epub 2010 Feb 9.
Shen J. et al.Natural Polyphenols Enhance Stability of Crosslinked UHMWPE for Joint Implants. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2014 Aug 9;473(3):760–766. doi: 10.1007/s11999-014-3850-0.
Activit-E polyethylene and Equinoxe Reverse Shoulder System are distributed by Advita.
About Advita Ortho
Advita Ortho is a global medical device company committed to advancing patients’ lives through innovative orthopedic solutions. We specialize in high-quality implants and a comprehensive suite of integrated surgical technologies that are powered by data, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Offering trusted leadership and clinical expertise, Advita Ortho is uniquely positioned to advance mobility and improve lives worldwide. Learn more at www.advita.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, X and Instagram.
SOURCE Advita Ortho, LLC
Why This Matters
Two Perspectives
MBA Lens: Economic and industry impact
Advita Ortho has strategically expanded its Activit-E polyethylene technology to the Equinoxe® Reverse Shoulder System humeral liners. This move aims to leverage advanced material science across its shoulder, knee, and ankle portfolios, enhancing product offerings and potentially improving patient outcomes. The phased launch strategy includes a limited U.S. release, with broader availability planned for Q4 2026.
- Advita is integrating Activit-E across its key orthopedic portfolios to strengthen its competitive position.
- The company is implementing a controlled, phased launch for market entry and adoption of the new liners.
PhD Lens: Clinical and outcomes impact
Advita Ortho introduced Activit-E® polyethylene humeral liners for the Equinoxe® Reverse Shoulder System. Activit-E is a highly crosslinked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (HXLPE) incorporating vitamin E, designed to provide improved wear resistance and enhanced oxidative stability compared to conventional UHMWPE. The material undergoes compression molding, annealing, and gamma irradiation during manufacturing.
- Activit-E combines HXLPE for wear reduction with vitamin E as an antioxidant to maintain long-term oxidative stability.
- Initial clinical use by Dr. Thomas Wright highlights the potential for improved patient outcomes through enhanced polyethylene wear properties.
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Discussion
This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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