For most people, medical attention is immediate. Our injuries and ailments lead us to seek assistance quickly in order to lead a happy and productive life. In contrast, the work of the medical experts who pioneer medical advancements at the forefront of technology is often tedious and slow. Thankfully, experts like Saaransh Jain are not only skilled but are also passionately committed to enriching the lives of others. Jain will admit that he throws himself into his work due to a long held interest in science and the human body rather than solely altruistic intent but the end result is still the same; major advancements in the field. Many people don’t think about the substantial advancements Saaransh and his team have made until their knees, shoulders, and elbows stop working properly and effect nearly every other aspect of their lives. Collaborating with different parts of the world to benefit all mankind, Jain is quite literally making the world a happier place.
In 2012 Saaransh worked with the Stryker Corporation, a Fortune 500 medical technologies firm. His work developing a computational algorithm revolutionized technology in accurate preoperative predictions regarding femur and tibial implants. Observing and interacting with surgeons in real time, Jain managed to increase clarification in terms of size and shape of implants. The study and resulting implementation which Saaransh single-handedly instigated played a major role in more than 400 knee replacement surgeries across India during 2015-2017. Working in close contact with some of the top orthopaedic surgeons of India during the requirements/gathering phase and testing/validation phase of this project, the results received enthusiastic reviews from the Indian orthopaedic community, including the Indian Orthopaedic Association (IOA). Positive case reports describing use of this technology have been published in leading orthopaedic journals and international orthopaedic meetings, such as the Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma (JCOT), Indian Journal of Orthopaedics (IJO), and others. Saaransh received the Star Award and Achievement Award for exceptional R&D work for this project in 2013.
Knee joints are not the only ones which interest Saaransh. During his time at MORE (Musculoskeletal Orthopaedic Research and Education), Jain turned his focus to discovering a superior stability irrespective of the presence or absence of tines in locked proximal segment screws; in simpler terms, how to make elbow surgeries better and less painful. His work on the Mayo Type II A fracture and the effects of specific fasteners of orthropedic implants has pioneered advancements in elbow fractures. Study findings on this were published in the proceedings of the 130th Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Association, the oldest and most distinguished orthopaedic association in the world. MORE recently received national news coverage for their delivery of a 3D printer prosthetic hand made for a five-year-old boy born without a fully formed right hand. Jain is currently working with top hand surgeons to develop new implants in the area of hand and shoulder surgery. As the integration of robotics in these procedures advances, so does the complexity of them. Along with his fellow collaborators, Saaransh is pushing to reduce the risk associated with many hand surgical procedures to bring cost effective devices to the US and global market.
The resonation of Saaransh’s work in the medical field is widespread and powerful.” One might expect hubris from a man so accomplished yet Saaransh states, “When I was working on an internship salary, I couldn’t afford a car. I had to travel five hours to and fro on two different buses to work in this lab as it was situated far from my University and my home. I attended classes in the morning and work in the afternoon/evenings. This reminded me that things are not easy for those I hope to benefit with my work; they deserve my best. I’m proud to have made such contributions in the medical field and I’m determined to do more.”