OSSTEC Raises $8 Million for US Knee Trials

The funding will support first-in-human US surgical cases of the ASCENT 3D-printed partial knee system, planned for the first half of 2027.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Startups

OSSTEC Raises $8 Million for US Knee Trials

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Would you consider a partial knee replacement if it were offered to you?

OSSTEC raised $8 million, led by EMBRYO Ventures, to fund first-in-human surgical cases of its ASCENT partial knee system in the United States. The company established US operations earlier in 2026.

Why it matters

Only about 10% of knee replacement patients currently receive a partial knee, though roughly half are candidates for one. OSSTEC's cementless approach targets the loosening that drives revision surgeries, potentially widening access for more active patients across the country.

OSSTEC closed an $8 million round to fund its US clinical program, and the source places the share of knee replacement patients eligible for a partial knee at about half, compared with roughly 10% who currently receive one. Clinical outcomes for ASCENT in US patients remain untested pending the planned 2027 procedures.

The players

OSSTEC

OSSTEC is the company developing the ASCENT 3D-printed partial knee system and built on more than a decade of research into implant fixation and osseointegration.

EMBRYO Ventures

EMBRYO Ventures is the investment firm that led the $8 million funding round for OSSTEC.

The details

ASCENT is a 3D-printed fixed-bearing partial knee system that uses a biomimetic fixation platform to enable biological fixation without cement, reducing time and complexity in the operating room. The round was led by EMBRYO Ventures with participation from Neovate Capital, New Wave Ventures, Oxford Technology Innovation Finance and Empirical Ventures.

Earlier in 2026: OSSTEC established US operations.
First half of 2027: First-in-human US surgical procedures are planned.

Market Landscape

Cemented fixation has long been the standard in knee arthroplasty, and loosening remains a leading cause of revision surgery. OSSTEC's cementless ASCENT platform positions it as a challenger to that established approach in the partial knee segment.

If the planned US trials succeed, patients who are candidates for a partial knee but who would otherwise receive a full replacement could gain access to a cementless option. Patients currently seeking knee replacement should discuss candidacy for partial versus total options with their surgeon.

The takeaway

Cementless fixation could widen partial knee eligibility by reducing loosening, the main driver of revision surgery. Patients should ask their orthopedic surgeon whether a partial knee is a candidate option.

What happens next

First-in-human US surgical procedures with the ASCENT system are planned for the first half of 2027, and OSSTEC is evaluating integration with robotic surgery platforms.