The company said it’s the world’s first iodine-treated total hip replacement. It also marks the first Zimmer Biomet product in history to receive the breakthrough designation, according to a news release. The breakthrough nod comes a month after the orthopedic giant received Japanese approval for the iodine-treated hip system. That made it the world’s first approved orthopedic implant with iodine technology.

Earlier this year, on the company’s first-quarter earnings call, Chair, President and CEO Ivan Tornos called the technology “transformational.”

Iodine technology integrates a controlled-release iodine surface treatment into the iTaperloc Complete and iG7 hip system. This helps to address the challenges associated with joint replacement procedures for patients at a higher risk of infection. The company says the implant can inhibit bacterial adhesion on the implant surface. This addresses preiprosthetic joint infections (PJI) associated with total joint arthroplasties (TJA).