Industry News

Spine systems introduced
The following spine devices have been recently introduced:

The RAVINE® Lateral Access System from K2M provides a dual flat-blade platform for a less invasive muscle-splitting transpsoas approach during minimally invasive spine surgery. The system is said to offer rigid fixation to the spine, the versatility of using up to four blades intraoperatively, and a design that can be adapted to both the patient’s anatomy and the surgeon’s technique. For more information, visit www.K2M.com
Designed to help surgeons address spinal and pelvic deformity in patients with neuromuscular scoliosis, DePuy Spine’s EXPEDIUM® Neuromuscular System is a new modular system of precontoured rods, proximal connectors, and open and closed iliac screw designs and wires. For more information, visit www.depuyspine.com
Medtronic’s T2 ALTITUDE™ Expandable Corpectomy Device (A)—a self-locking, expandable vertebral body replacement cage intended for use in the thoracolumbar spine (T1-L5)—is designed to provide spinal stabilization and correction in patients with a traumatic or tumor disorder. The device can be filled with bone graft after insertion and also after expansion, creating bone contact with the end plate and the opportunity for fusion to occur inside the device, according to Medtronic. Available in multiple sizes, the T2 ALTITUDE™ also enables the surgeon to insert the cage from a posterior, anterior, or lateral approach. For more information, visit www.medtronicspinal.com
The Eigr Saber™ (B) from Invuity is a single-use, low-profile, ergonomic, hand-held illumination device with integrated suction designed for spinal and orthopaedic procedures such as cervical and lumbar cases, hip arthroplasty, bone tumor resection, and foot and ankle fusions. Other products available include an Illuminated Narrow Taylor Retractor, designed to enhance visualization during less invasive posterior lumbar decompressions and diskectomy procedures, and the McCulloch Retractor, designed to optimize access and visualization for traditional and less invasive approaches to the posterior lumbar spine. For more information, visit www.invuity.com
Zimmer’s inViZia Anterior Cervical Plate System is designed for anterior screw fixation of the cervical spine. The system is intended for use in the temporary stabilization of the anterior spine during cervical spinal fusions in patients with degenerative disk disease, trauma, tumors, deformity, pseudarthrosis, and failed previous fusions. According to the company, the system’s generous graft window and narrow waist is designed to provide clinicians with clear and direct visualization during implant placement. inViZia also features a low-profile plate. For more information, visit www.zimmer.com
K2M’s CHESAPEAKE Anterior-Lumbar Stabilization System, manufactured from biocompatible PEEK polymer and titanium, allows for anterior stabilization and fixation with a zero-profile design. Additionally, the system’s instrumentation is said to provide parallel distraction and controlled threaded insertion, while allowing for a zero-impact load on the interbody. The system also provides screw fixation through K2M’s proprietary tifix® Locking Technology, whereby each screw head forms an autogenic lock to the implant upon insertion. For more information, visit www.K2M.com

FDA clears pain management device
The Infinion™ 16 Percutaneous Lead for the Precision Plus™ Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) System from Boston Scientific Corp. has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance. The Precision Plus™ SCS System is designed for adults with chronic intractable pain of the lower back and/or legs. The device uses pulses of electricity delivered directly along nerve fibers through the spinal cord to mask pain signals to the brain. The rechargeable Infinion™ 16 has twice the number of stimulating contacts as other systems, thus offering more coverage of the spinal cord for the management of chronic pain, according to Boston Scientific.

For more information, visit www.bostonscientific.com

Antioxidant polyethylene for mobile-bearing knee systems
DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. has received premarket approval from the FDA for use of the new AOX™ Antioxidant Polyethylene (C) material with its SIGMA® Rotating Platform Knee System and LCS® COMPLETE® Mobile-Bearing Knee System. To help prevent oxidation, AOX Polyethylene utilizes a new antioxidant that stabilizes free radicals without affecting the mechanical properties or strength of the polyethylene, according to DePuy.

For more information, visit www.depuy.com

Neurostimulator system for management of chronic pain
The AdaptiveStim™ with RestoreSensor™ neurostimulation system from Medtronic uses motion sensor technology to provide pain relief by automatically adapting stimulation levels to the needs of people with chronic back and/or leg pain. The system reportedly reduces the need for manual programming changes by recognizing and remembering the correlation between a change in body position and the level of stimulation needed and automatically adapting the stimulation level. It also records and stores the frequency of posture changes, providing objective feedback to clinicians to help them understand how a patient’s individual stimulation requirements are changing over time.

For more information, visit www.medtronic.com

Stand-alone oblique ALIF system receives FDA clearance
LDR’s ROI-A Oblique ALIF cage (D) features VerteBRIDGE® plating technology and a specially designed cage for simple insertion and stable fixation. A key feature of the ROI-A Oblique system, states LDR, is the opportunity to minimize the mobilization of the anterior vessels, without requiring the surgeon to consider a transpsoatic lateral approach that may present increased neurologic risks and necessitate neuromonitoring.

The oblique cage and self-guided, curved VerteBRIDGE plating are delivered in the plane of the disk through a direct anterolateral approach, enabling implantation with less exposure than may be required to place a traditional ALIF cage or contemporary stand-alone systems.

For more information, visit www.ldrholding.com

New hip stem features increased intraoperative flexibility
Zimmer’s new CLS® Brevius™ Hip Stem with Kinectiv® Technology offers an array of head center locations, designed to enable independent, intraoperative control of leg length, offset, and version for a more accurate restoration of the patient’s natural anatomy. The CLS Brevius Stem with Kinectiv® Technology is also shorter than conventional stems, providing greater bone conservation.

For more information, visit www.zimmer.com

AAOS Now
February 2012 Issue
http://www.aaos.org/news/aaosnow/feb12/marketplace1.asp