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Industry News

Narrow femoral components for knee implants
Designed for use with Smith & Nephew’s LEGION Total Knee System, LEGION™ Narrow Femoral Components with OXINIUM™ Oxidized Zirconium are thinner in the medial/lateral dimension to give surgeons the ability to more closely fit a patient’s natural anatomy. The new femoral components also feature VERILAST technology, which combines two wear-reducing materials—the proprietary oxinium alloy and a highly cross-linked plastic liner—to potentially improve the wear performance of the implant. For more information, visit www.smith-nephew.com

Minimally invasive spinal access device
Precision Spine’s Mini-Max Minimally Invasive Access System reportedly facilitates greater direct visualization of the spine and easier access to the contralateral side and levels above and below the target level. It is intended for use with the company’s S-LOK™ Pedicle Screw System, which is intended to provide immobilization and stabilization of spinal segments in skeletally mature patients as an adjunct to fusion in the treatment of acute and chronic instabilities or deformities of the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine. It is also intended for noncervical pedicle screw fixation for severe spondylolisthesis and for use in trauma, spinal stenosis, curvatures, spinal tumor, pseudarthrosis, and failed previous fusions. For more information, visit www.precisionspineinc.com

Hip revision femoral system
According to Smith & Nephew, the company’s REDAPT™ Revision Femoral System for hip revision surgeries enables surgeons to recreate a patient’s unique functionality while addressing issues such as poor bone quality and proximal/distal mismatch. The manufacturer states that REDAPT’s unique surgical technique allows the surgeon to prepare the femoral canal and to complete full hip range-of-motion tests completely off its instrumentation, thus enabling the determination of the precise implant position for optimal stability before introducing a solid stem. 

The system has two available stem styles—a proximally fluted, or sleeveless, stem for use when proximal bone defects are limited, and a modular sleeved stem for cases in which proximal and distal bone defects are more prevalent. In addition, the REDAPT system has five available modular neck options, four of which can be inverted. For more information, visit www.smith-nephew.com

Surgical guidance system for knee replacement procedures
Zimmer’s iASSIST™ Knee is billed as a personalized guidance system for knee replacement procedures. The system is said to provide simple, intuitive, and accurate intraoperative feedback and alignment validation to surgeons during joint replacement procedures.

iASSIST Knee technology comprises small electronic disposable pod components that are used at the site of knee replacement surgery, providing instantaneous, accurate alignment validation through a simple electronic display. The disposable pods are manipulated within the surgical field with positioning information provided by a series of internal accelerometers. iASSIST Knee does not require the use of pins or additional incisions, does not rely on external systems or stimuli, and is compatible with Zimmer’s current and next-generation knee systems. For more information, visit www.zimmer.com

Extremity imaging CT scanner
Planmed’s Verity Extremity CT Scanner (A) enables weight-bearing three-dimensional imaging of the extremities. Intended for pre- and postoperative imaging, the scanner is said to have better resolution and patient adaptability and to use a significantly lower dose of radiation than full-body CT scanners. According to the manufacturer, the scanner adapts to the patient with anatomy-specific imaging programs, movements, and carbon-fiber positioning trays. The scanner also features adjustable, soft-surfaced gantry and motorized positioning. For more information, visit www.planmed.com

Positioning solution for lower extremity surgery
The Knee Positioning Triangle™ Set (B) from Innovative Medical Products is a stable positioning solution for lower extremity surgery. The set includes two sizes of triangles (small and large), which can be configured in 12 different positions. The manufacturer claims that the triangles save operating time by eliminating fracture table set-up and are designed to simplify retrograde femoral nailing, while easing muscle tension during reduction. The triangles, which feature radiolucent and autoclavable positioners and latex-free sterile protective pads, can be purchased individually or in a set. For more information, visit www.impmedical.com

New trauma drill-bit system
The Slick™ drill bit (C) from Surgionix combines the drilling and measurement steps of screw hole preparation into a single action. The drill bit’s design includes a retractable wire and clip that extends to near the tip of the drill bit, acting as an integrated depth-gauge that enables the surgeon to take accurate measurements from the drill bit, reports the manufacturer. The Slick drill set contains a variety of drill bit sizes and accessories designed to allow preparation of the bone for a variety of bone-screws and plates. For more information, visit www.surgionix.com

Ligament balancing TKA insert
Sensortech Corp. reports that its Force Check Knee Replacement Smart Insert provides real-time data designed to increase total knee arthroplasty (TKA) profitability through reduced surgical and patient recovery times, faster healing times, reduced component wear, superior pain management, and fewer revisions. The device incorporates FDA-approved Bluetooth V4 low-energy and plastics technologies and can readily adapt to all TKA replacement components on the market, according to the manufacturer. For more information, visit www.sensortechknee.com

AAOS Now
May 2013 Issue
http://www.aaos.org/news/aaosnow/may13/marketplace2.asp

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