CMS won’t pay for artificial disks
On May 25, 2007, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a national non-coverage decision for all lumbar artificial disk replacements. CMS had previously issued a national non-coverage decision for the Charité disk replacement, the only legally marketed disc replacement at the time.

Essentially the decisions are the same and apply to Medicare beneficiaries older than age 60. For Medicare beneficiaries 60 years old or younger, decisions will be made on a local basis.

AlloSource to manufacture and market DBM products
AlloSource—a provider of skin, bone,and soft-tissue allografts for use in surgical procedures—has entered into a license agreement with IsoTis, Inc., an orthobiologics company to manufacture products similar to IsoTis’ first-generation demineralized bone matrix (DBM) products in North America, and a non-exclusive license to market them.

The agreement makes AlloSource the first tissue bank to offer a full range of bone growth substitutes, including DBM and cancellous bone particulates.

“Expanding our agreement with IsoTis will allow us to improve donor utilization and provide our customers a complete offering of bone growth substitutes. The breadth of our offerings allows physicians to match the right product to each patient,” said Thomas Cycyota, president and CEO of AlloSource.

DePuy Orthopaedics donates equipment to musculoskeletal institute
DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., is donating laboratory equipment to the InMotion Musculoskeletal Institute, a non-profit laboratory in Memphis, Tenn. The equipment will be house at the University of Memphis Integrated Microscopy Center (IMC) for research use by the center.

“This gift directly benefits the Integrated Microscopy Center, as well as InMotion,” said Richard Tarr, president and executive director of InMotion. “The IMC performs research that is critical to our mission, and this gift will strengthen our mutually beneficial relationship.”

The equipment, which automates the process of placing tissue section on slides and staining the material for better observation of cellular characteristics, will enhance the institutions’ ability to perform advanced histologic research in the musculoskeletal field, necessary in the study of soft tissue and bone.

ReGen Biologics launches Lateral CMI™ in Europe
The European subsidiary of ReGen Biologics introduced its CMI™ meniscus implant to the European market at the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery, and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS). The implant has been CE marked and cleared for sale in Europe for both medial and lateral use. The lateral CMI has been the subject of a post-marketing study in Europe since receiving the CE mark in 2006 and will now be available for general sale.

The ISAKOS Congress provides an international forum for the exchange of scientific information and networking with leaders in orthopedics and sports medicine from around the world. For more information on the society or the congress please visit www.isakos.com.